The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[zibba]

As of this afternoon, I'm a member as well.

After speaking with Jeff for over an hour, I ordered a SVS3-30 with a slightly modified cup to ensure I have enough room to remove it.

I recently upgrade my tank (150g to ~550g total volume) and I'm currently running just one ATB Elegance 200 Pro (rated to 300g-ish). I've been planning on running two skimmers the whole time since I have a big footprint in the under-tank sump but I don't have a lot of headroom (31"). I was also limited on what I could fit through the gap between the top of my sump and the top of the stand: at best, I could have gotten a 10.5" diameter skimmer in there. Started looking at other options besides needlewheels.

The plan is to run the Lifereef and the ATB side-by-side. I should get a good feel for which one performs best. Assuming they're equal, I'll keep running both and run the ATB "wet" (since that's really what it does best anyway) and the Lifereef however it wants to run. If the ATB is clearly slouching in comparison to the Lifereef, I'll add another Lifereef and remove the ATB. I have a Waveline DC12000 on hand that I think would work perfectly as a feed for 2 SVS3-30s. We'll see.

I'm still not sure which pump I'll put on the single Lifereef when it comes in. I have several back up pumps, pumps from old builds, etc. The potential list includes: the previously mentioned Waveline DC12000, a Reef Octopus DC5500, or an Eheim 1262. A friend has a Laguna 1350 that he said I could try out too. Any recommendations there to shortcut the trial-and-error phase would be helpful.

Also open to hearing what others think about this plan.

Coming by to provide an update on this:

It's been about 8-months now that I've been a part of this "Club" and running dual skimmers: a SVS3-30 with a slightly modified cup and an ATB Elegance 200 Pro.

I decided to use a Waveline DC12000 (turned way down via controller) after experimenting with a Laguna 1350 and a Mag9 pump. It's been very consistent.

I set the LifeReef skimmer to skim "wet" and the ATB to skim "dry" (opposite of the original plan) and it's been a great set up so far. Haven't had any issues with one going inactive.

Still in the process of designing this, and incorporating a lot of fail-safes, etc., but the plan is to tie the drain line from the LifeReef into the house plumbing line so that all waste water will automatically go into the sewer. I'm planning to skim even wetter with the LifeReef and top off all removed water with freshly mixed saltwater (replacing the worst water with freshly mixed saltwater) as a means of automatic water changes. Again, still planning stages but that's the goal.

Take care everyone.

 

[EvMiBo]

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.

Did you install the new pump yet? How's the noise now?

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!

My water depth is about 9.5" for my 30"LR. I think you'd be fine with 7" or even 8", you will just have to close the gate valve more the more shallow you go. You don't need anything after the gate valve at the water exit. I prefer mine to be submerged to keep water noise down, the back pressure created from this is minimal at most, it's not a problem. Use as little PVC as possible, the pump connection and even venturi connection should be used with flexible tubing. Having a "hard" plumbing job can void the warranty. The only hard pvc that I use is sch80 barbs. This puts less stress on the body connections and is very forgiving if you bump into it during regular maintenance, etc.

 

[Hitch08]

My water depth is about 9.5" for my 30"LR. I think you'd be fine with 7" or even 8", you will just have to close the gate valve more the more shallow you go. You don't need anything after the gate valve at the water exit. I prefer mine to be submerged to keep water noise down, the back pressure created from this is minimal at most, it's not a problem. Use as little PVC as possible, the pump connection and even venturi connection should be used with flexible tubing. Having a "hard" plumbing job can void the warranty. The only hard pvc that I use is sch80 barbs. This puts less stress on the body connections and is very forgiving if you bump into it during regular maintenance, etc.

Great advice. Thanks!

 

[d2mini]

You know what problem I've been having a lot lately that I never had in my old system?
The skimmer will be chugging along, filling the skimmer cup over the course of a week.
Then I forget to empty the cup, skim starts to flow down the tube to the venturi, and the skimmer freaks out, filling the cup with tank water and sending all that skim back down and into the tank as it gets diluted in the cup. Then I have to wait a day or two for the skimmer to stop freaking out before it can be run as normal.

In my old setup, this never happened. If the cup got too full, skim would start to go down into the venturi but the skimmer didn't freak out.

Any thoughts what this is?

 

[Lucifa68]

You know what problem I've been having a lot lately that I never had in my old system?
The skimmer will be chugging along, filling the skimmer cup over the course of a week.
Then I forget to empty the cup, skim starts to flow down the tube to the venturi, and the skimmer freaks out, filling the cup with tank water and sending all that skim back down and into the tank as it gets diluted in the cup. Then I have to wait a day or two for the skimmer to stop freaking out before it can be run as normal.

In my old setup, this never happened. If the cup got too full, skim would start to go down into the venturi but the skimmer didn't freak out.

Any thoughts what this is?

i have had this happen a couple of times to me as well. not sure what caused it so now i try and stay on top of emptying the cup everyday

 

[Hitch08]

I seem to recall that Jeff recommends against leaving the tube open to drain the skimmer cup. Is that correct?

Maybe you can put the skimmer discharge tube into an otherwise closed container and just open the valve on occasion to drain the skimmer cup?

I'm pretty certain that suggestion doesn't help at all....

 

[d2mini]

I seem to recall that Jeff recommends against leaving the tube open to drain the skimmer cup. Is that correct?

Maybe you can put the skimmer discharge tube into an otherwise closed container and just open the valve on occasion to drain the skimmer cup?

I'm pretty certain that suggestion doesn't help at all....

I don't leave it open.
I wait for the cup to get nearly full then manually drain it into a separate container.

 

[azjohnny]

You know what problem I've been having a lot lately that I never had in my old system?
The skimmer will be chugging along, filling the skimmer cup over the course of a week.
Then I forget to empty the cup, skim starts to flow down the tube to the venturi, and the skimmer freaks out, filling the cup with tank water and sending all that skim back down and into the tank as it gets diluted in the cup. Then I have to wait a day or two for the skimmer to stop freaking out before it can be run as normal.

In my old setup, this never happened. If the cup got too full, skim would start to go down into the venturi but the skimmer didn't freak out.

Any thoughts what this is?

I also had that happen. I thought it might have been one of my nems releasing a toxin. It happened again, so I thought it might have been getting a small amount of salt creep in the venturi causing the water level in the skimmer to rise.

I microwaved a cup of RO/DI water and submerged the venturi air line into the cup and hasn't happened since


I plan on doing this once a month as preventive maintenance

 

[azjohnny]

I don't leave it open.
I wait for the cup to get nearly full then manually drain it into a separate container.

I do the same

 

[d2mini]

I also had that happen. I thought it might have been one of my nems releasing a toxin. It happened again, so I thought it might have been getting a small amount of salt creep in the venturi causing the water level in the skimmer to rise.

I microwaved a cup of RO/DI water and submerged the venturi air line into the cup and hasn't happened since


I plan on doing this once a month as preventive maintenance

Do you know if it happened to you after the cup filled up at a normal pace?
Because that's what i'm talking about here. I just forgot to empty the cup before it got high enough to start flowing down the venturi tube.
Maybe a chunk of skim clogs the venturi or something?

It's not like I only had an inch of skim and then it went nuts.

 

[visualscapes]

Did you install the new pump yet? How's the noise now?

Huge difference. The new Sicce pro pumps are amazing. Only thing making noise now is the venturi, which still makes noise but its bearable with the cabinet closed. Thinking about installing some dynamat in there to muffle it even more.

 

[azjohnny]

Do you know if it happened to you after the cup filled up at a normal pace?
Because that's what i'm talking about here. I just forgot to empty the cup before it got high enough to start flowing down the venturi tube.
Maybe a chunk of skim clogs the venturi or something?

It's not like I only had an inch of skim and then it went nuts.

With me there was 1-2" of skim mate in the cup and when I discovered the issue the cup was full of very diluted skim mate. I am assuming some concentrated skim got back into the venturi and the skimmer went crazy ( just doing its job)

 

[Bobabooie]

Huge difference. The new Sicce pro pumps are amazing. Only thing making noise now is the venturi, which still makes noise but its bearable with the cabinet closed. Thinking about installing some dynamat in there to muffle it even more.

Which Sicce pump did you go with? I've been thinking about upgrading my Mags when I switch tanks or when they finally crap out. 4 years 24/365 so far so I'm sure I'm on borrowed time.

 

[Bobabooie]

Double post

 

[visualscapes]

Which Sicce pump did you go with? I've been thinking about upgrading my Mags when I switch tanks or when they finally crap out. 4 years 24/365 so far so I'm sure I'm on borrowed time.

I went with the Sicce syncra pro 1000. Will probably use the Mag from the Skimmer as a way to vacuum out my sump periodically.

 

[Bobabooie]

Good use for it! I was thinking about a remote water change/mixing station.

 

[Deep Reef]

Looking at joining the club. Due to stand height on my 120 DT w/40g sump i will have to go with the SVS3-24. I have a couple of questions.

1. I have seen that Jeff doesn't recommend going with the mazzei venturi on this skimmer. I know that some of you have tried it. Was it worth it or should I stick with the stock. Also if you bought the Mazzei which model did you get? the 1078?

2. It appears that the mag 12 is the better choice over the standard mag 9.5 right?

thanks

 

[EvMiBo]

1. Iirc, mazzei is a minimal upgrade at best for the smaller skimmers. I think it's more beneficial for the larger models (36" +). I'm sure someone will chime in with more info.

2. Yes, I'd go mag12 if you're going mag.

 

[azjohnny]

I have a VS-36 and started with a Mazzei 978 and upgraded to a 1078 late on, I do feel it pulled more air than the 978. I never used the standard spa injector that Jeff uses

I think with the 24" model stay with the spa injector

 

[WireTech]

Do you have any pictures? And do you think a swab is is really necessary for one of these skimmers?

I will try to get a picture of the modified collection cup. The neck of this skimmer was always covered in a thick layer of stuff. So yes I think it can benefit from the addition of a neck cleaner.