The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[d2mini]

Reason I ask on my new tank I am going to be running a Reeflo Dart/Snapper hybrid or the hammerhead/barracuda on a manifold. About 50gph going to my refugium, then 1k-2k going to my LR and the rest into the return line.

So with your input I will get the gold version which is pressure rated and not a big difference in price at all(although it's maximum head height is only a few feet more than the standard pump). Just need to figure out if I want to get the snapper/dart or hammerhead/barracuda. Will be running with 5.5ft head height.

Will you have a flow meter to determine exactly how much you are sending to the skimmer?

 

[rEeFnWrX]

No, I'm not concerned with exacts. I was going to disconnect my venturi from the skimmer and pump water in a bucket and do the math for a rough gph.

 

[d2mini]

No, I'm not concerned with exacts. I was going to disconnect my venturi from the skimmer and pump water in a bucket and do the math for a rough gph.

Oh ok. I was just curious how you would figure it out. I'm sure that's good enough to get you in the ballpark.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

I would think so. I'm more curious to see the quality of the skimmate and chunks between regular (mag9)/high range flow, regardless of energy efficiency and how much time the skimmer stays dormant.

The skimmate produced will decide what flow I go with long term.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

So now I am stumped... I just spoke with Jeff and he says he does not recommend having the skimmer on a manifold fed by a main pump. Says that even if you do not adjust the valves after dialing the flow in. Reason is atmospheric pressure and that the skimmer will easily be upset if running off a system manifold...

I did not think atmospheric pressure changes would have a noticeable impact.... atleast not on the internal lines that are filled with water... Figured that only open water sources would be impacted which would mean that all skimmers are subject to it to begin with??

Any thoughts?

 

[kris101]

reefn

the only thing I can think of is if say you have a media reactor on the manifold and its clogs. it would seem to me it would put more pressure on the other outlets?? More pressure and or flow to your skimmer?? maybe?

 

[rEeFnWrX]

Agreed but I am going to try out zeovit on the new tank and won't be using my media reactors. They won't even be plumbed into thus manifold.

 

[kris101]

the media reactor was just an example that I could think of.

I can't think of anything that would cause "atmospheric" changes from a manifold.
Maybe he was using the term atmospheric to describe something within the system that may be on the manifold? maybe something like if the returns clogged and it overflowed the skimmer??

 

[rEeFnWrX]

From past experience running both the 100PX and 100PX-X the 100PX outperformed the 100PX-X pump. The outlets were the same and the input configurations were the same. So this tells me that the higher flow 100PX-X was losing a lot of flow through the injector restriction. I also noticed with the 100PX I had to open the gate valve on the outlet more as compared to the other.

Which skimmer were you running the 100px on?

 

[bayoupr]

The 36", 48" and the 60". Air draw tailed off on the 48" and more on the 60" but both still skimmed good.

 

[azjohnny]

So now I am stumped... I just spoke with Jeff and he says he does not recommend having the skimmer on a manifold fed by a main pump. Says that even if you do not adjust the valves after dialing the flow in. Reason is atmospheric pressure and that the skimmer will easily be upset if running off a system manifold...

I did not think atmospheric pressure changes would have a noticeable impact.... atleast not on the internal lines that are filled with water... Figured that only open water sources would be impacted which would mean that all skimmers are subject to it to begin with??

Any thoughts?

Myself I prefer to run dedicated pumps for each piece of equipment for different reasons. I do think Jeff means by atmospheric differences its within the manifold.

I do think you will be fine with a non pressure pump and a Mazzei 978 injector on a 30" model. I am happy with my Fuval Seas SP4 and Mazzei 1078 on my VS3-36

 

[rEeFnWrX]

I have a 24". Jeff said he doesn't see much need/improvement in using a mazzei on the 24"

 

[azjohnny]

In that case 1200 gph would be good, if you went with a pressure pump you would need to reduce the volume of flow to no more than 500 gph

 

[clorox]

I purchased an SVS3-24 with mazzei option and received it last Friday. Dealing with Jeff was great, without question a 5 star customer experience :thumbsup:
My outgoing skimmer is a Vertex and my tank is a 60g cube.

I haven't installed the lifereef yet in my sump because I was waiting for the new pump which arrived yesterday. It's the new Reef Octopus RODC 5500. From what I observed it's built like a tank. I'm very impressed with the build quality and materials, I can't wait to fire it up in a couple days. I think it might be oversized for the 24" SVS3 (rated at around 1600gph), but I plan on using it at slower setting to maximize quietness as the tank is in my living room.
That was the main reason I stayed away from the magdrive pump.

I decided to order a new gate valve (spears) and a union to replace the stock one, which is in my opinion the only let down given the excellent build quality of the skimmer. The gate valve it came with is very, very stiff and feels a bit cheap compared to the workmanship of the skimmer body, when I try to rotate the valve wheel it actually moves the skimmer body unless I hold it with my other hand. I imagine it would loosen up in time, but I'd rather have something that feels smooth to adjust especially at the beginning.

I'll take some pics tomorrow before and after it goes into the sump.

 

[Bignose94015]

My gate is pretty easy to open and close. Its about a year old.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

Same, gate is two years old. Is not the best or smoothest but have 0 issues adjusting it.

You are also adjusting it with the skimmer empty and light. Once it's in the sump and had water going through it won't move when you make adjustments.. and keep in mind, adjustments are very very small... 1/16 of a turn. You aren't cranking the valve...

 

[ken6217]

I purchased an SVS3-24 with mazzei option and received it last Friday. Dealing with Jeff was great, without question a 5 star customer experience :thumbsup:
My outgoing skimmer is a Vertex and my tank is a 60g cube.

I haven't installed the lifereef yet in my sump because I was waiting for the new pump which arrived yesterday. It's the new Reef Octopus RODC 5500. From what I observed it's built like a tank. I'm very impressed with the build quality and materials, I can't wait to fire it up in a couple days. I think it might be oversized for the 24" SVS3 (rated at around 1600gph), but I plan on using it at slower setting to maximize quietness as the tank is in my living room.
That was the main reason I stayed away from the magdrive pump.

I decided to order a new gate valve (spears) and a union to replace the stock one, which is in my opinion the only let down given the excellent build quality of the skimmer. The gate valve it came with is very, very stiff and feels a bit cheap compared to the workmanship of the skimmer body, when I try to rotate the valve wheel it actually moves the skimmer body unless I hold it with my other hand. I imagine it would loosen up in time, but I'd rather have something that feels smooth to adjust especially at the beginning.

I'll take some pics tomorrow before and after it goes into the sump.

+1 on the gate valve. I have the schedule 80 gate valve. I can adjust it a hair if I need to by just touching the wheel lightly with a finger.

 

[Piper27]

and all those promoting life reef as an improvement have been running drastically oversized skimmers..... This is my point... It is right here in the posts in this thread.

Did you see my previous post on my switch to life reef? The pics say it all. A reef octopus 8" on a 200 gallon system is no where near oversized at how stocked I am. And the life reef put it to shame.

 

[ken6217]

Did you see my previous post on my switch to life reef? The pics say it all. A reef octopus 8" on a 200 gallon system is no where near oversized at how stocked I am. And the life reef put it to shame.

Forget about arguing with Rounder. Maybe you didn't see the flurry of posts n Sunday. He has been banished to Ceti Alpha V.

 

[Piper27]

Jesus, I started reading where I left off and posted that reply, then got extreemly frustrated at the insane amount of repetitiveness going on in his posts. My head hurts... I know what will solve that headache! A nice pic of my favorite skimmer. After all it may have been the other thread I posted in. I will repost it anyways.