The Life Reef Skimmer Club - Page 4

ken6217 · 04/25/2014, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bernie lyons

Ken what is the height and diameter of the mtc dual venturi's collection cup neck ?

Hi Bernie, it is 4" OD and 3 1/2" ID since they use 1/2" acrylic tubing. I'm not home to measure the length but I would guess about 18". You can see from the picture where it starts. It really is a piece of art. I wanted to keep it in my living room near the fireplace but my wife thinks it looks out of place.

Their normal neck I think is 1/2" wider but I told Jeff and Leo to make it narrower due to the tank size/bioload I have.

I had their 4 venturi skimmer with a Iwaki 100RLT pump back in the mid 90's.

On Sunday I'm going up to see Jeff and I'll finalize my 30" recirculating skimmer him.
Ken

bernie lyons · 04/25/2014, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

Hi Bernie, it is 4" OD and 3 1/2" ID since they use 1/2" acrylic tubing.

Their normal neck I think is 1/2" wider but I told Jeff and Leo to make it narrower due to the tank size/bioload I have.

I had their 4 venturi skimmer with a Iwaki 100RLT pump back in the mid 90's.

On Sunday I'm going up to see Jeff and I'll finalize my 30" recirculating skimmer him.
Ken

Thanks Ken ...beautifully made products from those guys...Look forward to seeing your 30" MTC single venturi !

inetmug · 04/25/2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

Which is the 250 model?

SVS2-24 in-sump
22 1/2" tall

SVS2-24 in-sump
22 1/2" tall 250 gallons 600-1200 gph
submersible pump SMALL FOOTPRINT!
8 x 12
with pump

Piper27 · 04/26/2014, 08:49 AM

So I hooked her up! I love this thing. I plumbed the recirculation off the bottom and the supply water enters in the middle of the chamber.
I used a mag 7 to supply water and the iwaki 55rlt to recirculating it. I have to say setting it up this way seems to run much better than the standard skimmer setup. I can't wait to do a collection cup comparison on day three. The old 8" reef octopus just wasn't skimming as well after I added the sps tank. It was always putting out tea colored skim and I have noticed with the mazzi injection, the skim is always dark and chunky.
Sad thing is all my equipment and tanks are in the main level of our townhouse, I am used to that now though.
Even though my skimmer is half life reef half skimz I feel like I should still be allowed in the club right?

It was amazing at how little work it was to cut and glue that thing in there too, fit just right!

ken6217 · 04/26/2014, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper27

So I hooked her up! I love this thing. I plumbed the recirculation off the bottom and the supply water enters in the middle of the chamber.
I used a mag 7 to supply water and the iwaki 55rlt to recirculating it. I have to say setting it up this way seems to run much better than the standard skimmer setup. I can't wait to do a collection cup comparison on day three. The old 8" reef octopus just wasn't skimming as well after I added the sps tank. It was always putting out tea colored skim and I have noticed with the mazzi injection, the skim is always dark and chunky.
Sad thing is all my equipment and tanks are in the main level of our townhouse, I am used to that now though.
Even though my skimmer is half life reef half skimz I feel like I should still be allowed in the club right?

It was amazing at how little work it was to cut and glue that thing in there too, fit just right!

Well not exactly. This would have to be an offshoot of this club called, FrankenReef

Ken

ksed · 04/26/2014, 10:36 AM

Ken
Have got the Life Reef running? Can't wait to see how it compares to the rest.

ken6217 · 04/26/2014, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksed

Ken
Have got the Life Reef running? Can't wait to see how it compares to the rest.

Not until tomorrow. I am bringing the MTC skimmer back then. I took these two pics before I took it down today. Check out how fine the bubbles are in the riser tube.

I would have hooked it up today but I can't get motivated to drain the sump and drill for the bulkhead.

Btw, tomorrow when I drop of the other skimmer we will be going over the design for the 30" recirculating skimmer. Should have that in a couple of weeks.
Ken

bernie lyons · 04/26/2014, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

Not until tomorrow. I am bringing the MTC skimmer back then. I took these two pics before I took it down today. Check out how fine the bubbles are in the riser tube.

I would have hooked it up today but I can't get motivated to drain the sump and drill for the bulkhead.

Btw, tomorrow when I drop of the other skimmer we will be going over the design for the 30" recirculating skimmer. Should have that in a couple of weeks.
Ken

Very impressive looking fine bubbles !

ken6217 · 04/26/2014, 07:15 PM

The Mag-Drive 12 pump I'm using comes with a foam block. Do you guys use this in the pump or leave it out? Also do you use the thin foam vibration pad when using the pump in the sump?

Thanks,
Ken

Speed · 04/26/2014, 07:53 PM

Don't use either foam.

d2mini · 04/26/2014, 08:34 PM

no foam here.

ken6217 · 04/26/2014, 09:05 PM

Thanks. What about the pad?

clugo · 04/26/2014, 09:15 PM

Mine didn't come w a pad.

ken6217 · 04/26/2014, 09:33 PM

Is the pad salt water / reef safe? I'm wondering if it cuts down on vibration with the pump sitting on the bottom of the acrylic sump.

bernie lyons · 04/26/2014, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

Is the pad salt water / reef safe? I'm wondering if it cuts down on vibration with the pump sitting on the bottom of the acrylic sump.

I wouldn't bother with the pad Ken as it is made of some type of foam and I didn't find it to really isolate the pumps vibration that much...It's up to you though to experiment.

bayoupr · 04/27/2014, 03:28 PM

Little update on the 48", still kicking butt.

krzyphsygy · 04/27/2014, 07:31 PM

Anyone know what the diameter is of these skimmer? Life Reef skimmers? SVS3-24.

What about ratings? I know the site says 250 gallons but Jeff says the skimmer body is only 13 inches not including cup and neck I guess. Is 250 a good rating?

bayoupr · 04/27/2014, 07:37 PM

6" dia. The 48" (which has 22" of actual usable reaction chamber, measured where the air is mixing in the skimmer to the top of the water line where my bubbles pop at) is rated up to 500gals and is handling my 180g with no problem, if this helps.

Speed · 04/27/2014, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krzyphsygy

Anyone know what the diameter is of these skimmer? Life Reef skimmers? SVS3-24.

What about ratings? I know the site says 250 gallons but Jeff says the skimmer body is only 13 inches not including cup and neck I guess. Is 250 a good rating?

the SVS3-24 is 6 inches in diameter and 23 inches tall to top of collection cup.(just went and measured mine)
the OP of this thread is using a SVS3-30 on a 350g system (with a pretty decent bio load) with success so the SVS3-24 will be fine for 250g. If worse came to worse Jeff makes a flanged spacer to increase the height of of the VS3(flanged) skimmer but if you're using within the 250g spec you should never need it.

Give Jeff a call, many folks can vouch he'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

ken6217 · 04/27/2014, 08:10 PM

Finally hooked up the SVS3-30 tonight. The skimmer and the pump is very quiet.

I set the level to about 1 1/2" below the top of the main chamber.

I was surprised to see after having it running that you don't really have all 30" for skimming. You have to minus whatever the height of the narrower chamber that the water first shoots into. No real skimming is done in that chamber. In the main body there are no bubbles from the bottom of the skimmer to the height of that narrow chamber. I didn't measure but maybe it's about 10".

This functions the same as his big skimmers that have the box on the bottom and like the MTC skimmer that I had. It keeps the bubbles from he returning to the sump.

Ken

ken6217 · 04/28/2014, 05:57 AM

It just slides into the body and there is an O ring.
Ken

d2mini · 04/28/2014, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

In the main body there are no bubbles from the bottom of the skimmer to the height of that narrow chamber. I didn't measure but maybe it's about 10".

About 8.5" on my 30", which interestingly is at the same level as my water level.

ken6217 · 04/28/2014, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

About 8.5" on my 30", which interestingly is at the same level as my water level.

Just a coincidence.

Btw, once your skimmer broke in, where did you set the level in term of the flange on the top of the skimmer.?

d2mini · 04/28/2014, 08:10 AM

Mine usually sits about a half inch below the flange. Break-in was about 12 hours.

ken6217 · 04/28/2014, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d2mini

Mine usually sits about a half inch below the flange. Break-in was about 12 hours.

Uh oh, I got to leave Manhattan now and get home. I don't want to miss it happening at the 12 hour mark.

When I get home tonight I will move the level up an 1". I wanted to leave it lower just in case things overflowed.

Also if I had to do it again, I wouldn't have gotten the 8" cup. It is a waste of money and takes up too much room if you are going to use the drain and a a collection container.

04/26/2014, 07:53 PM	#85
Speed Unregister Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 195	Don't use either foam. __________________ Good Things Happen Slowly..... Bad Things Happen Fast! Current Tank Info: Slowest 125g build in history Last edited by Speed; 04/26/2014 at 08:42 PM.

04/26/2014, 08:34 PM	#86
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	no foam here. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/27/2014, 07:37 PM	#93
bayoupr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,308	6" dia. The 48" (which has 22" of actual usable reaction chamber, measured where the air is mixing in the skimmer to the top of the water line where my bubbles pop at) is rated up to 500gals and is handling my 180g with no problem, if this helps. Last edited by bayoupr; 04/27/2014 at 07:42 PM.

04/28/2014, 08:10 AM	#99
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Mine usually sits about a half inch below the flange. Break-in was about 12 hours. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

04/26/2014, 08:49 AM	#79
Piper27 I love bengals Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Manassas Virginia Posts: 2,512	So I hooked her up! I love this thing. I plumbed the recirculation off the bottom and the supply water enters in the middle of the chamber. I used a mag 7 to supply water and the iwaki 55rlt to recirculating it. I have to say setting it up this way seems to run much better than the standard skimmer setup. I can't wait to do a collection cup comparison on day three. The old 8" reef octopus just wasn't skimming as well after I added the sps tank. It was always putting out tea colored skim and I have noticed with the mazzi injection, the skim is always dark and chunky. Sad thing is all my equipment and tanks are in the main level of our townhouse, I am used to that now though. Even though my skimmer is half life reef half skimz I feel like I should still be allowed in the club right? It was amazing at how little work it was to cut and glue that thing in there too, fit just right!

04/26/2014, 10:36 AM	#81
ksed Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,867	Ken Have got the Life Reef running? Can't wait to see how it compares to the rest.

04/26/2014, 07:15 PM	#84
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	The Mag-Drive 12 pump I'm using comes with a foam block. Do you guys use this in the pump or leave it out? Also do you use the thin foam vibration pad when using the pump in the sump? Thanks, Ken

04/26/2014, 09:05 PM	#87
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Thanks. What about the pad?

04/26/2014, 09:15 PM	#88
clugo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 537	Mine didn't come w a pad.

04/26/2014, 09:33 PM	#89
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Is the pad salt water / reef safe? I'm wondering if it cuts down on vibration with the pump sitting on the bottom of the acrylic sump.

04/27/2014, 07:31 PM	#92
krzyphsygy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,148	Anyone know what the diameter is of these skimmer? Life Reef skimmers? SVS3-24. What about ratings? I know the site says 250 gallons but Jeff says the skimmer body is only 13 inches not including cup and neck I guess. Is 250 a good rating?

04/27/2014, 08:10 PM	#95
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Finally hooked up the SVS3-30 tonight. The skimmer and the pump is very quiet. I set the level to about 1 1/2" below the top of the main chamber. I was surprised to see after having it running that you don't really have all 30" for skimming. You have to minus whatever the height of the narrower chamber that the water first shoots into. No real skimming is done in that chamber. In the main body there are no bubbles from the bottom of the skimmer to the height of that narrow chamber. I didn't measure but maybe it's about 10". This functions the same as his big skimmers that have the box on the bottom and like the MTC skimmer that I had. It keeps the bubbles from he returning to the sump. Ken

04/28/2014, 05:57 AM	#96
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	It just slides into the body and there is an O ring. Ken