Received LIFEREEF Sump, Skimmer, etc..

sunilp · 02/15/2013, 11:53 AM

I received my order from Jeff yesterday at lifereef. I placed it around OCT 2012. I can honestly say, the wait was worth it. I have never seen a setup like this before. It is by far the best sump, skimmer, canister design I have seen. Lots of thought has been put into the design of this system. I will be posting pictures of before and after soon. The before consists of the following.

1. PM Sump
2. Reef Octopus Skimmer Compact in sump model
3. HY10000 return pump
4. Teco Chiller

Reasons for change

1. I have constantly have to adjust my skimmer. Depending on algae on overflows, and crud in my filter socks, the skimmer requires adjustment constantly.
2. Too many bubbles in tank. Too finicky.
3. Slight seepage at bulk heads (all of them) Although lot of this unavoidable.
4. I can't find a decent filter medium canister. The Vertex canisters are so huge, I have no use for them.
5. Cluttered look. I like a clean install
6. I HATE FILTER SOCKS. These require change too frequently.
7. Flow through middle section of FUGE on PM sump has dead spots. Water does not flow properly in the lower part of the fuge.

The new equipment.
1. Lifereef LF-150 berlin sump
2. Lifereef Insump Skimmer
3. Lifereef Dual canisters. Optional third
4. Lifereef Seperate fuge. I can turn down flow on the fuge compared to sump which is a big plus.
5. Algae scrubber from local member custom installed on lid of sump.

I have been following Jeff at Lifereef for close to 10 years. He is a master craftsman. Stay tuned. It will probably be close to a week before I can start the change.

Yogre · 02/15/2013, 03:52 PM

Following along. I really like my Lifereef stuff, my rig is very similar to yours.

moondoggy4 · 02/15/2013, 06:25 PM

Jeff is great, I sure he made a lot of phone calls to you, he is defiantly not a click and ship kind of guy. Looking forward to the pictures.

offroadr · 02/15/2013, 08:48 PM

I have a lifereef skimmer that should be operational soon, I have heard good things

bayoupr · 02/15/2013, 09:32 PM

He custom built my sump, excellent work.

Apotack · 02/16/2013, 08:16 AM

Add me to the list of Lifereef fans. Jeff is a craftsman, his work is outstanding. That type of quality is difficult to find in most products these days.

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 11:42 AM

Attached is some eyecandy. The unit on top is an algae scrubber I had custom mounted on top. The scrubber is from Bud Carlson (reef central member)

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 11:45 AM

Sorry for the bad pics. Taken from iphone. I will post detailed pics later.

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 11:46 AM

Original setup Reef octopus skimmer.

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 11:46 AM

PM Sump

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 11:47 AM

There is a RO/DI unit mounted on top, water drain on left side, Reef octopus pump HY10000 on right for return. The three colors lines are from my dosing pumps.

Michigan Mike · 02/20/2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunilp

Attached is some eyecandy. The unit on top is an algae scrubber I had custom mounted on top. The scrubber is from Bud Carlson (reef central member)

Isn't that nice!

moondoggy4 · 02/20/2013, 07:50 PM

Very nice, do you have the measurements?

sniper2be · 02/20/2013, 08:17 PM

wow that thing looks great

sail33 · 02/20/2013, 08:37 PM

Now why didn't I think of that?

Sunilp's filter assemblage is nothing less than spectacular.. If I wasn't so secure in myself I might even feel envy !

Yogre · 02/20/2013, 08:59 PM

Really nice! I especially like the algae scrubber mounted on the top of the sump.

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 09:11 PM

The refugium is not pictured and is an external slow flow unit also purchased from Jeff at Lifereef. I believe my fuge will be 16" wide. It has an inlet, outlet, and overflow. I will be able to control flow to the fuge and slow it down enough which IMO is better for refugiums. I also felt the PM sump has too many dead spots in it. The PM design is nothing great and many manufacturers use similar designs.

sunilp · 02/20/2013, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

Very nice, do you have the measurements?

I believe the fuge and sump will be close to 54". Jeff can custom make anything you want.

davidgnome · 02/23/2013, 05:34 PM

by chance the cost on all this? as ive orded from jeff before, but not all that. Im about to start a new tank, also the guy that made that ATS..Does he make them and sell because I would take one of those as well. thanks

moondoggy4 · 02/23/2013, 05:59 PM

Thanks I spoke with Jeff he stated that I would need to use a compact version.

davicgnome call jeff at Lifereef he rather speak with you about your needs then have you click and buy. His prices are also listed on his site.

sunilp · 02/24/2013, 06:22 PM

Compared to the cost of my pm sump, skimmer, canister, I think the prices from Jeff are very reasonable especially with the quality you get. And yes, the scrubbers are for sale from the reef member.

CreatiVe2 · 02/27/2013, 09:25 AM

Gorgeous setup! and fantastic display tank! I love the built in book shelf's.
I recently ordered a CLF1 Sump system with custom refugium and filter cylinders from Jeff - His work is unimaginable. Perfect to say the least. On a few emails and phone calls he was able to get within 1/2" clearance of my cabinet, very impressive!

Tagging along for the install

sunilp · 03/05/2013, 09:44 PM

Due to the size of my intake on my return pump 1 1/4, it has taken me a bit longer than I anticipated. I will be combining 2 of the 1" returns together for the intake. Hopefully this coming weekend now.

sunilp · 03/05/2013, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreatiVe2

Gorgeous setup! and fantastic display tank! I love the built in book shelf's.
I recently ordered a CLF1 Sump system with custom refugium and filter cylinders from Jeff - His work is unimaginable. Perfect to say the least. On a few emails and phone calls he was able to get within 1/2" clearance of my cabinet, very impressive!

Tagging along for the install

Thank you for the compliments.

JonnyD91 · 03/05/2013, 10:02 PM

Looking good. Lifereef has some really nice stuff, but man they need to update their website.

02/15/2013, 11:53 AM	#1
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Received LIFEREEF Sump, Skimmer, etc.. I received my order from Jeff yesterday at lifereef. I placed it around OCT 2012. I can honestly say, the wait was worth it. I have never seen a setup like this before. It is by far the best sump, skimmer, canister design I have seen. Lots of thought has been put into the design of this system. I will be posting pictures of before and after soon. The before consists of the following. 1. PM Sump 2. Reef Octopus Skimmer Compact in sump model 3. HY10000 return pump 4. Teco Chiller Reasons for change 1. I have constantly have to adjust my skimmer. Depending on algae on overflows, and crud in my filter socks, the skimmer requires adjustment constantly. 2. Too many bubbles in tank. Too finicky. 3. Slight seepage at bulk heads (all of them) Although lot of this unavoidable. 4. I can't find a decent filter medium canister. The Vertex canisters are so huge, I have no use for them. 5. Cluttered look. I like a clean install 6. I HATE FILTER SOCKS. These require change too frequently. 7. Flow through middle section of FUGE on PM sump has dead spots. Water does not flow properly in the lower part of the fuge. The new equipment. 1. Lifereef LF-150 berlin sump 2. Lifereef Insump Skimmer 3. Lifereef Dual canisters. Optional third 4. Lifereef Seperate fuge. I can turn down flow on the fuge compared to sump which is a big plus. 5. Algae scrubber from local member custom installed on lid of sump. I have been following Jeff at Lifereef for close to 10 years. He is a master craftsman. Stay tuned. It will probably be close to a week before I can start the change. Last edited by sunilp; 02/15/2013 at 12:00 PM.

02/15/2013, 03:52 PM	#2
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	Following along. I really like my Lifereef stuff, my rig is very similar to yours. __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

02/16/2013, 08:16 AM	#6
Apotack Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 297	Add me to the list of Lifereef fans. Jeff is a craftsman, his work is outstanding. That type of quality is difficult to find in most products these days. __________________ Adam Current Tank Info: 125gal

02/20/2013, 08:59 PM	#16
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	Really nice! I especially like the algae scrubber mounted on the top of the sump. __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

02/27/2013, 09:25 AM	#22
CreatiVe2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 117	Gorgeous setup! and fantastic display tank! I love the built in book shelf's. I recently ordered a CLF1 Sump system with custom refugium and filter cylinders from Jeff - His work is unimaginable. Perfect to say the least. On a few emails and phone calls he was able to get within 1/2" clearance of my cabinet, very impressive! Tagging along for the install __________________ 120 Gallon / 210 System volume - Fully automated Reef tank

02/15/2013, 06:25 PM	#3
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Jeff is great, I sure he made a lot of phone calls to you, he is defiantly not a click and ship kind of guy. Looking forward to the pictures.

02/15/2013, 08:48 PM	#4
offroadr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Central IL Posts: 307	I have a lifereef skimmer that should be operational soon, I have heard good things

02/15/2013, 09:32 PM	#5
bayoupr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,308	He custom built my sump, excellent work.

02/20/2013, 11:42 AM	#7
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Attached is some eyecandy. The unit on top is an algae scrubber I had custom mounted on top. The scrubber is from Bud Carlson (reef central member)

02/20/2013, 11:45 AM	#8
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Sorry for the bad pics. Taken from iphone. I will post detailed pics later.

02/20/2013, 11:46 AM	#9
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Original setup Reef octopus skimmer.

02/20/2013, 11:47 AM	#11
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	There is a RO/DI unit mounted on top, water drain on left side, Reef octopus pump HY10000 on right for return. The three colors lines are from my dosing pumps.

02/20/2013, 07:50 PM	#13
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Very nice, do you have the measurements?

02/20/2013, 08:17 PM	#14
sniper2be Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: connecticut Posts: 184	wow that thing looks great

02/20/2013, 08:37 PM	#15
sail33 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sunny St. Pete, FL Posts: 522	Now why didn't I think of that? Sunilp's filter assemblage is nothing less than spectacular.. If I wasn't so secure in myself I might even feel envy !

02/20/2013, 09:11 PM	#17
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	The refugium is not pictured and is an external slow flow unit also purchased from Jeff at Lifereef. I believe my fuge will be 16" wide. It has an inlet, outlet, and overflow. I will be able to control flow to the fuge and slow it down enough which IMO is better for refugiums. I also felt the PM sump has too many dead spots in it. The PM design is nothing great and many manufacturers use similar designs.

02/23/2013, 05:34 PM	#19
davidgnome Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 180	by chance the cost on all this? as ive orded from jeff before, but not all that. Im about to start a new tank, also the guy that made that ATS..Does he make them and sell because I would take one of those as well. thanks

02/23/2013, 05:59 PM	#20
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Thanks I spoke with Jeff he stated that I would need to use a compact version. davicgnome call jeff at Lifereef he rather speak with you about your needs then have you click and buy. His prices are also listed on his site.

02/24/2013, 06:22 PM	#21
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Compared to the cost of my pm sump, skimmer, canister, I think the prices from Jeff are very reasonable especially with the quality you get. And yes, the scrubbers are for sale from the reef member.

03/05/2013, 09:44 PM	#23
sunilp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	Due to the size of my intake on my return pump 1 1/4, it has taken me a bit longer than I anticipated. I will be combining 2 of the 1" returns together for the intake. Hopefully this coming weekend now.

03/05/2013, 10:02 PM	#25
JonnyD91 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Manalapan NJ Posts: 1,444	Looking good. Lifereef has some really nice stuff, but man they need to update their website. __________________ Click my super cool username dropdown menu to see my new 90 Gallon In wall Build on my user home page :) Current Tank Info: 90G Reef - 2 MP40's - Apex Controlled - Reef Octopus PRO-SSS-DC1 Skimmer - 6 Bulb ATI Sunpower