so...no benefit... ?? :lolspin:
The Life Reef Skimmer Club
- Thread starter d2mini
- Start date
so...no benefit... ?? :lolspin:
How do you like your Fluval Seas pump, and which model did you get?
Do you find the LR produces more skim than the other skimmers?
Or is the ease of use the main benefit.
see what your mentioning here is the common trend on this thread... oversize skimmer.. then to low air draw lifereef... now your happy.. Not to disrespect you or anyone, but, what prompted you to buy an SRO5000 for a 180 gal tank with a few fish in it? I don't get it. Who recommended this choice to you? Why are you guys buying skimmer rated for hundreds of gallons more than what you have? I do wonder this in many thread on this forum.. not just this one.
mikeatjac
Active member
I am not a scientist but this works as well as any I have owned, better than most and I have owned them all plus I do not have touch it. No skimmer I have used for the same price has come close to the production of this skimmer. To be honest the is no hype as this skimmer has had longevity.
Your pinwheel skimmers have to overcome a small chamber and try to over come this by the induction of more air. Then force the air straight up in a small chamber with little mixing of with the water.
See, all I wonder.... how is skimmate actually measured? how does one take into account organics deposited on the neck? a 4" neck has twice the circumference of a life reef, so how does one accurately measure actual skimmate and organics removed taking into account these factors?
but my pinwheel skimmer is physically larger and more powerful than the only lifereef I can fit under a tank in my sump... explain that... The 24 lifereef is only about as large as the euroreef 80 or 100 model(and uses less area of the skimmer body to mix air and water than both the 80 and 100).
azjohnny
Active member
I have always been a fan of the Laguna pumps and have always felt that if Euroreef/Reef Dynamics would have went with them they would have cornered the pinwheel skimmer market, IMO the best bang for buck pump available, they are quiet and durable ( they are designed to be used in outdoor ponds) The one thing I didn't like was the included hose barb, I changed it out for one I got from Loews. In the past I have always had to make a stand for them, Now with the Fluval Sea's model the stand with rubber feet is provided and comes with upgraded ceramic bearings
I don't know if they produce more skim ( IMO that has a lot to do with the organics level in the water) but feel it might produce it faster due to decreased neck size, and I love the how simple the Life Reef is to use and the reduced maintenace
Me, I get this, but in the same time, I also do not touch my skimmers except to empty the cup or clean the pump... what is the difference and why did you have to mess with your previous skimmers? Did you also previously buy a way too big skimmer for your bioload?
azjohnny
Active member
I wouldn't say the Life Reef has a low air draw, IMO its well balanced. I went with the 5000 because I felt the 3000 didn't process enough water per hour. IMO the bubble blaster pump produces too much air and not enough water
Rounder what skimmer do you use?
The ratings the skimmer companies use is to be taken with a grain of salt, most of the companies rate them for a low bio load ( not much more than a good CUC)
I do think the big negative with the SRO skimmers is the neck design ( too big in diameter and very short) this doesn't leave you much room for error
mikeatjac
Active member
What is happening in the Lifereef is turbulence. More than any skimmer I have seen. That is the secret, better mixing of the water and air.
laguna... I don't get the hype... they are efficient in watts, but, bubble king and vertex alpha forums and thread are littered with problems with these pump having bad motor blocks and other troubles... I don't see them in the same league as Eheim.. maybe equal to sedra or just a bit better cause of the reduced watts.
Ecoplus(reef dynamics economy pump) is a pond pump as well... marketed/sold for use by sunlight supply..
azjohnny
Active member
I agree with the increased turbelence in the skimmer body. You can really see it swirl around more than any other skimmer that I have used
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well, if the tank has not seen any benefit, then I have my answer in regards to these skimmers ...:wave:
You forgot to mention they are one of the quietest pumps on the market. ( Reasonably priced).
Do you know why the Askoll has had motor problems? Mostly on pin wheel pump only.
azjohnny
Active member
IME Laguna is a much better pump than the Ecoplus or Sedra. I have never had a problem with any Laguna ( you cant be afraid of preventive maintenance, which is critical in this hobby)
Remember people who have good experiences never post in a forum how wonderful their stuff is, just the irritated people who have had problems
Rounder
You have never stated if you even have a tank or a skimmer, its my suspicion that you don't. I speak from experience not from what I have read in a forum
mikeatjac
Active member
Cool! You can answer a question only so many times.
I would consider you a troll. Considering the fact that you only acknowledge the posts you want and ignore the others. The first time you asked this question I answered... time for you to go read... that must be what 10+ pages back?
Now a bit of realism... no single piece of equipment will make an overall drastic change... the entire setup and husbandry is what is needed. As good as these skimmers are does not mean they are the answer to horrible let husbandry unless you are dealing g with fowlr/fish only tanks which we are not.
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Also, the standard pumps sold with the LR skimmers which you can freely upgrade do not reach the skimmers max capabilities...
Due to the venturi increase the pump and you increase the water and air input...
With that said Jeff mentioned that he had a few customers running mag18 wide open on the 24" with 0 complaints. One customer ran a mag 24 with the valve on the skimmer inlet because that pump was too powerful... so the 24 are rated for a 250 gal with a mag9.... I wonder what their rating is with a mag18...
The skimmers ability to perform is not hampered until it's outlet is maxed... so this is one of the few skimmers out there that you can drastically increase it's performance if needed on a larger tank.
I will be testing this soon as I plan to have my reeflo feeding the svs 24". I am curious to see first hand how it performs in the 1200-2000 gph range
Due to the venturi increase the pump and you increase the water and air input...
With that said Jeff mentioned that he had a few customers running mag18 wide open on the 24" with 0 complaints. One customer ran a mag 24 with the valve on the skimmer inlet because that pump was too powerful... so the 24 are rated for a 250 gal with a mag9.... I wonder what their rating is with a mag18...
The skimmers ability to perform is not hampered until it's outlet is maxed... so this is one of the few skimmers out there that you can drastically increase it's performance if needed on a larger tank.
I will be testing this soon as I plan to have my reeflo feeding the svs 24". I am curious to see first hand how it performs in the 1200-2000 gph range
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