The Life Reef Skimmer Club

[makeshift101]

Got a Life reef VS2-24 the other day from a member on the boards, everything is set up and working great except 1 thing.

The water level in the neck is always changing. it rises and lowers constantly. But it is producing foam and skim. Is this normal?

Using it in sump with a DC-6000

[hobbzz]

Is the level in the sump stable? Is the output above the water line?

[makeshift101]

output is not above water line, level is sump does not change

[ct_vol]

Originally Posted by EvMiBo

I don't want to open a can of worms, but, I also thought that a while back we established that air draw and venturi skimmers, or air draw in general is somewhat of a gimmick..?

Air draw is just one factor, which can be overhyped and thus become a gimmick if there is not enough water in contact with that air (contact time). At the same time, if there is too much turbulence within the skimmer and the water is passing through before the bubbles are allowed to contact, that is inefficient as well. I'm still of the opinion that there has to be an efficiency curve between pass through (flow) rate and air draw. This can only be determined by testing different pumps, what the pass through rate is and the air draw they cause. I can compare the 50px-x to the 100px, but I'm not about to buy half a dozen pumps to test out.

[Adam G]

From everything I have seen and read there is more going on than just shoving a ton of air into these for sure.

[ken6217]

Originally Posted by Adam G

From everything I have seen and read there is more going on than just shoving a ton of air into these for sure.

Or any other skimmer. They all have to balanced...... Body, neck, air, water flow.

[bayoupr]

From everything I have seen and read there is more going on than just shoving a ton of air into these for sure.

These skimmers (36 and 48") seem run best with 16-22 scfh IMO. The foam head is really dense with this amount of air. Around 25 scfh and over not that dense, more wet skimming which is not bad either. Over 25 it seems like it's too much. Like ken6217 stated, balance is the key.

[EvMiBo]

Originally Posted by bayoupr

On the VS3-48 here's what the air draw was with the Mazzei 1078;

(I've added some pump specs here in blue, I can never remember which one px vs. pxx, etc is.)
Panworld 100PX-X = 16-18 scfh Max flow= 1270gph, Max head = 13ft.
Panworld 100PX = 25-28 scfh Max flow = 790gph, Max head = 21
Panworld 150PS = 40-45 scfh Max flow = 1100gph, Max head = 28ft (Too much air for the body)

All three readings were from a Dwyer RMB-52 air meter.

Originally Posted by ksed

Looks like the more pressure the better.

ksed- can you elaborate on that more?

[EvMiBo]

Originally Posted by bayoupr

These skimmers (36 and 48") seem run best with 16-22 scfh IMO. The foam head is really dense with this amount of air. Around 25 scfh and over not that dense, more wet skimming which is not bad either. Over 25 it seems like it's too much. Like ken6217 stated, balance is the key.

Do you think that the 30" body would prefer similar scfh readings?

[ct_vol]

The size of the body shouldn't affect air draw, just the pump and venturi. The body dimensions would affect contact time.

[bayoupr]

Got my new 36" in today and after a vinegar wipe down at noon, starting it up at 12:30, 5hrs later producing good foam. Never had one break in this fast. Using the 978 injector and a Panworld 100PX-X (high flow model) pulling 18scfh on the air draw. Had the 1078 hooked up but the air draw was too high (2-2.5" foam head had to run the water level 3" from the bottom of the flange). Will probably get me the 100px down the road but for now I will use what I have on hand.

[hobbzz]

I also got time to hook up my new pump, a panworld 200ps. I've got it running the skimmer and my carbon reactor and still have to measure the flow through the reactor. The foam head is about 1" thick, and 1" below the flange, and it seems to produce pretty good results. I'll let it sit here for a week or so before trying it more wet or dry. It'll be interesting to see how it compares to the 100px once it settles in.

[bayoupr]

The 150 and the 200ps should be fine with that big body. I started to get the 150ps but in the long run I know that skimmer was going to be too big for my system since I downsized.

[hobbzz]

Yeah I'm shooting for something in the 1500 gph range and the rest through the reactor. I was looking for the 150 or 200, and similar iwakis and blue lines, and this was the first to be offered so I figured I'd start here. If you want a 100px let me know. If I do change to something different I don't think I'd go that low with the flow, it'd probably be the 150ps, 55hd, or 55rlt.

For anyone running one of the larger skimmers, 48"+, and a high flow pressure rated pump, what kind of head does it produce and where do you set the water level?

[bayoupr]

I might be interested in the 100PX you have.

[hobbzz]

Just let me know. I won't be able to sell it locally, and I'd prefer to ship to someone I know.

[ksed]

Anyone with a LR skimmer also have a P3 Kill A Watt meter? If so, would it be possible to measure the wattage being used while in use with the skimmer and the rated wattage on the pump.

http://www.p3international.com/products/p4400.html
Thanks

[Adam G]

Got my 30" with 978 Mazzei and Mag 18, got the Laguna 2000 too. Happy Friday to me. Got it all together and running on my tank. Decided to try out the Laguna first. I have to say it is dead silent and producing a ton of micro bubbles. Will get a SCFH reading on it tomorrow. Been running for just over an hour. No foam in the cup yet but starting to get a bit of a foam head on top of the water in the main chamber. Level is about 1" below the top. Here is a pic before putting it to work:

[EvMiBo]

I picked up Kris101's 30" LR (was delivered yesterday), which he used for a couple months before upgrading to a 300g setup. I'm waiting for the jebao dc9000 to be delivered. If I'm not satisfied I'll give the mag18 a shot, or drill the sump and go panworld 30hdx (would keep the skimmer in the sump).

[hobbzz]

Well the skimmer is very inconsistent with the larger pump. I had planned on running it for a few weeks to test but I'm not sure if I'll be able to. I have to check it at least once an hour to make sure it hasn't filled the cup. Already have about 4 gallons of almost clear skimmate from the cup getting filled in the last two days. It either doesn't produce because the bubbles don't make it up the neck, or it overflows. And it switches back and forth between the two seemingly random. Very erratic.

Any ideas besides setting the water level very low (+/- 1.5" below flange) and letting it sit for a few days assuming it doesn't overflow?

[rEeFnWrX]

Originally Posted by hobbzz

Well the skimmer is very inconsistent with the larger pump. I had planned on running it for a few weeks to test but I'm not sure if I'll be able to. I have to check it at least once an hour to make sure it hasn't filled the cup. Already have about 4 gallons of almost clear skimmate from the cup getting filled in the last two days. It either doesn't produce because the bubbles don't make it up the neck, or it overflows. And it switches back and forth between the two seemingly random. Very erratic.

Any ideas besides setting the water level very low (+/- 1.5" below flange) and letting it sit for a few days assuming it doesn't overflow?

Try turning off all flow to the reactor and see if you have the same issue.

[bayoupr]

I found a little trick on optimizing my skimmer with a pressure rated pump. I have the 36" skimmer sitting in 7" of water in my sump, Panworld 100PX pump and 978 mazzei injector. I first powered the unit up with a 1078 injector and the air draw was crazy (35 to 40 scfh) which is way too much for this body. I put the 978 on and still too high (around 30 -35 scfh). If I choke off the pump output then the air dropped to within reason BUT I lost alloy of flow in the process. Then I remembered I had a 3/8" inline barbed needle valve left over from a Beckett skimmer. I installed this in the air line off the cup and BAM, instant success. Tweaked the air down to 18-20 scfh and now the skimmer is performing great and with full flow from the pump ( same concept as a beckett). See the pictures I have attached. Also I cleaned the cup yesterday evening and you can see the results. You can also use a mini 3/8" barbed ball valve.

[ksed]

To much flow and very little contact time.

[bayoupr]

To much flow and very little contact time.

Well judging by what I pulled out in the last 15 or so hours, I would have to disagree with that.

[rEeFnWrX]

Originally Posted by ksed

To much flow and very little contact time.

Please humor us. How is ~790 gph in a 36" skimmer too much flow?