The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[jerseypete]

Usually I'll get it to stay around the middle. After 30min playing with it. I usually use 2. Maybe it's just me. But I have a spare cup and I still might put a groove in the old one and see what happens.

 

[VWD]

Usually I'll get it to stay around the middle. After 30min playing with it. I usually use 2. Maybe it's just me. But I have a spare cup and I still might put a groove in the old one and see what happens.

Be worth a try .

 

[shaggss]

I have never had an issue with the o ring. I place it about halfway on the cup then set it in and it may roll up but it's still makes a good seal

+1

Never had a problem. I just put it on the bottom and it rolls up to about half way when seating the cup.

 

[azjohnny]

It doesn't matter where the o ring is, it will still seal as long as it on the neck. I have mine towards the top and I have no issues

 

[BillFW]

The one thing I hate about this skimmer is the o-ring seal around the cup. It's a pain to get to seat right. Did anybody modify or have a good way to get it not to roll right to the top. Thought about machining a groove in the cup where it meets the skimmer and going with a larger o ring.

Make sure both surfaces are dry as well as the o-ring and it will work as designed .

 

[88rxna]

So I can get an svs3-24 used. Should I get this or just get a vs3-30 for upgrade?
It's gonna be a 150 display and a 50 sump. Semi heavy bioload with mixed reef.

 

[GatorAlum05]

get the 30 inch. I have the same size home tank. For reference I use a 24inch for my 55gallon office tank.

 

[n8n]

So lots of pump questions lately, I figured I'd pull some pumps off the top of my head for sizes 24-36 that I've seen people run. This is based on other people's results, as I've only tried 1 pump on my 30" body... Also, these are in sump pumps.

24 body:

Good: Flow around 900-1000 gph
Mag 9

Better: Flow around 1100-1600 gph
Mag 12
Laguna Max-Flo 1350
Jebao dc6000 (setting 5/6 or 6/6)
Sicce Syncra 5.0
Other DC pumps...

30 body:

Good: Flow 1200-1600
Mag 12
Laguna Max-Flo 1350
Jebao dc6000 (setting 5/6 or 6/6)
Sicce Syncra 5.0

Better: Flow 1700-2400 gph
Mag 18
Laguna Max-Flo 2000gph (7500lph)
Laguna Max-Flo 2400gph (9000 gph)
Jebao dc9000 (setting 5/6 or 6/6)
Fluval SP4
Other DC pumps...

36 body:

Not as much info here for me. This is where you see some people starting to run the external pumps

2400-3???gph

Mag 24
Laguna Max-Flo 2400gph (9000 lph)
Potentially Laguna Max-Flo 2900gph (11,000 lph) although haven't seen this run yet on a 36 body.
DC12000 pumps

Also, I want to say that the new ecotech pump with it's high head pressure ratings will probably be a great pump for 24's and 30's.

I'm building a new tank. 210g display plus sump. Fish and coral but messy anemones. I have a ritorri that is the size of two full size iPads that we feed regularly.

Anyways stand is 30" Upto the support beams. The beams are 2x6 so there are a lot of 36" height areas I can easily fit the skimmer.

I've got my eye on the svs3 30" body but I am also looking for something dead silent since it will be in my living room. after reading 90 pages ... I have learned LR skimmers properly setup are as loud as the return pump.

Btw I love the list above

QUESTION1: is 30 inch body recommended for 210g display + sump with 36" stand?

QUESTION2: what is the absolutely quietest pump I can buy that will make the skimmer operate pretty decent and be as quite as possible? ( I would even consider smaller skimmer body if it gets me into a quite pump that will get the job done).

My current tank that it's replacing has eheim return with Herbie overflow. New 210g is bean animal. Trying to maximize noise reduction thanks!

Nathan

 

[bayoupr]

I've got my eye on the svs3 30" body but I am also looking for something dead silent since it will be in my living room. after reading 90 pages ... I have learned LR skimmers properly setup are as loud as the return pump.

Deepwater BLDC 8 pump. Should be able to run this at speed 5 out of 6. BLDC 10, should be able to run this 4 out of 6 on the speed. These pumps are very quiet, I run the 8 on my manifold for my reactors and can't hear it running.

 

[drtango]

The one thing I hate about this skimmer is the o-ring seal around the cup. It's a pain to get to seat right. Did anybody modify or have a good way to get it not to roll right to the top. Thought about machining a groove in the cup where it meets the skimmer and going with a larger o ring.

I run mine in sump and swapped the o ring for a single turn of 'gorilla tape'...not water tight but doesn't seem to impact performance at all. Cup pops on and off easily, replace tape when worn.

 

[n8n]

Deepwater BLDC 8 pump. Should be able to run this at speed 5 out of 6. BLDC 10, should be able to run this 4 out of 6 on the speed. These pumps are very quiet, I run the 8 on my manifold for my reactors and can't hear it running.

Is a deep water basically the same as a Jebao or wave line? Or is the deep water specifically quieter then other dc pumps?

Thank you much

Nathan

 

[soulpatch]

BLDC is supposed to be much more quiet.

 

[EvMiBo]

I'm building a new tank. 210g display plus sump. Fish and coral but messy anemones. I have a ritorri that is the size of two full size iPads that we feed regularly.

Anyways stand is 30" Upto the support beams. The beams are 2x6 so there are a lot of 36" height areas I can easily fit the skimmer.

I've got my eye on the svs3 30" body but I am also looking for something dead silent since it will be in my living room. after reading 90 pages ... I have learned LR skimmers properly setup are as loud as the return pump.

Btw I love the list above

QUESTION1: is 30 inch body recommended for 210g display + sump with 36" stand?

QUESTION2: what is the absolutely quietest pump I can buy that will make the skimmer operate pretty decent and be as quite as possible? ( I would even consider smaller skimmer body if it gets me into a quite pump that will get the job done).

My current tank that it's replacing has eheim return with Herbie overflow. New 210g is bean animal. Trying to maximize noise reduction thanks!

Nathan

30" is okay for 210g. I'd like to hook up a 36 to it but 30 is good. I'd consider getting the larger collection cup.

Absolute quietest pump is going to be a DC pump most likely. Bayoupr recommended the Deepwater bldc 8 which would be good. I'm still using my Jebao DC9000 at 6/6 on the 30 body (and it's incredibly quiet).

Good luck!

 

[n8n]

30" is okay for 210g. I'd like to hook up a 36 to it but 30 is good. I'd consider getting the larger collection cup.

Absolute quietest pump is going to be a DC pump most likely. Bayoupr recommended the Deepwater bldc 8 which would be good. I'm still using my Jebao DC9000 at 6/6 on the 30 body (and it's incredibly quiet).

Good luck!

I'm thinking about the new ecotech Vectra. I read somewhere it is really quite and I wouldn't have to run it on highest setting but I don't like being first to buy something.

So space wise, the stand has 30" between the floor and the supports. The supports are 2x6 so If I put the skimmer between support beams I have 36" max height. I have around 13" between each support beam hopefully the collection cup can easily fit within that space. Depending on if I go Insump or out of sump I might end up losing a small amount of height. Its my belief it should make far less noise being submersible pump instead of externally ran.

Thanks!

-Nathan

 

[Johnseye]

I'm thinking about the new ecotech Vectra. I read somewhere it is really quite and I wouldn't have to run it on highest setting but I don't like being first to buy something.

So space wise, the stand has 30" between the floor and the supports. The supports are 2x6 so If I put the skimmer between support beams I have 36" max height. I have around 13" between each support beam hopefully the collection cup can easily fit within that space. Depending on if I go Insump or out of sump I might end up losing a small amount of height. Its my belief it should make far less noise being submersible pump instead of externally ran.

Thanks!

-Nathan

I will be installing the Vectra M1 on my Life Reef tonight. Will take video, pictures and share the experience.

 

[soulpatch]

I will be installing the Vectra M1 on my Life Reef tonight. Will take video, pictures and share the experience.

Super stoked for this as I am heading to MACNA this weekend and might be coming home with one or two myself. Very cool for you to go through this all and post for rest of us.

 

[Harry_Y]

I swapped out the stock Venturi on my 36" skimmer
with a Mazzei 978 Venturi (just for the fun of it)

Not a massive difference, but the bubbles seem smaller
and denser and I did need to open the gate valve more.


I may need to get a neck cleaner, when I pulled the cup
off the neck had nearly a half inch of gunk caked on to it.


PS: I'm using the Mag24

 

[skinsncanes]

No offense but I got excited when I saw a post because I was hoping for reviews on the Vectra, not the mazzei

 

[Johnseye]

Got the SVS3-24 in with the Vectra M1. The pump is dead silent. The venturi is a bit loud though. I spent a little time dialing it in. Tried all the speed variations. If I close up the venturi, even at max speed I can't hear the pump.

Gotta figure out a way to quiet the venturi. If anyone has suggestions please chime in.

Here's the last few clips of the video. I'll have a longer start to finish video up tomorrow.

Lifereef with a Vectra M1

 

[azjohnny]

I'm thinking about the new ecotech Vectra. I read somewhere it is really quite and I wouldn't have to run it on highest setting but I don't like being first to buy something.

So space wise, the stand has 30" between the floor and the supports. The supports are 2x6 so If I put the skimmer between support beams I have 36" max height. I have around 13" between each support beam hopefully the collection cup can easily fit within that space. Depending on if I go Insump or out of sump I might end up losing a small amount of height. Its my belief it should make far less noise being submersible pump instead of externally ran.

Thanks!

-Nathan

With a 36" stand you will want to go with 30" for in sump. You will need an extra 2-3" of height to remove the cup. It is a 2 piece neck with a tube from the cup sliding inside another tube coming from the skimmer body