The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[Yogre]

I would guess the head pressure from the extra plumbing would be no different than having the gate valve on the skimmer mostly closed. It may happen that even with the gate valve all the way open, the water level in the skimmer is too high.

As chiefifd said, give it a try see what happens.

 

[Member No. 1]

Water will seek it's own level, so the water level inside the skimmer will be at least equal to the highest point in your plumbing going over a baffle. Then add to that any "head pressure" caused by the pipes themselves.

 

[Salahunreal]

baffle would be around 30 cm and adding pipe height so I will end up with 34-35 cm. I assume the water level inside the skimmer would go up to 35 cm and this is above what Jeff recommends for the skimmer around 23 cm.

 

[chiefifd]

Give it a try, then you'll know if it works or not. You shouldn't need but a few PVC elbows and plastic tubing to achieve what you're trying to do.
Let us know if it works or what issues you ran into that prevented it from working.
Looking forward to a report.
Take care friend......

 

[LQT]

baffle would be around 30 cm and adding pipe height so I will end up with 34-35 cm. I assume the water level inside the skimmer would go up to 35 cm and this is above what Jeff recommends for the skimmer around 23 cm.

If that's the baffle height you're working with, then build a 12 cm stand for the skimmer so that the you get the Jeff recommended internal water height of 23 cm when you add the extra plumbing. Just make sure the pump you're using is strong enough to accommodate the extra head height.

 

[Salahunreal]

Give it a try, then you'll know if it works or not. You shouldn't need but a few PVC elbows and plastic tubing to achieve what you're trying to do.
Let us know if it works or what issues you ran into that prevented it from working.
Looking forward to a report.
Take care friend......

I will see. I have big plans but small space , I am trying all these tweaks only because I bought something a complete setup and after all the DIY and readings and so. I regret it now and wished if I built my own cabinet and ordered a custom built tank but anyway. Now my idea is to dump my 2nd sump that I bought 2nd hand and sell it and buy new one custom built so it will fit all, Still would try taking the skimmer outlet to the refuge baffle and I will report back how it will go.

 

[Salahunreal]

If that's the baffle height you're working with, then build a 12 cm stand for the skimmer so that the you get the Jeff recommended internal water height of 23 cm when you add the extra plumbing. Just make sure the pump you're using is strong enough to accommodate the extra head height.

Thanks but
I have tried that also, but since the height inside the cabinet is only 61cm. Then I will not have an easy way to take the skimmer cup to empty/clean it without removing the stand first and will not be convenient. I am trying to plan everything to make it easy if possible.
The pump can handle the extra head pressure I guess. I added COR 20 for that skimmer.

 

[chiefifd]

Thanks for getting back to us. I think we've all been there with trying to do with a DIY project that just doesn't work very well.
That's why I bought the LifeReef sump, my saving grace is I have my sump in my workshop directly behind my DT.
Good luck in your quest for perfection.......And Take care
Just wondering Salahunreal where about are you located????

 

[Salahunreal]

Yeah the DIY in this hobby is endless. I have bought the tank like 3 years ago and have not started yet
I really really liked LR sump and how it can be CUSTOM BUILT from the ground up with all the functionalities like media reactors. LR skimmer would fit no matter what and so. I went to the last mile with Jeff and designed and calculated everything but shipping and taxes put me down. Nice you have all the space you need. Its very useful.
I am located in Stockholm in Sweden (Switzerland is a different country )

 

[Fdnavy]

New lifereef owner couple of questions.

New lifereef owner couple of questions.

I just set up a used 24" model. I have a couple of questions. My skimmer compartment has a constant depth of 9.5 inches. I am running the skimmer with a jebao dcp10000 I'm having trouble figuring out what power level to run the skimmer. How much power is too much? I am also having problems seeing the bubble line to know if I'm setup correctly. Manual says set it to sticker. Does that mean top of bubbles should be that height? I plumbed in a co2 scrubber, but I am worried an accidental overflow will suck water through my brs c02 scrubber. How do you avoid this issue? I know the lifereef is less likely to overflow, but it can still happen. I have also noticed a fair amount of moisture collects in the line from the cup to the skimmer. How do I prevent that? Unfortunately I can't mount my co2 scrubber so it sits higher than the skimmer, the cup outlet and scrubber are the same height.

 

[Willy315]

I just set up a used 24" model. I have a couple of questions. My skimmer compartment has a constant depth of 9.5 inches. I am running the skimmer with a jebao dcp10000 I'm having trouble figuring out what power level to run the skimmer. How much power is too much? I am also having problems seeing the bubble line to know if I'm setup correctly. Manual says set it to sticker. Does that mean top of bubbles should be that height? I plumbed in a co2 scrubber, but I am worried an accidental overflow will suck water through my brs c02 scrubber. How do you avoid this issue? I know the lifereef is less likely to overflow, but it can still happen. I have also noticed a fair amount of moisture collects in the line from the cup to the skimmer. How do I prevent that? Unfortunately I can't mount my co2 scrubber so it sits higher than the skimmer, the cup outlet and scrubber are the same height.

9.5" might be a bit too deep, you may have trouble adjusting the water level.

I wouold try the pump at 100% and see how it does, it should be fine. Jeff the owner/builder of these skimmers uses a mag18 on a 24.

Moisture in the venturi line is normal, it helps keep the venturi clear of salt creep.

Sorry but I can't help you with your scrubber question.

 

[watdachuck]

You will need to drain the BRS scrubbers every 3-4 days in my case. You cannot prevent the condensation from building up. You could leave a drain open is suppose but that might defeat the purpose of running it as a closed loop.

 

[lagatbezan]

Anyone running a dc pump on their skimmer? Looking to get a svs3-30 and was looking to use a varios8 or a sicce syncra sdc9 pump. A lot of review mention the sicce pumps are noisy specially their dc ones where as the varios 8 is silent. Any one have any experience or recommendations?

 

[FlyingFishSKYw]

I'm running a Jebao DCT-8000 on my 24" skimmer at about 70% power. It's super quiet and has been running without issue for over two years now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

I had one of the Sicce pumps that was an energy saver. It ramps up & down & had a corresponding noise up & down. I would use the Varios.

 

[doonan75]

I'm running a Jebao DCT-8000 on my 24" skimmer at about 70% power. It's super quiet and has been running without issue for over two years now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have the DCP 8000 at 100 and it's completely silent and no issues.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[watdachuck]

Has anyone else seen the dual mazzei venturi option on LifeReef's website?!? Would really love to see this thing in action if anyone has one already.

http://www.lifereef.com/Dual%20Mazzei.JPG

 

[LQT]

Wow, that looks sweet! Most likely a custom build by Jeff.

 

[chiefifd]

One word "Sweet"! :strange:

 

[watdachuck]

I'm obsessed with it!! I spoke to Jeff and he only made the two of them while making one for a custom build.

They are too big for my sump which makes me feel any one even more. LOL The cylinder is 10" wide and it stands 30" tall. With the outlet you need at least a 12" X 15" space and 3 feet in the cabinet.

Oh well, one more reason to get a bigger tank lol