The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[hkgar]

Anyone have a problem with the acrylic cracking, breaking, around the discharge pipeinto the side of the skimmer?

[BillFW]

Originally Posted by hkgar

Anyone have a problem with the acrylic cracking, breaking, around the discharge pipeinto the side of the skimmer?

I have some cosmetic cracking and starring on the cup, but none that I've noticed otherwise.

[FlyingFishSKYw]

I'd love some advice on my LifeReef.

VS2-24
Jebao DCT-4000
8" water level in skimmer section

It's been running for about two weeks now. I started off with the water level right at the "LifeReef" logo until I started seeing some foam being produces, then little by little over hours and days closed the gate valve to raise the foam break level to the top of the riser neck. I've got some sludge sticking to the neck and from time to time I'll have real wet skim that just about fills the collection cup. At which point, I'll open the gate valve a scosch to hopefully lower it a bit. I'm hopefully getting closer to producing a more uniform skim...

Can some of you more experienced LifeReefers take a look at the pics and tell me everything is good? It seems there aren't many bubbles in the main chamber, just the top few inches. Would a stronger pump make a difference?

Thanks!

[EvMiBo]

Short and sweet, a 6000 will work much better.

[FlyingFishSKYw]

The 8000 and 6000 are within $2 of each other on Amazon. Would I benefit from getting the 8000, or would that be overkill on my 75 gal?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[EvMiBo]

I might go with the 8000 and not run 100%. We already know 6000 is good on the 24 body, but it might be even better with ~6500..? This gives you some room to tweak it (with the 8000).

I still run 9000 on my 30, but feel like a little more might be better... Whenever the 9000 dies I'll get a slightly larger dc and go from there.

[Pablos RSM 450]

Originally Posted by FlyingFishSKYw

I'd love some advice on my LifeReef.

VS2-24
Jebao DCT-4000
8" water level in skimmer section

It's been running for about two weeks now. I started off with the water level right at the "LifeReef" logo until I started seeing some foam being produces, then little by little over hours and days closed the gate valve to raise the foam break level to the top of the riser neck. I've got some sludge sticking to the neck and from time to time I'll have real wet skim that just about fills the collection cup. At which point, I'll open the gate valve a scosch to hopefully lower it a bit. I'm hopefully getting closer to producing a more uniform skim...

Can some of you more experienced LifeReefers take a look at the pics and tell me everything is good? It seems there aren't many bubbles in the main chamber, just the top few inches. Would a stronger pump make a difference?

Thanks!

Here is a video of mine with the DCT 6000. I have my water level about 1/2" below where the body meets the neck and I run my 6000 at 80%. I think your skimmer is still breaking in and that you have the water level too high.

https://youtu.be/hHjf6lda3y8

https://youtu.be/ue2xBdipkfc

[cmaxwell39]

Here is 6 days worth from my SVS3-36 powered by a vectra M1 running at speed 7. Pulling about 22 scfh.

IMG_1254.JPG

BTW, that is the large collection cup. It is a touch wet, but I like to run a medium dark skimmate. Overall I am pretty happy with it.

In another month or two, I will put the maezzi on to compare, but want to really get comfortable with the stock Venturi and what it can do first.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Reel North]

You need (I believe) 1150 gph through the skimmer. Not sure what the 4000 does gph wise. I'm running a panworld on my 36" skimmer and it's way underpowered.

I'm putting my Vectra L1 on the skimmer which will certainly increase my gph and skimming ability. As long as you are putting 1150+ through the skimmer, it's a beast. Looks like you might be a bit lite flow wise

[FlyingFishSKYw]

I got the Jebao DCT-8000. It's a beast! Almost twice the size of the 4000 and loud when at full speed. I've got it dialed down to about 75% which is quieter for sure.

Time will tell now if it makes a difference.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[EvMiBo]

Originally Posted by FlyingFishSKYw

I got the Jebao DCT-8000. It's a beast! Almost twice the size of the 4000 and loud when at full speed. I've got it dialed down to about 75% which is quieter for sure.

Time will tell now if it makes a difference.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Should get quieter once broken in. Around 75% should be good. Update this thread once you feel the pump is broken in

[jason2459]

My waveline dc12000 and jebao dct15000 both have gotten considerably quieter over time.

[jrizo1]

Hi every one I have a few questions about a Lifereef Skimmer that I purchase a few months ago.
The skimmer is a VS3-48
I am trying to run it as a recirculating skimmer and I am not happy with it
I am wondering if I am using the wrong pump for recirculating the water.
I am using a waveline DC1200 at it lowest setting to feed water to the skimmer and a Syncra silent 4.0(951 Gph) sicce to recirculate the water (wide open)
Is been running like that for about 5 days and not producing anything
I will appreciate any suggestion
Thanks

[laserjim]

IMHO, you shouldnt have to set it up as recirculating. These things are a beast without it.

[jrizo1]

The only Resson I am running it as a recirculating skimmer is because I was not getting good results
But it could be my pump

[laserjim]

Im running a Vectra M1 now at 90%. Works great. I was running a Panworld 100px-x, that worked fine also, I just wanted to cut down on the power bill with the dc pump.

[laserjim]

Another thing you might think about, I had the 48, but it seemed like it didnt have any more dwell time than the 36, so I bought an extention. Nice difference. Maybe your tank is clean

[Khazmodain]

I agree with laserjim... you shouldn't need to run that as a recirc. When you tried running it as a standard venturi did you run the DC12000 at 100% as the pump feeding into the mazzei? I had good results with a similar setup.. I had a Jebao DCT-15000 on a 72" LifeReef. Ultimately I ended up switching to a Reeflo Hammerhead and now get some serious skimming... obviously it's more of an energy hog though.

[jrizo1]

Originally Posted by Khazmodain

I agree with laserjim... you shouldn't need to run that as a recirc. When you tried running it as a standard venturi did you run the DC12000 at 100% as the pump feeding into the mazzei? I had good results with a similar setup.. I had a Jebao DCT-15000 on a 72" LifeReef. Ultimately I ended up switching to a Reeflo Hammerhead and now get some serious skimming... obviously it's more of an energy hog though.

I tried every setting from 100% to 30%

[Pablos RSM 450]

Originally Posted by jrizo1

Hi every one I have a few questions about a Lifereef Skimmer that I purchase a few months ago.
The skimmer is a VS3-48
I am trying to run it as a recirculating skimmer and I am not happy with it
I am wondering if I am using the wrong pump for recirculating the water.
I am using a waveline DC1200 at it lowest setting to feed water to the skimmer and a Syncra silent 4.0(951 Gph) sicce to recirculate the water (wide open)
Is been running like that for about 5 days and not producing anything
I will appreciate any suggestion
Thanks

If your signature is correct you might be running to big of a skimmer for a 90 gallon tank. The 48" is recommended for tanks up to 500 gallons.

[jrizo1]

Originally Posted by Pablos RSM 450

If your signature is correct you might be running to big of a skimmer for a 90 gallon tank. The 48" is recommended for tanks up to 500 gallons.

No that skimmer is on a clownfish growing system about 200 gallons of water and 400 - 600 clownfish all different sizes
Also that size was what Jeff recommend me

[Apotack]

Originally Posted by hkgar

Anyone have a problem with the acrylic cracking, breaking, around the discharge pipeinto the side of the skimmer?

I cracked mine. Sent it to Jeff he repaired it for me.

[FlyingFishSKYw]

Originally Posted by EvMiBo

Should get quieter once broken in. Around 75% should be good. Update this thread once you feel the pump is broken in

It's been going for a couple weeks now and it has gotten quieter (that or I've gotten used to the noise now :P ).

I've been dialing it in. It'll produce about half the collector's cup worth of green tea colored waste per week. I haven't yet seen a real frothy head of foam. Could be I don't have the bio load for it? This skimmer is probably a bit oversized for my 75 with only 8 small fish... I'm also doing a gallon water change four days a week (auto water change system- if you don't have one, GET one!!).

Am I correct in my thinking that, short of it overflowing non-stop into he collection cup, anything "bubbling" over is still waste export?

[GQuinn]

Here is my 30 inch Lifereef in my basement sump on my heavy stocked 120. image.jpg

[EvMiBo]

Originally Posted by FlyingFishSKYw

It's been going for a couple weeks now and it has gotten quieter (that or I've gotten used to the noise now :P ).

I've been dialing it in. It'll produce about half the collector's cup worth of green tea colored waste per week. I haven't yet seen a real frothy head of foam. Could be I don't have the bio load for it? This skimmer is probably a bit oversized for my 75 with only 8 small fish... I'm also doing a gallon water change four days a week (auto water change system- if you don't have one, GET one!!).

Am I correct in my thinking that, short of it overflowing non-stop into he collection cup, anything "bubbling" over is still waste export?

Any pics of your collection cup after 1 week?
How often do you feed your fish?

Sounds like it's doing a pretty good job, and that you have clean, consistent water.

Your thinking is correct. But it sounds like you're concerned about the bubbles in the neck and the foam head, is your waterline pretty high? It might have to be since you bioload is low-ish and your water is so clean, maybe someone else can chime in too.

Would be interested to see a couple pics of the collection cup as mentioned above and where the waterline is.