The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[EvMiBo]

need everyone's honest opinion on the 24 model. I will have this on a 125 gallon tank now but plan on a 180 in the near future will the 24 handle the 180

I spoke with Jeff recently about this. I have a 135g and he basically said the 24" would be fine, BUT if my sump can handle the vertical height of the 30" I should go 30". There's more contact time, it can handle more flow, and therefore it should skim more.

 

[clorox]

Here's the skimmer all setup out of the sump.

I had to fiddle a little with the footprint, because with the addition of the Mazzei the overall length was slightly exceeding the width of my sump (elite aquatics cube 19x19). So I had to find the correct angle from the pump to the Mazzei inlet trying to avoid having too much of a bend. Hopefully this will work.

I'll set it up in the sump tomorrow morning, which will give me the opportunity to siphon detritus and set things up properly.

 

[ken6217]

Here's the skimmer all setup out of the sump.

I had to fiddle a little with the footprint, because with the addition of the Mazzei the overall length was slightly exceeding the width of my sump (elite aquatics cube 19x19). So I had to find the correct angle from the pump to the Mazzei inlet trying to avoid having too much of a bend. Hopefully this will work.

I'll set it up in the sump tomorrow morning, which will give me the opportunity to siphon detritus and set things up properly.

I hate to tell you this but Jeff told me that if I used rigid PVC to do the plumbing to and from the skimmer it will void the warranty as he doesn't want stress on the skimmer. (Yea that is ridiculous!)

That aside, you went to a lot of work when all you needed to do is put a hose barb on the output of the pump and use 1" vinyl tubing and then you would have some flexibility to move the pump so that it will fit in the sump.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

May want to talk to jeff.... technically it is not rigid plumbing the whole way so there is give... but like ken said... 2 hose barbs and a hose would have been very quick.

 

[clorox]

I hate to tell you this but Jeff told me that if I used rigid PVC to do the plumbing to and from the skimmer it will void the warranty as he doesn't want stress on the skimmer. (Yea that is ridiculous!)

That aside, you went to a lot of work when all you needed to do is put a hose barb on the output of the pump and use 1" vinyl tubing and then you would have some flexibility to move the pump so that it will fit in the sump.

I am still using 3" of flexible tubing to connect from the pump PVC tubing to the barb elbow

The problem I have is that the pump barb is 1 1/4 and the input elbow at the Mazzei is 1".

I had the PVC fittings already, so I thought about solving the issue this way, however I don't think it's a very elegant solution, so I am trying to stretch the 1" tubing to fit on the 1 1/4 barb of the pump.

 

[ken6217]

May want to talk to jeff.... technically it is not rigid plumbing the whole way so there is give... but like ken said... 2 hose barbs and a hose would have been very quick.

I agree.

Looking at the picture again I don't think I would feel comfortable with that short piece if vinyl tubing. It looks like it could pop off with a lot of pressure from the pump.

 

[ken6217]

I am still using 3" of flexible tubing to connect from the pump PVC tubing to the barb elbow

The problem I have is that the pump barb is 1 1/4 and the input elbow at the Mazzei is 1".

I had the PVC fittings already, so I thought about solving the issue this way, however I don't think it's a very elegant solution, so I am trying to stretch the 1" tubing to fit on the 1 1/4 barb of the pump.

I can see that you don't enjoy the fun of walking down the PVC aisle at Home Depot. Just get a 1 1/4" to 1" reducer and then use a 1" hose barb.

From looking at the picture, it looks like you need a 1 1/4" FPT on the pump side with slip on the other side. Then get a 1 1/4" x 1" bushing that you will glue into it. The other side of the bushing will be 1" FPT. Put a 1" MPT hose barb into that.

The bushing looks like this:



If you can't find that reducer bushing, just tell the sales person that you need to go from a 1 1/4" MPT and end up with a 1" hose barb. He'll get you the parts.

 

[clorox]

I can see that you don't enjoy the fun of walking down the PVC aisle at Home Depot. Just get a 1 1/4" to 1" reducer and then use a 1" hose barb.

From looking at the picture, it looks like you need a 1 1/4" FPT on the pump side with slip on the other side. Then get a 1 1/4" x 1" bushing that you will glue into it. The other side of the bushing will be 1" FPT. Put a 1" MPT hose barb into that.

You would think you'd be able to find such things as a decent variety of PVC fittings at HD's in Los Angeles, but you don't. I went to HD and Lowes and couldn't find an 1 1/4" FPT or even 1" vinyl tubing for that matter, they had either 3/4" and down or 1 1/2" and up...Yes, I could have ordered online, but I didn't feel like waiting another 3-4 days.

Hot water to the rescue, I managed to fit the 1" tubing I had over the 1 1/4 barb. Hopefully the slight bends will be ok.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

You would think you'd be able to find such things as a decent variety of PVC fittings at HD's in Los Angeles, but you don't. I went to HD and Lowes and couldn't find an 1 1/4" FPT or even 1" vinyl tubing for that matter, they had either 3/4" and down or 1 1/2" and up...Yes, I could have ordered online, but I didn't feel like waiting another 3-4 days.

Hot water to the rescue, I managed to fit the 1" tubing I had over the 1 1/4 barb. Hopefully the slight bends will be ok.

You should add a 45° elbow on the skimmer and the pump to eliminate those kinks.

or you need to ditch that tubing and buy some flex tubing or even better, silicone tubing.. a bit more expensive but a lot more flexible.

 

[ken6217]

The kink is no good. Another way besides the 45's would be raise the skimmer up a few inches on a stand (PVC pipe for legs and egg crate) and the you can add more tubing length.

 

[Speed]

Hopefully the slight bends will be ok.

Sorry friend, they're not slight bends. they're back pressure producing choke points. I'd recommend a longer hose so that you can achieve a sweeping "S"

 

[azjohnny]

You might want to just use the smaller spa Venturi that the 24" model comes with due to the space constrictions and plumb the skimmer and pump straight downp

 

[clugo]

I've thought about getting the mazzei Venturi. Let me know how it performs

 

[clorox]

The kink is no good. Another way besides the 45's would be raise the skimmer up a few inches on a stand (PVC pipe for legs and egg crate) and the you can add more tubing length.

Ok, I'll try that, and if not, I'll go back to what I had at the beginning, since the bend was very slight.

I'll buy some silicone tubing online and yes, it's expensive at 1" diameter.
I found tubing for peristaltic pumps at 1".

 

[rEeFnWrX]

Ok, I'll try that, and if not, I'll go back to what I had at the beginning, since the bend was very slight.

I'll buy some silicone tubing online and yes, it's expensive at 1" diameter.
I found tubing for peristaltic pumps at 1".

At a few dollars I would add a 45° before the hose barbs on both sides before going straight to the expensive solution.

 

[EvMiBo]

Damn, that mazzei venturi takes up a lot of space.

 

[clorox]

Damn, that mazzei venturi takes up a lot of space.

Yes it does...it extends the footprint to about 19".
Which is why I have to resort to some mod to bring the pump closer to the skimmer body.

 

[clorox]

Would positioning the Mazzei vertically work? I could get a 90 degree elbow on the skimmer input and then connect the Mazzei to the pump vertically. I could probably get away without using the union.

 

[ReefPharmer]

I am considering different skimmers for our 300g. Spoke to Jeff and he recommended a 30 inch skimmer. How quiet are these skimmers if I run it externally?

If anyone has a used one you want to sell, please contact me
My other options are atb 1050, ATI powercone 250is, used BK 300 deluxe.

Not sure what to choose

 

[rEeFnWrX]

I am considering different skimmers for our 300g. Spoke to Jeff and he recommended a 30 inch skimmer. How quiet are these skimmers if I run it externally?

If anyone has a used one you want to sell, please contact me
My other options are atb 1050, ATI powercone 250is, used BK 300 deluxe.

Not sure what to choose

These skimmers are as quiet as the pump you run them with whether internal or external.