The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[whyamisofly]

Originally Posted by whyamisofly

Getting ready to build my skimmer stand - what has everyone found to be the "sweet spot" on the 24" model for depth?

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[Celtic_Fox]

Originally Posted by whyamisofly

Getting ready to build my skimmer stand - what has everyone found to be the "sweet spot" on the 24" model for depth?

Originally Posted by whyamisofly

Bump

As long as the water level outside the skimmer isn't much above the level of the exit pipe/valve it doesn't really matter.

The water level (and bubble level) inside this type of skimmer is usually governed by the height of the exit pipe and how open the exit valve is. The "sweet spot" depends on how wet or dry you want your skimate - and you adjust the exit valve as needed. (Assuming your pump pressure is constant of course.)

You only really get in trouble when the outside water height gets much higher than the exit pipe, causing the water and bubble level on the inside to rise more than wanted and/or expected - and of course the exit valve then becomes less helpful (or not at all) in adjusting the inside level...

Sooooo, if you need a skimmer stand (or just "want one", like I did), just make sure the exit pipe/valve is above the water level. If you end up not liking the sound of the water exiting the skimmer, a simple street elbow (and pipe if needed) pointed down, that reaches the the water line, works great.

[whyamisofly]

Originally Posted by Celtic_Fox

As long as the water level outside the skimmer isn't much above the level of the exit pipe/valve it doesn't really matter.

The water level (and bubble level) inside this type of skimmer is usually governed by the height of the exit pipe and how open the exit valve is. The "sweet spot" depends on how wet or dry you want your skimate - and you adjust the exit valve as needed. (Assuming your pump pressure is constant of course.)

You only really get in trouble when the outside water height gets much higher than the exit pipe, causing the water and bubble level on the inside to rise more than wanted and/or expected - and of course the exit valve then becomes less helpful (or not at all) in adjusting the inside level...

Sooooo, if you need a skimmer stand (or just "want one", like I did), just make sure the exit pipe/valve is above the water level. If you end up not liking the sound of the water exiting the skimmer, a simple street elbow (and pipe if needed) pointed down, that reaches the the water line, works great.

Thank you for the response! I require a stand in my sump, as the water level is at 14".

[FullBoreReefer]

My sump water level is 10.5” deep with a 3” stand. So my skimmer sits at a 7.5” depth.

As said above, I use a 90degree fitting as a turndown to quiet the exit flow.

[whyamisofly]

Originally Posted by FullBoreReefer

My sump water level is 10.5” deep with a 3” stand. So my skimmer sits at a 7.5” depth.

As said above, I use a 90degree fitting as a turndown to quiet the exit flow.

Thank you! I'll plan on 7-8" depth

[Antonee]

Wow finally finished all 147 pages. Had a question about ordering from Jeff. I just ordered the SVS3-24 his past weekend and the skimmer is in stock. When are orders usually shipped? Just wondering because I have a business trip coming up.

[Orcus Varuna]

Originally Posted by Antonee

Wow finally finished all 147 pages. Had a question about ordering from Jeff. I just ordered the SVS3-24 his past weekend and the skimmer is in stock. When are orders usually shipped? Just wondering because I have a business trip coming up.

Jeff is a one man show on what I came to call Jeff time lol. so if you haven’t yet I would call him and ask. If not it could be a week or two, he will also hold it and ship out when you return.


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[rmchoi]

Originally Posted by whyamisofly

Thank you! I'll plan on 7-8" depth

That depth is right on. I have a Lifereef system built with Lifereef SVS3-24 skimmer. The water line sticker that came on the Lifereef sump is at 7” from bottom, right where the water line actually is.

[Yogre]

Originally Posted by Antonee

Wow finally finished all 147 pages. Had a question about ordering from Jeff. I just ordered the SVS3-24 his past weekend and the skimmer is in stock. When are orders usually shipped? Just wondering because I have a business trip coming up.

Last time I ordered from him, been a couple of years now, he told me he only ships on Tuesdays. So, you’d have to coordinate a Tuesday that works for you.

[Antonee]

Originally Posted by Yogre

Last time I ordered from him, been a couple of years now, he told me he only ships on Tuesdays. So, you’d have to coordinate a Tuesday that works for you.

Thanks for the reply and I guess Jeff hasn’t changed much from an operational standpoint. He shipped out my skimmer this Tuesday and it’s arriving this Saturday. Super excited.


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[Mryin]

My lifereef skimmer and overflow are in the mail and will be here Monday! Can’t wait. This is my first insump skimmer, currently using a bh2000 HOB. Anything I need to know setting this skimmer up. I ordered the 24” internal

[Pablos RSM 450]

Originally Posted by Mryin

My lifereef skimmer and overflow are in the mail and will be here Monday! Can’t wait. This is my first insump skimmer, currently using a bh2000 HOB. Anything I need to know setting this skimmer up. I ordered the 24” internal

It is by far the best skimmer you will ever own. It will be a bit loud on initial setup but will quiet over time. I suggest a diy silencer and a 6,000 lph dc pump. Do not bother with the mazzei venturi. The stock one Jeff makes works better. I made a comparison video between multiple skimmers and both stock and mazzei on the lifereef.

[Antonee]

Originally Posted by Pablos RSM 450

It is by far the best skimmer you will ever own. It will be a bit loud on initial setup but will quiet over time. I suggest a diy silencer and a 6,000 lph dc pump. Do not bother with the mazzei venturi. The stock one Jeff makes works better. I made a comparison video between multiple skimmers and both stock and mazzei on the lifereef.

Agree that it’s a little loud and wish it was more silent. Not sure if I should mod it with the silencer. I’m running my 24 with a dcp-8000 at 75% and it’s skimming nicely. Skim at 4 days after breaking in for 24 hrs.


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[solitude127]

When you refer to noise, what is making the noise?

[Mark SF]

Originally Posted by Antonee

Agree that it’s a little loud and wish it was more silent. Not sure if I should mod it with the silencer. I’m running my 24 with a dcp-8000 at 75% and it’s skimming nicely. Skim at 4 days after breaking in for 24 hrs.


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I was just debating on which Jebao DCP pump to run on a lifereef SVS3-24. Sounds like the 8000 is more than enough flow with the standard Venturi?

Does anyone else have experience with running DC pumps on the LifeReef?

-Mark

[Orcus Varuna]

Originally Posted by Mark SF

I was just debating on which Jebao DCP pump to run on a lifereef SVS3-24. Sounds like the 8000 is more than enough flow with the standard Venturi?



Does anyone else have experience with running DC pumps on the LifeReef?



-Mark

Yes I run a jebao 8000 and run it at 80% it’s perfect and that pretty much maxes the air injection potential of the standard Venturi. Anything more then that is just wasting power imo.


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[Mark SF]

Perfect, placing an order for an 8000! Thanks.



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[saf1]

Originally Posted by Mark SF

I was just debating on which Jebao DCP pump to run on a lifereef SVS3-24. Sounds like the 8000 is more than enough flow with the standard Venturi?

Does anyone else have experience with running DC pumps on the LifeReef?

-Mark

My lifereef is powered by a Cor 15. Zero noise.

[Mark SF]

Originally Posted by saf1

My lifereef is powered by a Cor 15. Zero noise.

I was planning on spending the money for a COR-15 for the return pump, but good to know that it's working out for you. What speed are you running your COR-15 to operate the skimmer?

-Mark

[saf1]

Originally Posted by Mark SF

I was planning on spending the money for a COR-15 for the return pump, but good to know that it's working out for you. What speed are you running your COR-15 to operate the skimmer?

-Mark

I also use a Cor 15 for my return It wasn't my intent but I was reading some threads on the Neptune forums and someone said they used the same pump for skimmer and return. That way if the return pump failed they could just swap out the skimmers pump with the return and be back operational in no time provided plumbed correctly. I thought that made a lot of sense so paired them up. Skimmer can be offline longer so that is the route I went.

Pumps work fine. I just cleaned the return this past weekend after about 4 months of operation. Not too bad and maybe took 5 minutes if that. Pretty easy.

[abhishek@1985]

Planning on joining the club with a SVS3-30 or 36 .
What pumps do you guys use on the 30 or 36 ?
I was thinking of jebao DCP 10000 or may be the Fluval sp4 .

Regards,
Abhishek

[Orcus Varuna]

Originally Posted by abhishek@1985

Planning on joining the club with a SVS3-30 or 36 .
What pumps do you guys use on the 30 or 36 ?
I was thinking of jebao DCP 10000 or may be the Fluval sp4 .

Regards,
Abhishek

Are you going with the standard Venturi? If so a jebao 8-10k will be fine, same for the sp-4. If your getting the mazzei then I would do something pressure rated like an iwaki.


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[abhishek@1985]

Originally Posted by Orcus Varuna

Are you going with the standard Venturi? If so a jebao 8-10k will be fine, same for the sp-4. If your getting the mazzei then I would do something pressure rated like an iwaki.


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Thanks a ton !! I want the mazzei but can't do pressure rated as it will be in sump .
I checked with Jeff and he said mag 18 .So I thought pressure rated isnor important .

Regards,
Abhishek

[Orcus Varuna]

Originally Posted by abhishek@1985

Thanks a ton !! I want the mazzei but can't do pressure rated as it will be in sump .

I checked with Jeff and he said mag 18 .So I thought pressure rated isnor important .



Regards,

Abhishek

Yup sounds about right as the maximum air injection occurs around 1650gph according to Jeff for the standard Venturi. So either the fluval sp4, mag 18, or jebao 8-10k will work beautifully. Personally though I would never run a mag drive again as it may be reliable but it sounds like a jet engine lol. I’m not sure how loud the sp4 is but larger ac pumps are not known for being quiet lol. For reference the Jebao 8000 I run on my 24” achieves my goal of ensuring the Venturi and not the pump is the loudest part of the skimmer while maintaining excellent skimming.


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[Yogre]

I’m currently running the mazzei venturi on my 30” Lifereef. I started with the stock venturi, and I’ve found that the mazzei seems to skim a bit better.

I’m powering this rig with a Mag 18 pump in sump. The first one I had intermittently made a rattling noise, so I tried another one. This one has been much better, it makes a soft hum that’s barely noticeable.