The Life Reef Skimmer Club

Life Reef VS3-30. Guess how long it took?



This is actually in a 100 gallon sump that I just got and am cleaning with 9 gallons of vinegar and probably 70-80 gallons of tap water. After letting it run for a day, I adjusted it just for the heck of it and it only took 2 hours to get all that funk out. I'm about to empty it all and move it to my basement so I can fill it and get it online.

I'm looking forward to using a real skimmer!
 
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I sprung for the Mazzei on my 24 after a couple of months using the stock venturi; larger air intake, more air, did need to adjust gate valve quite a bit. Easier to skim dry, worthwhile upgrade IMO. The stock venturi makes an awesome salt mix aerator too!

John
 
I plan to be getting 3 of the VS3-36, 36".

I know Jeff and have dealt with him many times over the years and even though we are separated by a large distance...I will still and always put preference to his work.
 
Anyone use an avast swabbie with their lifereef skimmer? How is the fit on it and did you need the extended blade? I really hate emptying the cup every three or 4 days.
 
Piper27 said:
Anyone use an avast swabbie with their lifereef skimmer? How is the fit on it and did you need the extended blade? I really hate emptying the cup every three or 4 days.
Click to expand...

There is really no need for a swabbie on a life reef and I don't even think it would fit with the neck being so small. Plus, it wouldn't do anything for you as far as how quick you need to empty the cup. You would need a skimmate "locker" for the cup to drain into.

I'm so glad I got the 8" cup. Because like you I empty it twice a week.
At least I only have to remove the cup and clean it once a month! I don't mind draining the cup into another container twice a week. Except for the stench. :D
 
d2mini said:
There is really no need for a swabbie on a life reef and I don't even think it would fit with the neck being so small. Plus, it wouldn't do anything for you as far as how quick you need to empty the cup. You would need a skimmate "locker" for the cup to drain into.

I'm so glad I got the 8" cup. Because like you I empty it twice a week.
At least I only have to remove the cup and clean it once a month! I don't mind draining the cup into another container twice a week. Except for the stench. :D
Click to expand...

The swabbie is for a different application. It cleans the neck. It has nothing to do what the cup holds. A cleaner neck will increase the amount of skim mate.


I got the 8" cup as well but it really isn't necessary if you are going to attach tubing to the drain and let it drain into a bucket.
Ken
 
ken6217 said:
The swabbie is for a different application. It cleans the neck. It has nothing to do what the cup holds.
Click to expand...

That's what we both said.
I had one on my vertex. Didn't make much difference but at least it kept crud from building up on the neck and then falling into the body.
But moot point because it's not needed on the life reef and I don't think it would fit anyway. The blade would take up the whole neck and probably inhibit passage of bubbles.
 
d2mini said:
That's what we both said.
I had one on my vertex. Didn't make much difference but at least it kept crud from building up on the neck and then falling into the body.
But moot point because it's not needed on the life reef and I don't think it would fit anyway. The blade would take up the whole neck and probably inhibit passage of bubbles.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Read it incorrectly.
 
They have different sizes of swabbie, not sure if they could make me a smaller one but I need it because as after 3 days the inside of the neck has a quarter inch of gunk in it and s after thst it skimz wetter and fills the rest of the cup in a day. And yes of course I would use a skim locker with it. I think the bubbles 're going to pass wether or not I have a swabbie in it or not really.
 
I converted my 48" to a 60" with a 12" extension I've been having a couple of days ago and here are the results. Running a Blueline 40HD not the 40HDX.
 

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bayoupr said:
I converted my 48" to a 60" with a 12" extension I've been having a couple of days ago and here are the results. Running a Blueline 40HD not the 40HDX.
Click to expand...

Is that the pump that Jeff recommends for your setup? The 40HD has a lot less gph but it a pressure pump.

It seems on his skimmers, he wants pump with higher flow and not a pressure pump.
Ken
 
He recommends the 40HDX. It feels like I get more flow with the 40HD (using my hand on the outlet to feel the flow). I know I get more air draw. I feel like the pressure rated pump pushes better through the small orifice in the injector. If I run it at 48" then my 30HD handles it good but not at 60". Anything bigger than a 40HD pressure rated is too much for the 48" and 60", not sure about a 72". The 30HD is too much for a 30" and smaller.
 
I just dragged my old VS2-24 with a Mazzei 978 on it out of the closet. Had to do some serious acrylic repair, but if it holds I might replace the old PM Bullet 2 I've been running when I move the setup across the room here pretty soon.
Would the MD55RLT I've been using on the PM be too much for it?
Where do I want the water level?
 
The 55RLT is way too much. This pump was too much on my 48" lifereef skimmer. I had to restrict the output of the pump 1/2 way with a ball valve.
 
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