The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[EvMiBo]

IMO a non pressure pump gets good results, if you need to turn down the incoming air with a needle valve whats the use of going with a pressure pump ( the reason of going with a pressure pump is to draw more air)

If you're getting ideal air flow [which seems to be 20-22 SCFH I think] by choking it down with a needle valve at lower flow rates are you therefore getting longer contact time? In theory (for me anyway) you are, and that's why a pressure rated pump is more favorable. Or am I off?

 

[rEeFnWrX]

If you're getting ideal air flow [which seems to be 20-22 SCFH I think] by choking it down with a needle valve at lower flow rates are you therefore getting longer contact time? In theory (for me anyway) you are, and that's why a pressure rated pump is more favorable. Or am I off?

bayou I think it was. Went from a higher gph non pressure rated pump to a lower gph pressure rated pump.

He had to open his gate valve on the outlet a bit more... this proves that the higher gph non pressure rated pump was indeed pushing less gph through the venturi than the lower gph pressure rated...

As flow through the venturi increases, so will air draw. If you are decreasing air draw via needle valve. I would imagine the gph stays equal if not rises very slightly? So wouldn't water dwell time in the chamber be less than with the non pressure rated pump. However, since there is more air with the pressure rated pump vs none, wouldn't that make the contact time more effective with the pressure rated?

decreasing pump output on the outlet will control dwell time and air draw, while decreasing air draw by itself will decrease contact time/effectiveness(assuming you aren't drawing a ridiculous amount of air to begin with since too much has proven in effective)?

it really is a balancing act. One that would be easier with higher pressure through the venturi... which is why I chose to go with iwaki 40rt... I will be able to attempt balancing flow vs air draw. Where with a mag 9/12 or DC 6000 on 24" there is no where near enough air draw to consider reducing it and definitely not enough flow to restrict the pump output.

 

[murdock84]

Just got word today that I am on this coming weeks build list.

 

[kurfer]

Man, this lifereef skimmer beats the living crap out of my old reef octopus. Constantly had to mess with it, it wouldn't skim anything then all of a sudden I come home to overflowing skimmer.

In goes the lifereef and after 3 days I have THICK black stuff half way filling the cup, crazy how much more it skimmed that my octopus. Best part is, I have not adjusted it since setting it up. Can't believe my tank survived without it considering its skimming about 800% more than my old skimmer...that crap used to be in my tank!

 

[ksed]

which model of LR and RO do you have. Also how big is your aquarium.

 

[GatorAlum05]

my 24in svs3 came in yesterday. Put it together at 9.5inch water. 1/6 turn. Can't wait to see what it skims in the next few days!

info: it's in my 55g tank with 20g sump.

 

[dcmartinpc]

Lifereef aficionados! I am ready to make the plunge and I am looking for a recommendation. I currently have an ETSS 1400 XR and have been fairly happy with it but the neck is ALWAYS accumulating crap, literally.... I am running it with an Iwaki 100 and it is noisy.

I have multiple systems on a central sump.

225G Mixed Reef with a fairly heavy fish load (5 tangs, copperband butterfly, 4 wrasses, 4 anthias, flame hawk, orchid dottyback, and a midas blenny)

60G Cube with moderate fish load (2 Clownfish, Coral Beauty Angel, Melanurus Wrasse, 2 small wrasses, yellow assessor)

50G frag tank (Tomini Tang)


Total system volume: Approximately 450 Gallons.

I am trying to figure out if I need a VS3-36 or a VS3-48, or even bigger if needed.

Thoughts?

Thanks everyone in advance!

Don

 

[EvMiBo]

If that were my setup I'd probably go 48" or 60". The size chart for these skimmers has always confused me a bit, but I think for the most part what is recommended is if you can go larger you should. That being said, a 72" might be too large. I think 60" would be a nice fit. Will see what others say.

 

[d2mini]

Man, this lifereef skimmer beats the living crap out of my old reef octopus. Constantly had to mess with it, it wouldn't skim anything then all of a sudden I come home to overflowing skimmer.

In goes the lifereef and after 3 days I have THICK black stuff half way filling the cup, crazy how much more it skimmed that my octopus. Best part is, I have not adjusted it since setting it up. Can't believe my tank survived without it considering its skimming about 800% more than my old skimmer...that crap used to be in my tank!

Yeah, i had the exact same experience when switching from my Vertex Alpha 250. Crazy!

Just got word today that I am on this coming weeks build list.

I've been at the top of "this week's build list" for weeks now! :lol:
Custom sump and reefugium... it's taking a while.
And then it has to go to a tank builder to ship it since Jeff doesn't have the means to ship that big of an item. Ugh. I need it like yesterday!

Lifereef aficionados! I am ready to make the plunge and I am looking for a recommendation. I currently have an ETSS 1400 XR and have been fairly happy with it but the neck is ALWAYS accumulating crap, literally.... I am running it with an Iwaki 100 and it is noisy.

I have multiple systems on a central sump.

225G Mixed Reef with a fairly heavy fish load (5 tangs, copperband butterfly, 4 wrasses, 4 anthias, flame hawk, orchid dottyback, and a midas blenny)

60G Cube with moderate fish load (2 Clownfish, Coral Beauty Angel, Melanurus Wrasse, 2 small wrasses, yellow assessor)

50G frag tank (Tomini Tang)


Total system volume: Approximately 450 Gallons.

I am trying to figure out if I need a VS3-36 or a VS3-48, or even bigger if needed.

Thoughts?

Thanks everyone in advance!

Don

I'd do 48".
I've got the 30" running on about 350g total volume.

 

[dcmartinpc]

I'd do 48".
I've got the 30" running on about 350g total volume.

That was what I was thinking... Unfortunately... There is a 36" on the forums here for a pretty good deal and I was hoping it would be a winner

I tend to prefer to oversize my skimmers a bit. Does anyone think the 60" or even the 72" would be too much skimmer for my system?

Thanks!

Don

 

[hobbzz]

I would say the anything from the 48" - 72" depending on how heavy you feed and whether you will be adding more fish to the bioload in the future . With a pressure rated pump.

 

[dcmartinpc]

I would say the anything from the 48" - 72" depending on how heavy you feed and whether you will be adding more fish to the bioload in the future . With a pressure rated pump.

That is another point I forgot to mention. I do feed VERY heavily. I could drill a hole in the side of my sump to keep the skimmer on the floor. That way it wouldn't be stupid tall!

I might just go for the gusto and shoot for the 72" model!

I know Jeff says no micro bubbles, but do these skimmers let any bubbles into the sump at all?

Thanks!

Don

 

[hobbzz]

I'd do 48".
I've got the 30" running on about 350g total volume.

I Thought you had the 24? You also have a light bioload 200g display correct?

Generally you don't want to include any water volume that does not contain fish. Fish add to the bioload, water in the sump does not. It's hard to break people of the habit of including sump and fishless frag tank volume. But if you read the posts of experienced hobbyists, and experts like the ones that write for the reef magazines, they usually agree that you only include areas that contain fish.

I would agree with the 48 being an option, but I would add that it would be the minimum and not leave much room for adding more fish or more food in the future.

 

[hobbzz]

If you feed heavily I would go 60 or 72. The small neck makes oversizing a non-issue, unlike with needle wheel skimmers. The skimmer will simply go idle some period of the day if it pulls everything out.

Mine is custom so I can't really comment on the average micro bubbles.

 

[d2mini]

I Thought you had the 24? You also have a light bioload 200g display correct?

Generally you don't want to include any water volume that does not contain fish. Fish add to the bioload, water in the sump does not. It's hard to break people of the habit of including sump and fishless frag tank volume. But if you read the posts of experienced hobbyists, and experts like the ones that write for the reef magazines, they usually agree that you only include areas that contain fish.

I would agree with the 48 being an option, but I would add that it would be the minimum and not leave much room for adding more fish or more food in the future.

No, i have the 30".
200g display, 40g Refugium, and 30 gallon frag tank. Plus another 75g or so in the sump. The fuge and frag tank have fish in them. The display has around 15 fish with several tangs.

I don't feed heavy though.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

I've been at the top of "this week's build list" for weeks now! :lol:
Custom sump and reefugium... it's taking a while.
And then it has to go to a tank builder to ship it since Jeff doesn't have the means to ship that big of an item. Ugh. I need it like yesterday!

Take that quattro for a road trip and get a roof rack on the way

 

[hobbzz]

No, i have the 30".
200g display, 40g Refugium, and 30 gallon frag tank. Plus another 75g or so in the sump. The fuge and frag tank have fish in them. The display has around 15 fish with several tangs.

I don't feed heavy though.

Gotchya. How many fish total?

Does the skimmer ever sit idle and stop producing?

 

[makeshift101]

going to bump this question, still having this problem, thanks!

Got a Life reef VS2-24 the other day from a member on the boards, everything is set up and working great except 1 thing.

The water level in the neck is always changing. it rises and lowers constantly. But it is producing foam and skim. Is this normal? I seem to be getting more wet skim then dry.

output is not above water line, level in sump does not change

Using it in sump with a DC-6000

 

[d2mini]

Gotchya. How many fish total?

Does the skimmer ever sit idle and stop producing?

You can scroll down here to see my fish list.
http://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/d2mini/1
Sometimes it does go idle. Not too often though. I think I'm nearing the point of having to go slightly bigger at some point.

going to bump this question, still having this problem, thanks!

Sounds like an issue with your pump.
I wouldn't use a DC pump... I don't trust them to be consistent enough.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

Sounds like an issue with your pump.
I wouldn't use a DC pump... I don't trust them to be consistent enough.

I'd agree, I just switched out from the dc6000 to my mag12.

DC6k worked great but I think I got lucky with mine. DC pumps are known for having some fluctuation, especially the cheap ones.