The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[azjohnny]

I believe you owned a R/O before. What advantages do you find the LifeReef skimmer has over the R/O.

I owned a SRO 5000INT. Its been pretty much the same things Jeff states on his web site

1. Maintenance, the skimmer volute would need to be removed weekly to clean and inspect for salt deposits but this has been true of every pinwheel skimmer I have owned I would also run a cup of HOT RO/DI water through the air line once a week.

2. Being able to run any pump that meets the GPH requirements, I really like this just in case you have issues with the pump you don't have to wait for a specialized pin wheel pump ( I have read some horror stories on the Bubbleking thread waiting for a replacement pump)

3. The LR skimmer has produced a lot more skim mate, this might have to do with the previous skimmer being too large for the tank but I think that is just a lame excuse. I think the neck is too big and short ( a taller skimmer is more stable) . IMO the Bubbleblaster pump generates too much air and doesn't process enough water.

If I ever buy another skimmer it will either be another Life Reef or an MTC venturi

 

[Bignose94015]

So I have been having a chugging noise issue with my skimmer. I have completely cleaned the venturi to make sure that is not the issue. I took apart my mag 9 to make sure that wasn't the issue. All impeller blades are on and intact. Then hooked it up to my mag 12 and same noise issue. I will send this to Jeff tonight but anyone have any ideas?

http://youtu.be/_61yQfnRAkE?list=UU0IYiX50TIBF3t5PIbKgnmg

It makes great bubbles. And I understand the normal sucking noise the venturi creates but this noise is a chugging noise that is still audible even after the air inlet is hooked to the waste cup. Only way the noise goes away is if I plug the venturi inlet.

 

[bayoupr]

I really like this just in case you have issues with the pump you don't have to wait for a specialized pin wheel pump ( I have read some horror stories on the Bubbleking thread waiting for a replacement pump)

Been there, done that. This is the reason I went Lifereef, no dedicated pump, any pump that meets the required flow (although I use the lessor flow pressure rated pump for mine).

 

[ECFENCING]

Would the svs2-24 skimmer be overkill on a 50 gallon cube with a 15 gallon operating sump level ?

I was thinking maybe I could use a lesser rated pump maybe a sicce3.0 or eheimcompact3000+ or maybe just go with the mag9.5 jeff recommends

Input appreciated. Looking to try something new (in this case old school but tried and true technology)

Any input on whether the lifereef svs 2-24 would be overkill for as system with about 65 gallons of water? I'm using a vertex omega 130 and am constantly fussing with the height and cleaning out the pump.

 

[ken6217]

I would say you should have no problem especially with a neck that is 2 1/4" inside diameter.

The rating of "up to 250 gallons" is inflated. I wouldn't even use the 30" on a 250.

 

[bayoupr]

Any input on whether the lifereef svs 2-24 would be overkill for as system with about 65 gallons of water? I'm using a vertex omega 130 and am constantly fussing with the height and cleaning out the pump.

I used a 48" and 60" on my old 180 and still got excellent results. Right now I am running the 8" body I got from Jeff on my 120 and like what I see after almost three days running. IMO, I think you would be good with the 24" on your system. The smaller neck really forces the skim up and over into the cup even with the over sizing I did.

 

[ksed]

I owned a SRO 5000INT. Its been pretty much the same things Jeff states on his web site

1. Maintenance, the skimmer volute would need to be removed weekly to clean and inspect for salt deposits but this has been true of every pinwheel skimmer I have owned I would also run a cup of HOT RO/DI water through the air line once a week.

2. Being able to run any pump that meets the GPH requirements, I really like this just in case you have issues with the pump you don't have to wait for a specialized pin wheel pump ( I have read some horror stories on the Bubbleking thread waiting for a replacement pump)

3. The LR skimmer has produced a lot more skim mate, this might have to do with the previous skimmer being too large for the tank but I think that is just a lame excuse. I think the neck is too big and short ( a taller skimmer is more stable) . IMO the Bubbleblaster pump generates too much air and doesn't process enough water.

If I ever buy another skimmer it will either be another Life Reef or an MTC venturi

Well said!

 

[ECFENCING]

I used a 48" and 60" on my old 180 and still got excellent results. Right now I am running the 8" body I got from Jeff on my 120 and like what I see after almost three days running. IMO, I think you would be good with the 24" on your system. The smaller neck really forces the skim up and over into the cup even with the over sizing I did.

Thanks for your input bayoupr.

 

[Grantb76]

Skimmer

Skimmer

I completely concur with azjohnny.. I just replaced my SRO3000INT after only 2 years.

I had multiple problems with mine including 30+ cracks at the top of the body that are the full thickness of the acrylic, Bubble blaster pump would always drone as it was hard plumbed to the body and for the last couple of months would spit and sometimes almost stop running (appears as though the impeller magnet is swelling a bit like so many others).

Air intake would encrust with salt although I only had to clean mine every few months so it wasn't terrible. I also had very limited skim-mate production as the foam had a really hard time climbing the overly wide neck so I always had to run it very wet.

So far with my 30" lifereef I am getting beautiful dry foam and very dark skim-mate and it has no issues putting foam up and out of the skimmer body like the SRO did.

My tank is so quiet now with this skimmer that it is a bit disconcerting... I think I'll get used to it though

I was a bit leary at first going with an "older" design but I am sold on how easy and quiet this skimmer is and how well it works.

 

[clorox]

Would the svs2-24 skimmer be overkill on a 50 gallon cube with a 15 gallon operating sump level ?

I was thinking maybe I could use a lesser rated pump maybe a sicce3.0 or eheimcompact3000+ or maybe just go with the mag9.5 jeff recommends

Input appreciated. Looking to try something new (in this case old school but tried and true technology)

I have a very similar setup as yours, 60g cube and I had the same skimmer (vertex Omega 130) and recently got the svs3-24. It was a tight fit to place it in my 19" square sump, but with some light modding it went in.

I decided to switch and get a lifereef, because as you have been experiencing I was also tired of constantly tweaking the Vertex.

I am using one of the new Reef Octopus DC pumps. It is virtually inaudible and the best part is no hum you get with traditional pumps. In my brief experience with the skimmer I can say that you need a fairly powerful pump. The RODC 5500 is rated at around 1600gph. I use it at the max setting and I feel I could go a couple notches higher if I could.

Just 3 days ago I started getting skimmate in the cup, just short of 2 weeks since I set it up. I like skimming a bit wet, so the color is medium and also my bio load is not heavy.
What I love is that I do not have to fiddle with water levels as before. It is truly set and forget.

NOTE: for the eagle eyed, that silicone tube on my drain is just temporarily placed. I am waiting for the right sized ratchet clamps from BRS

 

[NewMariner]

Anyone have the VS3-72''? Im looking at this skimmer along with a MR-C4848. I have a VS3-30 that is over 10 years old that is still in service. I love how its set and forget.

However, with a 1500 gallon total volume, I was looking into larger skimmers, and is why I came to the MR-C4848. Any opinions on the life reef versus this skimmer?

 

[ken6217]

Get an MTC recirculating skimme. They can a dual, quad, or six mazzei venturi skimmer for you. Besides performance, the quality of materials and workmanship is superior.

Take a look at Ca1ore's "Bucking the skimmer trend" thread in the lighting and filtration forum for his dual venturi.

 

[ken6217]

Also, the MRC skimmer that you are looking at is a beckett. You are better off with a venturi.

 

[NewMariner]

Get an MTC recirculating skimme. They can a dual, quad, or six mazzei venturi skimmer for you. Besides performance, the quality of materials and workmanship is superior.

Take a look at Ca1ore's "Bucking the skimmer trend" thread in the lighting and filtration forum for his dual venturi.

I read this thread. I get lost a bit in skimmer mechanics though. With that said, Im not seeing much difference in the MTC and the Lifereef? What makes them "superior" then life reef? I own a life reef and have been pretty satisfied with it. However my only other skimmers Ive ever had was a Bakpak skimmer, and a Coralife needle wheel...

 

[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.

 

[ken6217]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you plan on running two skimmers regardless of what your final two skimmers are? How did you come up with that thought process?

This is a bad idea. Even though one skimmer might outperform the other, nether skimmer will work to their potential with the two competing with each other.

Get yourself one properly sized, or even oversized skimmer and go with that. Don't go with two skimmers.

 

[zibba]

If I'm understanding you correctly, you plan on running two skimmers regardless of what your final two skimmers are? How did you come up with that thought process?

This is a bad idea. Even though one skimmer might outperform the other, nether skimmer will work to their potential with the two competing with each other.

Get yourself one properly sized, or even oversized skimmer and go with that. Don't go with two skimmers.

I guess there were a few different factors that played into that decision, but there's only one that matters: I can't fit "one properly size, or even oversized skimmer" under the tank.

Why wouldn't either skimmer perform to their potential? How would they "compete?" Logically, and even scientifically, it would seem (to put it very simply) that if they're both "underrated" there's no competition and they would be additive. Put another way, if I use two skimmer that are rated for 300g, why wouldn't it effectively function as well as a skimmer that is rated for 600g?

Perhaps this isn't the forum for it, but I'd prefer to get it straightened out now.

For what it's worth, other thoughts behind running two skimmers instead of one is that skimmers are inherently inefficient and on top of that don't stay "tuned" for very long due to skimmate collecting on the rising tube. I thought running two would ensure that there is a better chance that at least one will be tuned at any given time

Additionally, two skimmers would allow me to run one wet and the other dry; and, in turn, remove different organics. No?

And, to be clear, the plan wasn't to run two skimmers to "clean faster" or to "remove more gunk" than with "one properly size, or even oversized skimmer."

Thanks for taking the time to address this.

 

[ken6217]

I have done it with the two skimmers that I own now, one would hardly get a foam head and the other did but not what it should. Usually the better skimmer somewhat shuts down the other.

I had seen similar comments though in other threads over the years. I think that you should start a thread in the Reef Discussion or in the Lighting and Filtration forum asking about thoughts on running two skimmers. You would get probably more of a definitive answer.

I also think that if you ran one wet and one dry, you would would get even less output from the one you are running dry than if you ran them both the same. That's just a guess though.

Unless there is no room, why don't you just run the Lifereef external and put it outside the cabinet? That's what I did. This will end the dilemma.

 

[rEeFnWrX]

With a 550gal tank you should have more than enough space to run the skimmer externally. Then you could have Jeff make you a custom skimmer like someone else was just posting with a much wider skimmer body.

 

[ksed]

If you have both. Nothing will beat experience, I say run both and see what happens. If you run them close to each other (Where the pump draws water into the skimmer) one might out compete the other. But if you run them one at one end of the sump and the other far apart or at the other end of the sump they both should pick up organics as no skimmer will pick up all of the organics in one shot. There will always be some by pass from the water coming down from the main display to the sump.

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.