The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[Pablos RSM 450]

All,

Here is an update on the skimmer and DIY silencer. BTW I meant to say green montipora in the video not acropora.

https://youtu.be/lWgti-6HUIc

 

[Mr. Comer]

I made this two foot silencer and it sits behind the tank. Seems to work well but a little overkill

 

[ERIC85854]

Mine took a couple days under a month to fully break in (consistent foam). Not sure why noise is requiring another silencer besides the cup. Only noise that I've seen change after buying a new skimmer is with the pump.

 

[Mr. Comer]

For some reason my cup does not silence the air turbulence well. I've check the seals and the connection to the air tube. Maybe I'm missing something.

 

[ERIC85854]

Not sure. I think there's another sound inside the skimmer from the turbulence. I can definately hear more air noise from the cup if I take the lid off though.

 

[jwpick42]

The only thing holding me back from purchasing this skimmer is noise. My fish room, aka bedroom closet, is fairly close to our bed, and I would hate to hear this skimmer while trying to sleep (the Mrs more so than me).

While skimmer performance is my top priority, in close second is how silent the whole unit runs.

 

[EvMiBo]

My dc pump is very quiet. What size skimmer and system would you be running it on jwpick42?

 

[Mr. Comer]

Hi, I need some input about the noise issue I'm having. I've tried the mag 9.5 and the Jecod dct6000 with the same results. Is this normal for this skimmer?

This video was shot with everything turned off except the skimmer. The first video at the 30 second mark you can hear this crazy noise. This noise goes on and off several times a minute. I thought it was the venturi but I've cleaned it out with rodi water a couple times and even gave the entire skimmer a vinegar bath with the venturi endcap off.

The second video starts off with the homemade silencer installed and then I switch over to the collection cup.

Here are the links

1st video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-7hSRgrh/A
2nd video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-nS48Z43/A

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

I am having issues after feeding. The bubble column collapses and the skimmer will not skim until the next day. I feed Hikari frozen Mysis, and brine shrimp. Does anyone else have issues with their Lifereef not skimming after feeding? I never had this problem with my RLSS skimmer. I am nor putting my hand in the water and I feed only what the fish consume immediately. The skimmer so far pulls very watery skim and any little thing will cause it to stop skimming.

 

[EvMiBo]

Hi, I need some input about the noise issue I'm having. I've tried the mag 9.5 and the Jecod dct6000 with the same results. Is this normal for this skimmer?

This video was shot with everything turned off except the skimmer. The first video at the 30 second mark you can hear this crazy noise. This noise goes on and off several times a minute. I thought it was the venturi but I've cleaned it out with rodi water a couple times and even gave the entire skimmer a vinegar bath with the venturi endcap off.

The second video starts off with the homemade silencer installed and then I switch over to the collection cup.

Here are the links

1st video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-7hSRgrh/A
2nd video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-nS48Z43/A

No, not normal.

is the water level in your sump consistent? what's the water level? is there a hole in the top of the collection cup lid?

In the first video it looks like the water level rises in the neck when the noise begins. Can you confirm this?

Does it run consistently with the home made silencer?

have you contacted Jeff?

 

[ERIC85854]

I am having issues after feeding. The bubble column collapses and the skimmer will not skim until the next day. I feed Hikari frozen Mysis, and brine shrimp. Does anyone else have issues with their Lifereef not skimming after feeding? I never had this problem with my RLSS skimmer. I am nor putting my hand in the water and I feed only what the fish consume immediately. The skimmer so far pulls very watery skim and any little thing will cause it to stop skimming.

If it hasn't been 4+ weeks it is probably still breaking in. Mine stops skimming for a couple hours sometimes from oily food.

 

[cpllongjk]

Hi, I need some input about the noise issue I'm having. I've tried the mag 9.5 and the Jecod dct6000 with the same results. Is this normal for this skimmer?

This video was shot with everything turned off except the skimmer. The first video at the 30 second mark you can hear this crazy noise. This noise goes on and off several times a minute. I thought it was the venturi but I've cleaned it out with rodi water a couple times and even gave the entire skimmer a vinegar bath with the venturi endcap off.

The second video starts off with the homemade silencer installed and then I switch over to the collection cup.

Here are the links

1st video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-7hSRgrh/A
2nd video:
http://www.ryantylerphotography.com/CLIENTS/Lr/i-nS48Z43/A

I have the same issue and I am using the Jebao DC 6000 pump. I had my wife listen to the tank last night with the skimmer on and with the skimmer off. We could not hear the tank at all with the skimmer off. I originally thought all the noise was coming from my return pump however all the noise is actually coming from the skimmer's venturi and from the water/air hitting the base of the skimmer. When I turn off the skimmer my tank is completely silent. The tank and skimmer have been running for over 30 days and while the noise has reduced some, possibly I have gotten used to it as well, the fact remains that it is the noisiest thing in my tank. The difference with the skimmer off/on is mind blowing.

It wasn't a huge issue before this tank because my skimmer was in a skimmer room so noise didn't matter as much but now my tank is in our living space and under my tank in the sump and noise is very much a concern. I spoke to Jeff and have come to the conclusion that while I really love his skimmer and skimmer designs I might go with another option soon only because of noise levels. The skimmer performs well and construction is sound however noise is of upmost concern in my current tank and my wife and I want it to be more quiet.

 

[cpllongjk]

I am having issues after feeding. The bubble column collapses and the skimmer will not skim until the next day. I feed Hikari frozen Mysis, and brine shrimp. Does anyone else have issues with their Lifereef not skimming after feeding? I never had this problem with my RLSS skimmer. I am nor putting my hand in the water and I feed only what the fish consume immediately. The skimmer so far pulls very watery skim and any little thing will cause it to stop skimming.

Yes that is the same issues I've always had with this skimmer as well. Any type of food will make the skimmer's foam-head collapse. It should be back within 2-3 hours after feeding though. If not, you may not have enough stuff in the tank and the foam head could be collapsing for other reasons.

Right now I am also only getting watery skim but I attribute that to lack of organics in the tank since my tank build is relatively new.

One thing that has been driving me crazy is when I change my filter socks. In the past I have always used my washer to wash my socks, never using any soap, and always using a cap or two of bleach. I run them on heavy and rinse them twice, then run them again. After they are rinsed well 4 times in the washer I let them dry for 4-5 days before switching them out.

In this new build, every time I have replaced a filter sock I have had to open the skimmer's gate valve completely open so it doesn't overflow. I have done this routine with filter socks for several years and never had this issue before now.

 

[azjohnny]

I am having issues after feeding. The bubble column collapses and the skimmer will not skim until the next day. I feed Hikari frozen Mysis, and brine shrimp. Does anyone else have issues with their Lifereef not skimming after feeding? I never had this problem with my RLSS skimmer. I am nor putting my hand in the water and I feed only what the fish consume immediately. The skimmer so far pulls very watery skim and any little thing will cause it to stop skimming.

Oils decrease the surface tension in the water and cause you to lose the foam head, IME Mysis is the worst.

LRS fish food has the opposite effect, it will cause the skimmer to increase the foam head

 

[Mr. Comer]

is the water level in your sump consistent? what's the water level? is there a hole in the top of the collection cup lid?

In the first video it looks like the water level rises in the neck when the noise begins. Can you confirm this?

Does it run consistently with the home made silencer?

have you contacted Jeff?[/QUOTE]

The water level in the sump is a constant 8 inches and there is a hole in the collection cup. I haven't noticed the water level raising with the increased noise but I'll double check. It does run consistently with the my home made silencer. Jeff said not to use it because the venturi will clog with salt.

I've had multiple emails to Jeff. He is stumped about the increased noise and is sending me a new venturi to try. As far as the baseline noise and my second video, he said my skimmer is normal and venturi skimmers are louder than a pinwheel. This has been the best performing skimmer I've owned but I don't know if the noise is going to be a deal breaker. I have a custom overflow and my system is designed to be very quiet because it's in our reading/relaxing room. I can barely hear the tank running when it's just the two jebao rw-8's, crappy old marineland 500 gph +- return pump, and a mj1200. Even running my new Jecod dct6000 at full throttle or the Mag 9.5 pumps are quiet enough when they are not pulling air thru the skimmer.

 

[EvMiBo]

I have to turn down the dc9000 to 3/6 or 4/6 when I put in a new sock, otherwise mine dose overflow. This is after drying everything out as well. Not a big deal, I usually turn it up to 6/6 after an hour or so.

I've never had a foam head die down after feeding, but have had slight overflows if the food is oily, like mysis. Usually it's pretty minimal though and I don't think about it too much...

Mr. Comer,
Watch your first video and around 29 seconds it looks like the water raises in the neck when the noise level changes, almost like it's not getting enough air briefly... Will be curious to see how the new venturi works out, I bet that fixes your issue.

It's a shame a handful of you guys are having noise issues. My system sits 6 feet from the couch, with the skimmer underneath in sump. It passes the wife test with the dc9000 running full throttle. It's one of the quietest systems I've ever had, just a very slight hum from the cabinet. I believe your situations are not normal, but I'm kind of stumped.

 

[ERIC85854]

Mine makes the same constant noise as Pablo's except the audio recorder exaggerates it a bit. I figured that was normal and can't hear it unless it's silent in the room.

 

[Tetra84]

Just got my SVS3-24 from Jeff day before yesterday.. already got a frothy foam head forming and starting to peek out the top of the skimmer cup with the waterline about an inch under the flange after running for about 36 hours. I'm impressed. Build quality is top notch! I'm also running the skimmer with a Jecod dct6000, and the pump is very quiet. I do hear some sucking sounds, but honestly it seems quieter or about the same as my old SWC 160 cone. Any small sucking sound is washed out with the other humming sounds my tank makes.

 

[Pablos RSM 450]

Just got my SVS3-24 from Jeff day before yesterday.. already got a frothy foam head forming and starting to peek out the top of the skimmer cup with the waterline about an inch under the flange after running for about 36 hours. I'm impressed. Build quality is top notch! I'm also running the skimmer with a Jecod dct6000, and the pump is very quiet. I do hear some sucking sounds, but honestly it seems quieter or about the same as my old SWC 160 cone. Any small sucking sound is washed out with the other humming sounds my tank makes.

I just recieved my 2 Jecod DCT 6000 yesterday and swapped out my Eheim 3000 compact+ return pump and my 9.5 Mag on the Lifereef. I do not notice much of a difference in flow compared to the AC pumps they replace. I really like the gentle start on the pumps. It seems these DC pumps loose a lot more flow compared to the AC ones when pushing through about 5ft 3/4 inch tubbing. The Life reef seems to have a better and more constant bubble production compared to how it would rise and fall with the Mag 9.5.

 

[Cabo2008]

I'm feeding my SVS3-24 with a Jecod DCT4000 and it seems to be working well. I have it set at 1 light below full power.