Life Reef VS2 has anyone had one

mudskiper · 07/09/2007, 08:17 AM

I might be getting a good deal on a LifeReef VS2 and just wanted to know if anyone has had one and did you like it?Did it work well?

lvpd186 · 07/09/2007, 09:03 AM

I still have a lifereef skimmer (although its not in use right now) and I thought it ran very well. All of the lifereef stuff seems to be very well built. Basically the lifereef skimmers are basic venturi skimmers. They work great, but there is some good arguments that nw skimmers and thread wheel skimmers work better. My BM250 can really outperform my old lifereef, but that isn't really a fair comparison. Depending on the deal you are looking at it may very well be worth getting.

RichConley · 07/09/2007, 09:36 AM

Theyre decent skimmers, although most of the stuff now is MUCH better.

What sort of deal are we talking here? Considering how expensive the LR skimmers are, it would have to be an exceptional deal to be worth it, as significantly better skimmers are available for <$300.

Tennsquire · 07/09/2007, 09:58 AM

I have the in-sump Lifefeef (SVS2-24), which I bought used several mos. ago for roughly half the price of a new one. I also own an older ER model (CS6-1). I like the Lifereef alot; once you get it set, it's pretty much bullet-proof, and it pulls alot of dark skimmate. It does require a bigger (ie, "hotter") pump, but it works well. I honestly think it outskimmed my Euroreef until I put an oversized pump on the ER. Now, they skim about equally, although the ER pump pulls less power and is a bit harder to dial in.

Another good thing about Lifereef is that it's easy to get replacement pumps quickly. You pretty much have to order new needlewheels (I've had two crap out on me now), and I know that no local LFS in my area carries them. I would love to know which skimmers are "significantly better" for less than 300, as I have much more sunk into my EuroReef at this point. If it's a good deal, go for it; Lifereef's are extremely well-built as previously mentioned and they work. It's just an older technology, which is why some folks kinda dismiss them, but one that works well.

ReefWreak · 07/09/2007, 10:38 AM

I had a lifereef SVS2-24 until Tennsquire bought it from me

It ran great on my tank, even when I didn't have a consistent water line in my sump, and always pulled out a great dark thick gross foam. It did need the hotter Mag pump for it, but it was such a simplistic design it never needed tweaking or any other crazy modifications to get it to work well.

It was really well built and ran like a champ, no questions asked, no futzing.

You can get "better" skimmers like Rich said, however I've never seen another skimmer that didn't need tweaking. I know that most of the NW skimmer guys are always tweaking and adjusting and stuff like that, and as of recently, I've been using an ER 8-2, which for whatever reason once in a while just feels like overflowing for NO reason. It happened yesterday. Didn't feed the tank, nothing abnormal going on. Only thing that went into the tank that day was the usual water topoff from the usual container, and 30ml of alk and calcium buffer 2part. Nothing out of the ordinary, however BOOM it overflowed while I was out at work. fortunately it's an in-sump so the water just falls back into the tank. Then for the next few hours I had to dial it waaaay down and it still blew big bubbles that came out the top of the skimmer air release instead of settling down into the cup. ::shrug::

Anyway, you'll have great trouble-free luck with the LifeReef.

RichConley · 07/09/2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tennsquire

Another good thing about Lifereef is that it's easy to get replacement pumps quickly. You pretty much have to order new needlewheels (I've had two crap out on me now), and I know that no local LFS in my area carries them.

You dont NEED to order new needlewheels. The pumps are exactly the same in most cases. You can get a Sedra pump, or an eheim in most places. All the modifications are to the impellar, or in some cases the volute, both of which can come off the pump body.

porthios · 07/09/2007, 11:21 AM

my lifereef worked a lot better for me once i replaced the venturi with two airstones. could never get enough air without a lot of turbulence before the mod.

it has recently been replaced with an octopus nw-200 ($200) which beats the snot out of the lifereef and i haven't even started modding it yet..

mudskiper · 07/14/2007, 04:57 PM

Well it sounds like i got a good deal because i traded an Aquimedic 150 pendent.

07/09/2007, 08:17 AM	#1
mudskiper Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Owensboro Ky Posts: 84	Life Reef VS2 has anyone had one I might be getting a good deal on a LifeReef VS2 and just wanted to know if anyone has had one and did you like it?Did it work well?

07/09/2007, 09:03 AM	#2
lvpd186 Reefing in NE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 1,485	I still have a lifereef skimmer (although its not in use right now) and I thought it ran very well. All of the lifereef stuff seems to be very well built. Basically the lifereef skimmers are basic venturi skimmers. They work great, but there is some good arguments that nw skimmers and thread wheel skimmers work better. My BM250 can really outperform my old lifereef, but that isn't really a fair comparison. Depending on the deal you are looking at it may very well be worth getting. __________________ "A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby

07/09/2007, 09:36 AM	#3
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Theyre decent skimmers, although most of the stuff now is MUCH better. What sort of deal are we talking here? Considering how expensive the LR skimmers are, it would have to be an exceptional deal to be worth it, as significantly better skimmers are available for <$300. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

07/09/2007, 09:58 AM	#4
Tennsquire Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,399	I have the in-sump Lifefeef (SVS2-24), which I bought used several mos. ago for roughly half the price of a new one. I also own an older ER model (CS6-1). I like the Lifereef alot; once you get it set, it's pretty much bullet-proof, and it pulls alot of dark skimmate. It does require a bigger (ie, "hotter") pump, but it works well. I honestly think it outskimmed my Euroreef until I put an oversized pump on the ER. Now, they skim about equally, although the ER pump pulls less power and is a bit harder to dial in. Another good thing about Lifereef is that it's easy to get replacement pumps quickly. You pretty much have to order new needlewheels (I've had two crap out on me now), and I know that no local LFS in my area carries them. I would love to know which skimmers are "significantly better" for less than 300, as I have much more sunk into my EuroReef at this point. If it's a good deal, go for it; Lifereef's are extremely well-built as previously mentioned and they work. It's just an older technology, which is why some folks kinda dismiss them, but one that works well. __________________ Nothin' left to do but smile, smile, smile.... Current Tank Info: 75 reef (2x 250 ReefOptix IIIs, AB 10k bulbs w/ 330 watt VHO, EuroReef RC135 skimmer, multicontrolled Tunze 6095's X2); 40 sps prop tank (Outer Orbit Pro 150, Euroreef CS6-1+ skimmer); 20 softie prop tank

07/09/2007, 11:21 AM	#7
porthios Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: colorado Posts: 719	my lifereef worked a lot better for me once i replaced the venturi with two airstones. could never get enough air without a lot of turbulence before the mod. it has recently been replaced with an octopus nw-200 ($200) which beats the snot out of the lifereef and i haven't even started modding it yet.. __________________ - jason homepage -> build thread.. Current Tank Info: 525g display with several supporting subsystems..

07/09/2007, 10:38 AM	#5
ReefWreak Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Astoria, NYC Posts: 10,159	I had a lifereef SVS2-24 until Tennsquire bought it from me It ran great on my tank, even when I didn't have a consistent water line in my sump, and always pulled out a great dark thick gross foam. It did need the hotter Mag pump for it, but it was such a simplistic design it never needed tweaking or any other crazy modifications to get it to work well. It was really well built and ran like a champ, no questions asked, no futzing. You can get "better" skimmers like Rich said, however I've never seen another skimmer that didn't need tweaking. I know that most of the NW skimmer guys are always tweaking and adjusting and stuff like that, and as of recently, I've been using an ER 8-2, which for whatever reason once in a while just feels like overflowing for NO reason. It happened yesterday. Didn't feed the tank, nothing abnormal going on. Only thing that went into the tank that day was the usual water topoff from the usual container, and 30ml of alk and calcium buffer 2part. Nothing out of the ordinary, however BOOM it overflowed while I was out at work. fortunately it's an in-sump so the water just falls back into the tank. Then for the next few hours I had to dial it waaaay down and it still blew big bubbles that came out the top of the skimmer air release instead of settling down into the cup. ::shrug:: Anyway, you'll have great trouble-free luck with the LifeReef.

07/14/2007, 04:57 PM	#8
mudskiper Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Owensboro Ky Posts: 84	Well it sounds like i got a good deal because i traded an Aquimedic 150 pendent.