The Life Reef Skimmer Club - Page 12

Ryanrttu · 05/27/2014, 02:38 PM

If i'm doing a FOWLR only on a 75 gallon tank with really no plans to go reef anytime in the future, do you think this skimmer is even necessary? Is the benefits to jeffs skimmers more for reefs?

Yogre · 05/27/2014, 06:26 PM

You'll still need to export nutrients from a FOWLR. If I had a fish-only setup I wouldn't want algae all over the place, and unless you have some aggressive algae eaters, nutrient buildup could be a problem, especially if you have some big messy eaters.

d2mini · 05/27/2014, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryanrttu

no plans to go reef anytime in the future

Famous last words.

But yeah... fish poop whether they are in a reef environment or not.
You gotta get rid of that poop, especially when you don't have anything in the tank (coral) that utilize it.

johnike · 05/27/2014, 08:31 PM

Jeff still hasn't responded to my resume.

moga · 05/28/2014, 07:08 AM

Anyone got hang-on version of life-reef skimmer?. I need to see some pictures..

please help!

Ryanrttu · 05/28/2014, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Famous last words.

But yeah... fish poop whether they are in a reef environment or not.
You gotta get rid of that poop, especially when you don't have anything in the tank (coral) that utilize it.

lol...you are probably right. However, ease is an important part of my life at the moment, and I am going to do a skimmer just didn't know if Jeffs skimmer was necessary.

d2mini · 05/28/2014, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryanrttu

lol...you are probably right. However, ease is an important part of my life at the moment, and I am going to do a skimmer just didn't know if Jeffs skimmer was necessary.

heh heh, point taken.

No skimmer is rated for one kind of tank vs another (reef vs fowler)
This is just a skimmer that skims really well with no fuss.
So if ease of use is important and your time is valuable, all the more reason to get a life reef skimmer.

Ryanrttu · 05/28/2014, 12:58 PM

They are just so big.

Piper27 · 05/29/2014, 08:10 AM

Big skimmer = big performance

I am not buying a needle wheel again.

Breadman03 · 05/29/2014, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryanrttu

They are just so big.

The footprint is just a little more than my Eshopps PSK150.

clugo · 05/29/2014, 08:14 AM

I love my lifereef skimmer. Where my deltec needed constant adjustment and tinkering; for the most part my lifereef has just worked.

wildman926 · 05/29/2014, 08:45 AM

Has anyone measured the air draw of the standard and/or upgraded Mazzei venturi? If so, what pump was used?

azjohnny · 05/29/2014, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildman926

Has anyone measured the air draw of the standard and/or upgraded Mazzei venturi? If so, what pump was used?

Bayoupr has a few posts in this thread about different air draws using different pumps, he does think 20-22 SCFH is the sweet spot using a 978 Mazzei injector on the 30" body. Using a pressure pump results in too much air, he preferred using non pressure pumps

Another used a Jebao 12000@ 100% ouput on a VS3-36 and has gotten good results

bayoupr · 05/29/2014, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Bayoupr has a few posts in this thread about different air draws using different pumps, he does think 20-22 SCFH is the sweet spot using a 978 Mazzei injector on the 30" body. Using a pressure pump results in too much air, he preferred using non pressure pumps

I am using a pressure rated but not the Iwaki 55RLT I had hooked up. On the 48" body I ran a Blueline 40HD, Air Draw was around 24-28 SCFH after adjusting my water height in the skimmer body. I ran the Blueline 30HD on this same skimmer and air draw was 16-18 SCFH after adjusting my water height in the skimmer body. The 55RLT was pegging my dwyer 50 SCFH air meter after the adjustments on the 48". These measurements were with a 1078 injector. The 978 would be a little less air but not much. Oh, and I am getting good flow through the skimmer using the lower flow pressure pumps as I was with the higher flow non pressure rated (probably a little more), and more air draw. I believe that with the pressure rated pump you get more air & flow because of the force being driven through the orifice in the injector and the higher head pressure rating. You just have to rate a pressure pump lower for the skimmer. I currently have Jeff working on an 8" dia body skimmer for me with a couple of subtle changes. I like to experiment.

jlholimon · 05/29/2014, 02:27 PM

Hi, I am considering switching to a life reef skimmer and was wondering if anyone had successfully attached a Swabby to their collector cup.

Piper27 · 05/30/2014, 06:54 AM

I am going to get one to try in a few weeks, I haven't been able to find a used one, people keep jumping in before me.

laserjim · 06/08/2014, 06:52 AM

Anyone tried running one of the DC pumps with their Life reef ? Ive got the 36 external.

pfish · 06/08/2014, 08:52 AM

I'm running a jebao 12000 on the 36 and it's working fine.

ksed · 06/08/2014, 09:08 AM

What is the wattage draw? Are you running it at max.

pfish · 06/08/2014, 09:47 AM

I'm only running it at 1/2 speed with plenty of adjustment left. I just set this up and I'm still experimenting. I think I can run it even lower. The pump puts out a max 85 watts so I'm assuming I'm running 1/2 that.

laserjim · 06/08/2014, 09:50 AM

Are you running the pump in sump?

pfish · 06/08/2014, 09:53 AM

Yes

ksed · 06/08/2014, 12:10 PM

That is very efficient for a 36 inch skimmer.

neogenix · 06/08/2014, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnike

Thanks, here she is.
Jeff should hire me for all of his repair jobs.

I have the same break in one I picked up. What'd you use to fix it? and did it work?

johnike · 06/08/2014, 01:27 PM

Permatex 2 part plastic epoxy in a syringe.
I haven't wet tested it yet, maybe tonight for kicks, I'm in the middle of moving the tank across the room.

05/27/2014, 06:26 PM	#277
Yogre Cheesehead Reefer Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,351	You'll still need to export nutrients from a FOWLR. If I had a fish-only setup I wouldn't want algae all over the place, and unless you have some aggressive algae eaters, nutrient buildup could be a problem, especially if you have some big messy eaters. __________________ "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~ Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 215 gal TBS Reef

05/28/2014, 07:08 AM	#280
moga Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 1,223	Anyone got hang-on version of life-reef skimmer?. I need to see some pictures.. please help! __________________ Since 2001, 30x30x20 cube with GHL LED Mitras LED lighting tank. No sump is good tank~

05/29/2014, 08:45 AM	#287
wildman926 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: CTX Posts: 2,904	Has anyone measured the air draw of the standard and/or upgraded Mazzei venturi? If so, what pump was used? __________________ Beware of recommendations by those who don't actually use their recommendation!! The search function actually works quite well!! Tanks:Planet Aquarium 150g LPS, Planet Aquarium 90g Softie

06/08/2014, 06:52 AM	#292
laserjim Another Day In Paradise Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,956	Anyone tried running one of the DC pumps with their Life reef ? Ive got the 36 external. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 430 gallon, 4 radion gen 3pro, 4 T5 bulbs, 60 inch Life Reef skimmer, Apex gold, 2 Dos dosers, ,80 gallon sump. 2 Cor pumps. 2 Ecotech MP 60 powerheads

06/08/2014, 09:50 AM	#296
laserjim Another Day In Paradise Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,956	Are you running the pump in sump? __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 430 gallon, 4 radion gen 3pro, 4 T5 bulbs, 60 inch Life Reef skimmer, Apex gold, 2 Dos dosers, ,80 gallon sump. 2 Cor pumps. 2 Ecotech MP 60 powerheads

05/27/2014, 02:38 PM	#276
Ryanrttu Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Francisco / North Beach Posts: 394	If i'm doing a FOWLR only on a 75 gallon tank with really no plans to go reef anytime in the future, do you think this skimmer is even necessary? Is the benefits to jeffs skimmers more for reefs?

05/27/2014, 08:31 PM	#279
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Jeff still hasn't responded to my resume.

05/28/2014, 12:58 PM	#283
Ryanrttu Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: San Francisco / North Beach Posts: 394	They are just so big.

05/29/2014, 08:10 AM	#284
Piper27 I love bengals Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Manassas Virginia Posts: 2,512	Big skimmer = big performance I am not buying a needle wheel again.

05/29/2014, 08:14 AM	#286
clugo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 537	I love my lifereef skimmer. Where my deltec needed constant adjustment and tinkering; for the most part my lifereef has just worked.

05/29/2014, 02:27 PM	#290
jlholimon Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Morrisville, NC Posts: 46	Hi, I am considering switching to a life reef skimmer and was wondering if anyone had successfully attached a Swabby to their collector cup.

05/30/2014, 06:54 AM	#291
Piper27 I love bengals Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Manassas Virginia Posts: 2,512	I am going to get one to try in a few weeks, I haven't been able to find a used one, people keep jumping in before me.

06/08/2014, 08:52 AM	#293
pfish Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 289	I'm running a jebao 12000 on the 36 and it's working fine.

06/08/2014, 09:08 AM	#294
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	What is the wattage draw? Are you running it at max.

06/08/2014, 09:47 AM	#295
pfish Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 289	I'm only running it at 1/2 speed with plenty of adjustment left. I just set this up and I'm still experimenting. I think I can run it even lower. The pump puts out a max 85 watts so I'm assuming I'm running 1/2 that.

06/08/2014, 09:53 AM	#297
pfish Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 289	Yes

06/08/2014, 12:10 PM	#298
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	That is very efficient for a 36 inch skimmer.

06/08/2014, 01:27 PM	#300
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Permatex 2 part plastic epoxy in a syringe. I haven't wet tested it yet, maybe tonight for kicks, I'm in the middle of moving the tank across the room.