The Life Reef Skimmer Club

So I pulled the trigger and sent an email off to Jeff inquiring on a new skimmer. I've been battleing which skimmer i wanted to move to that would give the best value and longevity.

After running my most recent skimmer an Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1 on a 70g system and now my 300 gallon system i felt i was going to continue on to another Aquamaxx. I really have zero complaints with this skimmer besides it works too well. The attached picture is 10 hours after a cleaning. As you can see it is pushing skimate out of the lid. This gets much worse, but it is certainly skimming a system about 2x the size it is rated for. Ill add that i also dose nitrate due to my low nutrients. Thanks Aquamaxx [emoji6]

361fd5c91e39235198616e2a673e55a9.jpg


This has led me to Lifereef skimmer. I knew i would be upgrading, but I had other tank priorities before upgrading, having just setup a 300 gallon system with a basement fishroom. I'm still a little hesitant on the purchase, but in the ~10 years of reefing experience i have always been able to dial in a skimmer.

My plan is the SVS3-36 (in-sump) with a Mazzei 1078 and either a Jecod DCS 12000 or the DCT 15000. Not really a fan of the weird brands, but the power consumption and head-to-flow ratio beats a Mag 24. Not to mention a price point that is hard to pass up.

I'll certainly be looking forward to a skimmer that requires minimal maintenance!
 
It's shedding a tear..

70c76617abd3491e5d7ca47f18b284b5.jpg


..a lifereef just found a new home.

Well that escalated quickly. I'll have a new Lifereef in the very near future.
 
I will be an owner of a new VS3-24 in a couple weeks just ordered one in white.. Yes white. Jeff was so great to do this for me, and i appreciate it so much as nothing in my sump is black. ill be sure to get pics up as soon as i get it.. its replacing a vertex 200i which gave me nothing but headaches from the moment i put it in the sump. sorry to say but overpriced pretty junk.
One question is that i have a reef octopus VarioS 2 pump and was wondering if that would be enough to run that skimmer.. it says 793gph but does anyone have any experience with this pump or similar dc pumps that i can use on the vs3-24?
 
charlottereef said:
I will be an owner of a new VS3-24 in a couple weeks just ordered one in white.. Yes white. Jeff was so great to do this for me, and i appreciate it so much as nothing in my sump is black. ill be sure to get pics up as soon as i get it.. its replacing a vertex 200i which gave me nothing but headaches from the moment i put it in the sump. sorry to say but overpriced pretty junk.
One question is that i have a reef octopus VarioS 2 pump and was wondering if that would be enough to run that skimmer.. it says 793gph but does anyone have any experience with this pump or similar dc pumps that i can use on the vs3-24?
Click to expand...

I'm using a 1700 gallon per hour DC pump
 
So that would be more like the Vario6
//www.amazon.com/Reef-Octopus-VarioS-6-Controllable-Circulation/dp/B01F66VATW/ref=pd_sbs_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01F66VATW&pd_rd_r=Q7T47PVQ25PRS0E6VBGA&pd_rd_w=IAof3&pd_rd_wg=mrAt6&psc=1&refRID=Q7T47PVQ25PRS0E6VBGA

How is it working for you?
 
charlottereef said:
So that would be more like the Vario6
//www.amazon.com/Reef-Octopus-VarioS-6-Controllable-Circulation/dp/B01F66VATW/ref=pd_sbs_199_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01F66VATW&pd_rd_r=Q7T47PVQ25PRS0E6VBGA&pd_rd_w=IAof3&pd_rd_wg=mrAt6&psc=1&refRID=Q7T47PVQ25PRS0E6VBGA

How is it working for you?
Click to expand...

Just read that this is not a pressure rated pump, does this also make a difference?
 
charlottereef said:
Just read that this is not a pressure rated pump, does this also make a difference?
Click to expand...
Along with not enough flow I think you'd be much better off with a stronger pump. If keeping inside the sump you won't find one that's pressure rated that I know of (maube abyzz?) . Look for flow closer to 1200-1800gph and the highest rated head height pump you can find. Mag 12 or 18 are decent standard choices to start with or use as a comparison for specs vs other pumps.
 
jason2459 said:
Along with not enough flow I think you'd be much better off with a stronger pump. If keeping inside the sump you won't find one that's pressure rated that I know of (maube abyzz?) . Look for flow closer to 1200-1800gph and the highest rated head height pump you can find. Mag 12 or 18 are decent standard choices to start with or use as a comparison for specs vs other pumps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Jason
 
Vs3-72....

Vs3-72....

Ok everyone, I'm a long-time lurker, first time poster. I love all the info and discussions that happen here.

I'm not new to reefing but am to non-needle wheel skimmers. I have an opportunity to obtain a VS3-72 for what I feel is a good deal in my geographical location.

As I only have 150 gallons of total water volume, my issue is knowing if this skimmer is way beyond overkill to the point that it shouldn't be considered for a mere 150 gallons....

As I plan on relocating my sump to the basement, I've recently acquired a reeflo barr/hammer to overcome head pressure and hopefully run the remainder of the entire system. so, pressure to the skimmer will not be an issue.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
newsaltfan
 
3 days worth of skim, that's about 18 oz. Still running my VS3-30 with Jebao DC9000, it's been over 2 years now.

iWY18D4.jpg
 
newsaltfan said:


As I only have 150 gallons of total water volume, my issue is knowing if this skimmer is way beyond overkill to the point that it shouldn't be considered for a mere 150 gallons....
Click to expand...

Overkill or beyond, no. You can always use an adjustable DC pump in the worse case scenario. If in doubt shoot Jeff an email but I'm pretty sure his answer would be the same :)
 
Lifereef sump and skimmer never taken out of box from 3yrs ago

Lifereef sump and skimmer never taken out of box from 3yrs ago

A few years ago I had Jeff at Lifereef build me a LF1-300S sump with a SVS3-30 IN-SUMP skimmer.

Well, plans for the tank fell thru and all the equipment is still in the box never opened. I was thinking about giving it another shot and possible get a tank going sometime in 2017.

Any tips for getting started with Lifereef equipment? Has anything changed with his designs in the last 3 years?

thanks for any help
 
Windsor said:
A few years ago I had Jeff at Lifereef build me a LF1-300S sump with a SVS3-30 IN-SUMP skimmer.

Well, plans for the tank fell thru and all the equipment is still in the box never opened. I was thinking about giving it another shot and possible get a tank going sometime in 2017.

Any tips for getting started with Lifereef equipment? Has anything changed with his designs in the last 3 years?

thanks for any help
Click to expand...

Nothing has changed - unbox and use. That simple. He has been using the same skimmer design for years now. I bought my skimmer in 2000 and if I was to buy one today it would be exactly the same. It works, that simple. And works well.

Sumps, he pretty much offers a standard kit and from there works with the buyer to find the best possible final product. Sumps serve pretty much standard content flow and anything beyond that is up to the owner / implementer. I am one who likes to keep stuff has simple as possible. But if you look at some of the sumps he has built and delivered, well, then are rather complex beasts.

My point in all of this is whatever you bought more or less will still be of use, and value, and relevant today.
 
^^^^^ Thanks.

150 gal tank--135 sump

Med- med heavy bioload (10 fish, 3 6"+)

Med heavy feeding (2 cubes of frozen/day. Nori and a good pinch of New Life Spectrum pellet and some flake every day)

I am getting ready to add some more fish inhabitants back to the tank.

Here is a pic of the display.

7eff4fe9c30ed783e649856e271d143e.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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