The Life Reef Skimmer Club

Hey guys,

I picked up a used LR Sump. and an SVS 24 skimmer for my 50gal. This thing is loud! I'm gonna ditch the Mag 9 and have ordered one of the new sicce syncra pro 1000 pumps. I know it will help with pump noise, but I'm concerend about the venturi sound. The tank is in the living room, and next to a bedroom wall. Any other tips on quieting this beast down? Gotta keep the wife happy, especially if there's an upgrade in my future. ;)

Thanks!
 
RDM said:
Here's a picture of the VS2-24 going into my 105 build. Just a week into the initial cycle. Using a Waveline DC-6000 on setting 5. The sump has 9.5" of water and the skimmer sits on a 4" stand.

LifeReef_VS2-24_2_s_zpsmiagrlq8.jpg~original


LifeReef_VS2-24_1_s_zpsiy3nramb.jpg~original
Click to expand...

FYI you can run the skimmer with the outlet submerged
 
Last edited by a moderator:
visualscapes said:
Hey guys,

I picked up a used LR Sump. and an SVS 24 skimmer for my 50gal. This thing is loud! I'm gonna ditch the Mag 9 and have ordered one of the new sicce syncra pro 1000 pumps. I know it will help with pump noise, but I'm concerend about the venturi sound. The tank is in the living room, and next to a bedroom wall. Any other tips on quieting this beast down? Gotta keep the wife happy, especially if there's an upgrade in my future. ;)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It shouldn't be loud. Was the mag 9 vibrating on the glass maybe? What noise are you hearing?

DC pumps are quiet and seem to have a good track record with the 24" and 30" LR models. A jebao dc6000 works well with the 24" LR. I use a 9000 on my 30" LR.

That being said, a mag9 should not be "loud" if it's running properly.
 
The skimmer shouldn't be loud, either.
Run the output at least partially submerged.
The venturi should be quiet, too. Unless.... it looks like you have the black rubber tubing which is what he uses when installing the optional Ozone Kit. This kit has a Tee fitting in the middle of that black tubing. I can't see it in your pic, but if that Tee fitting is there, sucking in air, it will be noisy. If this is the case and you don't have an ozone generator hooked up to it, I would plug that open end.
 
Just finished changing out my Little Giant 2MDQX-SC pump on my approximate 12 year old VS2-24 to a Blueline 30HDX. The LG pump was not the original pump, but it had started to weaken significantly. What a difference and the Blueline was whisper quite from the startup. It's not a new skimmer, like a bunch of you, but it sure feels like it. Here are the boring before and after pics. It looks like a now have a yellow Ferrari under my tank! LOL Please forgive the wiring mess.

IMG_20150502_101937038_zpsi7soyjnm.jpg~original


IMG_20150502_124325503_zpst3iyfjmd.jpg~original
 
Last edited by a moderator:
EvMiBo said:
It shouldn't be loud. Was the mag 9 vibrating on the glass maybe? What noise are you hearing?

DC pumps are quiet and seem to have a good track record with the 24" and 30" LR models. A jebao dc6000 works well with the 24" LR. I use a 9000 on my 30" LR.

That being said, a mag9 should not be "loud" if it's running properly.
Click to expand...

Hmm, yeah it's loud to me, and more importantly the wife.:hmm4: I don't think the pump was touching the side of the sump. It's hard to describe but it just makes a lot of noise.

I'm going to install the new pump tomorrow and put some of that Oxo silicone mat under it, "should" make a big difference.
 
The Life Reef Skimmer Club

Does anyone else have trouble with a leak from the hose that attaches from the pump to the Venturi?

I have tried everything to get this small drip to stop. But no matter what type of hose or hose clamps i use, I still get a small leak.

The pump is an SP4 and the skimmer is a 24" with a 4" extension. It is running in freshwater ATM.

Is there just too much back pressure?

Any ideas?

https://vimeo.com/126748744
 
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It is possible that the venturi is cracked at the weld seam and is not easily visible.I would take the hose off and closely inspect the venturi.
 
I purchased an SVS30-30 with a MagDrive 18. I'm in the process of configuring my sump, which will be a 40g breeder - it is 36"W x 18"D and 16"H. I am trying to figure out how deep I want to run the skimmer.

The instructions that came with the skimmer indicate a preferred water depth of 6.5". For this unit, the website says that it can be run at any depth up to 16". I don't have much height to raise it up. IIRC, I can only raise up the skimmer a couple of inches before hitting the "ceiling" inside the stand. So, the only real option is to run it in a section of the sump that has only 7" to 8" of water.

I was planning on setting up the sump so that the skimmer and drain are in the same section. The next section was going to be the return pump. The third section would be the refugium.

How deep are you guys running your skimmers?

Should I make the first section (for the skimmer and drain) only 7" or 8" high? For other reasons, it seems like I would be better off making it closer to 12".

Also, do you all connect anything after the gate valve where the water exits?

Last, do most of you connect the pump to the skimmer via PVC or via flexible tubing?

I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!
 
Hitch08 said:
I purchased an SVS30-30 with a MagDrive 18. I'm in the process of configuring my sump, which will be a 40g breeder - it is 36"W x 18"D and 16"H. I am trying to figure out how deep I want to run the skimmer.

The instructions that came with the skimmer indicate a preferred water depth of 6.5". For this unit, the website says that it can be run at any depth up to 16". I don't have much height to raise it up. IIRC, I can only raise up the skimmer a couple of inches before hitting the "ceiling" inside the stand. So, the only real option is to run it in a section of the sump that has only 7" to 8" of water.

I was planning on setting up the sump so that the skimmer and drain are in the same section. The next section was going to be the return pump. The third section would be the refugium.

How deep are you guys running your skimmers?

Should I make the first section (for the skimmer and drain) only 7" or 8" high? For other reasons, it seems like I would be better off making it closer to 12".

Also, do you all connect anything after the gate valve where the water exits?

Last, do most of you connect the pump to the skimmer via PVC or via flexible tubing?

I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!
Click to expand...
The nice thing about this skimmer is water level doesn't really matter.
You just need to adjust the gate valve if you end up changing the sump water level.
I like my water level to be partially covering the output. Less noise that way but I can still see it flowing.
If you need to, you can add pvc elbows or whatever you need to the output to get the water to flow out where/how you want it.

For the pump connection I use the supplied clear hose.
 
Was surprised to see thread on Life Reef skimmers. I purchased a VS-24 years ago to use on my 55 gallon. Basically set it and other than clean out collection cup didn't think about it. Always worked with no problems. 55 is now gone and I'm putting together a 220. Plan on reusing my tried and true VS-24.
 
Hitch08 said:
I purchased an SVS30-30 with a MagDrive 18. I'm in the process of configuring my sump, which will be a 40g breeder - it is 36"W x 18"D and 16"H. I am trying to figure out how deep I want to run the skimmer.

The instructions that came with the skimmer indicate a preferred water depth of 6.5". For this unit, the website says that it can be run at any depth up to 16". I don't have much height to raise it up. IIRC, I can only raise up the skimmer a couple of inches before hitting the "ceiling" inside the stand. So, the only real option is to run it in a section of the sump that has only 7" to 8" of water.

I was planning on setting up the sump so that the skimmer and drain are in the same section. The next section was going to be the return pump. The third section would be the refugium.

How deep are you guys running your skimmers?

Should I make the first section (for the skimmer and drain) only 7" or 8" high? For other reasons, it seems like I would be better off making it closer to 12".

Also, do you all connect anything after the gate valve where the water exits?

Last, do most of you connect the pump to the skimmer via PVC or via flexible tubing?

I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I run my SV3-36 in 9" of water with the outlet completely submerged, this will add some back pressure but you can compensate for it by adjusting the gate valve
 
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