The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[bayoupr]

On an angle or off center? everything I've seen looks off center but straight up

Not straight up, angled. Look at the video posted by EvMiBo.

Did you have an american iwaki?

No, I had the Japanese version. To me it seemed louder. But don't take my word only. Different ears, different hearing.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

Not straight up, angled. Look at the video posted by EvMiBo.

Well dam, look at that. That is weird.... Good thing I will be using silicone tubing

 

[bayoupr]

Well dam, look at that. That is weird.... Good thing I will be using silicone tubing

I use flexible tubing also after the ball valve. I installed a valve on the input and output for isolation when removing the pump for cleaning. Probably could remove the output valve since the water drains down when the pump is shut off.

 

[EvMiBo]

45 degree elbow would easily solve the problem, right?

 

[hobbzz]

I think I've given up on the T all the way at the bottom, at least with this pump. The skimming is very inconsistent and goes from nothing in the cup for a day to overflowing the next morning. I think it's more than likely due to too much flow through the skimmer, or the T being too low and reducing contact time because too much water escapes too quickly.

My next configuration I'm trying is with the straight pipe into the cylinder that comes with the 24"-36" models. This has been running all day today and seems way to turbulent to produce anything consistently. The water level is constantly varying by as much as 1/4". I anticipate an overflow soon, but we will see. I think this is also due to the pump being too large.

What does everyone think about the water level in these videos, particularly the one with the stock downpipe (reefnwrx should be familiar with that term lol) configuration?

This one was the one I posted the other day with the water flowing into the skimmer ending in a T with two 45's to make it swirl. Notice the fluctuation at the water level is minimal.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CrdMw_LF4SM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

This next one is from today with the stock downpipe dumping into the cylinder. Notice the fluctuation at the water level is pretty drastic.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XdfTHmVit6g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[rEeFnWrX]

I think your issue is how much air is in that.....

May want to dial down the air with a needle valve as mentioned by someone else before or a different pump?

 

[Brother D]

hobbzz, in my honest opinion you have way too much water flow through that skimmer. Try throttling it back to a level and consistent water level in the tower. Dwell time is key.

 

[Lavoisier]

45 degree elbow would easily solve the problem, right?

Or rotate the impeller housing.

 

[bayoupr]

Or rotate the impeller housing.

If you rotate the impeller housing then it will be angled on the opposite side due to the bolt pattern.

 

[Lavoisier]

If you rotate the impeller housing then it will be angled on the opposite side due to the bolt pattern.

I'll double check but I'm pretty sure my Iwaki or Panworld can be straight up off the side or slightly off horizontal (may be difficult to see here):



Excuse the temporary pump stand...one of today's projects. By the way, I love the skimmer, Bayoupr. :wave:

 

[bayoupr]

I'll double check but I'm pretty sure my Iwaki or Panworld can be straight up off the side or slightly off horizontal (may be difficult to see here):

I know panworld can be rotated at 3, 6, 9 or 12:00 o'clock positions. But when I tried on an Iwaki 40 RLX and the vertical output was tilted either left or right, 10 or 2:00 o'clock positions.. This was done on a new pump. I am not sure about the older Iwaki's.

 

[LIReefer]

Any of you guys connecting your large VS3 skimmers the conventional way along with the counter current option. If so, does it improve the performance. I have a VS3-72 with a Reeflo Dart pump. I'm thinking of connecting the counter current option in hopes of improving the performance. The skimmer seems to work fine but I have nothing to compare it to. I'm not even sure the dart pump is the optimal option. Even though LR says you can use any pump with this skimmer.

Any thoughts?

 

[Lavoisier]

I know panworld can be rotated at 3, 6, 9 or 12:00 o'clock positions. But when I tried on an Iwaki 40 RLX and the vertical output was tilted either left or right, 10 or 2:00 o'clock positions.. This was done on a new pump. I am not sure about the older Iwaki's.

Actually, my pump came from Fish Street and is modeled after Iwaki but is not an Iwaki (my bad). :uhoh2: They must have change the bolt pattern to the panworld design.

 

[bayoupr]

Anyone with a LR skimmer also have a P3 Kill A Watt meter? If so, would it be possible to measure the wattage being used while in use with the skimmer and the rated wattage on the pump.

36" skimmer, Panworld 100PX Pump;

Pump Rating, 120watts
One hour readings, 85 watts, 0.08 KWH.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

36" skimmer, Panworld 100PX Pump;

Pump Rating, 120watts
One hour readings, 85 watts, 0.08 KWH.

Is your pump throttled down on the outlet at all or is that wide open?

 

[bayoupr]

Throttled down. Not sure how closed it is. When I clean my sump this week I will look to see.

 

[hobbzz]

I got some very surprising results with the flow test. I'm going to hard pipe the output later this week and see if that makes a difference as there was a slight kink in the hose I currently have on there.

With the pump pushing all the water through the skimmer it filled a 1 gallon bucket in 6 seconds. That's only 600 gph.

With the gate valve on the T open letting some of the water exit before the skimmer, it filled the 1 gallon bucket in 8 seconds, only 450 gph.

I did the test multiple times and it always came out the same. Still, I'm not sure if I trust those numbers.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

And you have all that air???

 

[bayoupr]

Is your pump throttled down on the outlet at all or is that wide open?

I might have misunderstood your question. My pump is not throttled back on the outlet. The skimmer outlet valve is partially closed.

 

[Adam G]

I got some very surprising results with the flow test. I'm going to hard pipe the output later this week and see if that makes a difference as there was a slight kink in the hose I currently have on there.

With the pump pushing all the water through the skimmer it filled a 1 gallon bucket in 6 seconds. That's only 600 gph.

With the gate valve on the T open letting some of the water exit before the skimmer, it filled the 1 gallon bucket in 8 seconds, only 450 gph.

I did the test multiple times and it always came out the same. Still, I'm not sure if I trust those numbers.

Interesting. Those tests would be in line with the recommended through put from Life Reef.