The Life Reef Skimmer Club

ct_vol said:
I think the question is more two fold. What is the optimal flow through rate and how much pressure is needed for optimal air draw from the venturi???

From my research on the topic, you can have the same gph flow through rate, but better venturi air draw from pressure rated pumps. It would appear some oversize their feed pump instead of going pressure rated and to combine for better performance...

Of course all of this is purely speculative for me as I just bought my Lifereefs to play around with. Everything sounds good in theory, but we'll see how it works once put to practice on our own systems. :D
Click to expand...

In regards to this whole conversation, I would think that the ratio of water/air pulled in should Not change. Meaning that the only reason a pressure rated pump causes the venturi to pull more air, is because more water is flowing through the venturi. If the venturi pulls less air when used with a certain pump, it's because less water is flowing through the venturi. I don't see any mechanism that could allow one pump to pull more air without higher flow.

Am I wrong in this reasoning?
 
hobbzz said:
In regards to this whole conversation, I would think that the ratio of water/air pulled in should Not change. Meaning that the only reason a pressure rated pump causes the venturi to pull more air, is because more water is flowing through the venturi. If the venturi pulls less air when used with a certain pump, it's because less water is flowing through the venturi. I don't see any mechanism that could allow one pump to pull more air without higher flow.

Am I wrong in this reasoning?
Click to expand...

If this were the case then bayoupr would not be getting superior performance from lesser gph pressure rated pump than a standard pump with higher flow. The air draw has to result in some type of back pressure on the pump which is why the pressure rated pumps perform better than the non, and the external pumps perform better than the internal.

At least that's the way it works in my head. :)
 
Pressure rated do not get restricted as much as non pressure rated. So the lower gph pressure rated pump is actually flowing more water through the venturi which increases air draw.

This is why bayou and others ended up opening their gate valves more with the lower gph pressure rated pump.
 
CTvol and Reefn, that is exactly what I said.

CTvol the air draw does not cause back pressure. The back pressure comes from the fact that a venturi is tapered on the inside, and you are pushing water through a small opening. If you plugged the air inlet the back pressure would not change all that much, if at all. I wasn't trying to call you out by quoting you, iirc about 4-5 people were saying the same thing as you and I simply don't know how to use multi-quote, let alone do it from my phone. :)

People in that conversation (that convo had been going on for a few pages at the point that I quoted) were saying that they thought a pump could draw more air without adding more flow. I was saying that is incorrect. The only way to get a venturi to pull more air is to push more water through it, at least in my understanding of how they work.
 
Nope was giving people a heads up if they weren't subscribed to the other one

it's on topic. I'm sure someone wants to try a gyre in their skimmer.... ;)
 
So I've pretty much read 90% of this thread and if the following question is buried in here, well, forgive me.

I just ordered a LF1-300S sump and a 30" skimmer from LR that will ship next month and Jeff said I could go with the mag 12 or mag 18, and that the mag 18 might give a little better skimming.

I guess my question/concern at this point is will the mag 18 be to much flow for my tank volume? Does it really matter if I match the return pump flow to the skimmer feed pump flow?

The tank is not setup yet and is still in the build phase from Reef Savvy I just need to iron out the minor details. The tank volume is 88 gallons and the sump will be in the basement so I'm going with the 40x13x14 sump from LR, which will be a TSV of about 120 gallons.
 
Just ordered my svs3-24 and on backorder for the LF1 sump. Very excited to get away from the "hype" and go back to what works.

If it wasn't for the heat issue I would jump back to MH to go full circle back to old school. =)
 
hobbzz said:
CTvol the air draw does not cause back pressure. The back pressure comes from the fact that a venturi is tapered on the inside, and you are pushing water through a small opening. If you plugged the air inlet the back pressure would not change all that much, if at all. I wasn't trying to call you out by quoting you, iirc about 4-5 people were saying the same thing as you and I simply don't know how to use multi-quote, let alone do it from my phone. :)
Click to expand...

Hah! My posting skills from my phone are mediocre at best. I still haven't downloaded the Tapatalk app. Doubt I ever will unless it becomes free. ;)

hobbzz said:
People in that conversation (that convo had been going on for a few pages at the point that I quoted) were saying that they thought a pump could draw more air without adding more flow. I was saying that is incorrect. The only way to get a venturi to pull more air is to push more water through it, at least in my understanding of how they work.
Click to expand...

I believe there is likely a flow (pass through) and air draw performance curve that in direct proportion to the pump's flow performance curve. The problem is that there are too many variables. Size of skimmer, type of venturi, pump used. The more I think about it, the more I like the bayoupr's method of manually dialing in flow and airdraw.
 
bayoupr said:
The only thing I am dialing in is the air draw similar to running a beckett.
Click to expand...

Got it. Went back and re-read your earlier post and it was from one of your previous skimmers/ pump combos.

If I make it to the hardware stor this weekend, I may switch out and try the 100px.
 
Has anyone here used an iwaki (w/Japanese motor) and a similar rated panworld/blueline?

If so how do they compare noise wise? Debating between panworld 100px or iwaki 40rt
 
This or Direct Youtube Link is a great video supported by an actual decibel comparison and power draw comparison at the end. The Japanese iwaki's are slightly more quiet AND consume slightly less power. Furthermore, the construction seems to be better. You'll pay a little more for the Japanese motors.
 
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I had the Iwaki 40 on my return and found it to be louder than the Panworld. Also I don't like the output arrangement on the Iwaki (on an angle not straight up) like the panworlds and bluelines. When you get to the Iwaki 55 and larger the outputs are straight up not angled. Haven't figured out why they do this on the smaller pumps. Not a big deal if you have room but after you install a ball valve hose fitting it tends to stick out to the side a bit. Not sure what the angle is but it might be 45deg
 
bayoupr said:
I had the Iwaki 40 on my return and found it to be louder than the Panworld. Also I don't like the output arrangement on the Iwaki (on an angle not straight up) like the panworlds and bluelines. When you get to the Iwaki 55 and larger the outputs are straight up not angled. Haven't figured out why they do this on the smaller pumps. Not a big deal if you have room but after you install a ball valve hose fitting it tends to stick out to the side a bit. Not sure what the angle is but it might be 45deg
Click to expand...
On an angle or off center? everything I've seen looks off center but straight up
 
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