I agree in some ways ... People have seem to off the deep end choosing massive amounts of air draw for their tanks. It is like a skimmer that was oversized for a system 3 years ago is now too small for that same system....lol.
The Life Reef Skimmer Club
- Thread starter d2mini
- Start date
I agree in some ways ... People have seem to off the deep end choosing massive amounts of air draw for their tanks. It is like a skimmer that was oversized for a system 3 years ago is now too small for that same system....lol.
do you understand foam fractionation? The easily measured constant for that to occur is air.... Thus with air equal as a constant other things can be quantified as beneficial or not. Apple's to apples is two skimmers with equal air draw being the constant.
Do you understand that water chemistry influences the ability to foam, not the air... Without the proper water chemistry and bioload to allow for foaming all you would have is tons of micro bubbles... this is clearly seen everytime a skimmer goes dormant...
If you have X amount of air draw in a unit pumping 10gph water through the skimmer. and you have the same skimmer pumping the same X amount of air draw but with 100gph of water through the skimmer you will see a drastic difference in the skimming ability?
If you have X amount of air draw in a unit pumping 10gph water through the skimmer. and you have the same skimmer pumping the same X amount of air draw but with 100gph of water through the skimmer you will see a drastic difference in the skimming ability?
Short term, yes. Long term, no. Besides that is a very drastic water to air difference not seen in reality between competing skimmers. More realistic might be one skimmer move 150gph/ 400lph air and the other moves 300gph/400lph air.
I would like to point out AGAIN that the "oversized" skimmer I had was just ONE of my previous skimmers.
And I'd like to point out AGAIN that a possible increase in skimmate is just ONE advantage to a life reef. Even if it didn't skim noticeably better, i'd still prefer it for several reasons. I bet most here would agree.
You could also call and talk to Jeff and see what he says about your questions.
I'd love to eavesdrop on THAT conversation.
I have two simple questions.... Both relate to performance.... I'm not doubting any other merits you enjoy with your life reef. I'm not trying to devalue life reef in the least.... I asked two things .... Simple and should actually help improve the value of the life reef..... One was since employing the life reef what effects has this skimmer had on your tank over your other skimmers? Second has anyone measured air draw and compared the life reef. To a similar air draw pinwheel skimmer. Why shy away from these questions?
Eric Boerner
Coral Cutter
I have rounder on ignore still so I'm guessing it's all trolling posts from them.
Foam fractionation 101.
Bubble amount, Bubble size, Bubble velocity, Bubble to bubble contact, bubble to Surface contact, Gas holdup, pH, Amount of solids to remove; are the variables in determining the efficiency of foam fractionation. Air draw is an easy to measure factor that manufacturers can and do use as a 'measurement', but has zero basis in whether one product is better than another. It does help them 'size' a skimmer to tank though. Also note that MOST manufacturers are sizing based on your tank's bioload too. So even they know they're FOS.
bayoupr
New member
I have used Bk's, ATB's RO's, MRC's, ETSS and the list goes on. For my setup, the lifereef has produced the best results of all. The air draw can be from 14scfh to 22scfh depending on the pump you use. I use the pressure rated pumps on mine with a Mazzei 1078 injector, 30" Panworld 30PX, 36", 48" and 60" Panworld 40PX. Tried a Panworld 150PS on my 48 but was too much pump (too much air draw for the body, 45-50 scfh). The only skimmer that came close to producing the dark skim as the lifereef was the BK Mini 200. But as with the others, more maintance and tweaking than my lifereef. Jeff has just informed me my new lifereef is ready and will be shipped next week. 8" body, 30" high not counting the collection cup and some designs I had him incorporate into the skimmer. Should be interesting to see what it will do. You don't need huge amounts of air if you have a tall body and good contact time with a small neck. Wider necks short bodys, cones need huge amounts of air draw to compensate for the lack of height.
bayoupr many have made similar points and comments but he is just too tunnel visioned on air draw... Some things just don't click for some people.
Eric... Not surprised at all that you ignored him.
I agree with most of that, i'm not sure how many times i mentioned that water chemistry is more important than whether or not you have X amount of air or Y amount of air.... Once again some things don't click for some people.
Eric... Not surprised at all that you ignored him.
I agree with most of that, i'm not sure how many times i mentioned that water chemistry is more important than whether or not you have X amount of air or Y amount of air.... Once again some things don't click for some people.
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I firmly believe neck size plays a huge factor here. I've owned BK Supermarin ATB 1050 and JNS EM 300. In a 120 gallon SPS dominated aquarium with a low bioload the skimmer with the smaller neck performed better. The smaller neck has the ability to maintain a better foam head. The larger neck skimmers the foam would sit in the neck without being pushed over. Basically just sit idle. JMO
Awesome.... So about 400-600 lph air. Sorry I don't recall your tank size .now I understand the height factor, how do you think would that relate to the 24 model which is really about the same height(22") as most pinwheel skimmers? Do you think the shorter 24 can offer the performance benefits over a pinwheel skimmer that is about the same physical size? I'm assuming air draw may be less than what you achieved as the pumps are smaller. This is why I wonder where the benefit lies for a smaller tank where a skimmer with similar dimensions offers more or equal air draw at a large decrease in watts.also, lets say your skimming with 600lph air , did you run any other pinwheel skimmers with around that air draw on your current tank?
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bayoupr
New member
rounder45, my tank was a 180g mixed reef. I have downsized to a 120g. As for my preference IMO, I wouldn't go any smaller than Jeff's 30". I'm not sure how much contact time you would get with the 24" (mind you I never ran the 24") but it would also depend on what pump you ran. I experimented with pumps on mine and found the Panworld 40PX worked better on the 36", 48" and 60" than the Panworld 40PXX (same as the Blueline 40HDX he recommends). The one thing I like about his skimmers is there is no proprietary pump. You can use a wide range of pumps on these as long as you meet the minimal flow range, external, internal, DC.
jerseypete
New member
Well one of the aspects of his sales pitch is you dont have to constantly tinker with it. This is my first saltwater tank. Never even seen skimmer before. And this thing worked from day one. Never have to screw around with it. It just works. And being new to this jeff went out of his way to answer any questions i had. Sent him an email one day the phone was ringing 5 min later. Hey this is jeff. You dont get that service anywhere today. I got a sump, stand alone fuge, skimmer, pump, return pump, all plumbing, biopellet reactor, 3 media canisters. All custom fit to my stand. Delivered to my door step. Not for much more than if i bought everything seperate.
With an excessive amount of foam peanuts. An with an assurance that he would be there for me at anytime to answer any of my questions. And he delivered. What else could you ask for?
my son love it also
jerseypete
New member
I have the svs-2 24. My tank is the dsa 105.
I've seen the same thing. I'm continuing to wonder where the short skimmer is of value over taller with a smaller diameter neck.... Why are skimmer mfg now making short neck skimmmers? What real benefit is in an 18" tall skimmer to the end user vs 24-26" where the skimmer will still fit under most common stands?
MikesReef83
New member
Should I be skimming a little less wet? This is in 4 days.
The benefit of an 18" tall skimmer is convenience, energy efficiency, sales.
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