Lifereef skimmer

[reef’r]

Spoke with Jeff at life reef yesterday for a long while. I’m done trying to get my bubble king to act right. I know BK is supposed to be one of the best but honestly mine has been nothing but a head ache. Anyhow Jeff wants to build me a VS3-27 and recommends the Mag 12 pump instead of the mag 9.5 due to the increased height of the skimmer. I know life reef has a great following from the people that decide to go with his products, any body currently using the mag 12? I’m not opposed at all to running an a/c skimmer pump just wondering about noise and heat output and any other general input from people using a life reef skimmer. Sump depth, stuff like that. Post pics if you got them as well!

 

[stupidfishguy]

I’m running a SVS3-36 with a mag 18 pump. The noise is there but my return pump is significantly louder pan world 200PS. The skimmer is awesome and pulls gunk like I have never seen. I did have to dial it in a bit for the first few weeks. Just adjusting the gate valve a little at a time to get the foam perfect. Since then it has been rock steady in output. As to the heat my sump and equipment are in the basement which gives me a natural cooling effect. So I don’t know what the heat load actually is. My tank only varies .2 degrees at any time. I have the water level at around 10 inches, but honestly I have adjusted my sump weir multiple times and never noticed any effect.

 

[X-37B]

I run a 28" LifeReef with a Jebao MDP 8500 dc. A dc pump makes adjustment as simple as it gets.
With a dc pump you can set the gate and just use the pump speed.

 

[areefer01]

Spoke with Jeff at life reef yesterday for a long while. I’m done trying to get my bubble king to act right. I know BK is supposed to be one of the best but honestly mine has been nothing but a head ache. Anyhow Jeff wants to build me a VS3-27 and recommends the Mag 12 pump instead of the mag 9.5 due to the increased height of the skimmer. I know life reef has a great following from the people that decide to go with his products, any body currently using the mag 12? I’m not opposed at all to running an a/c skimmer pump just wondering about noise and heat output and any other general input from people using a life reef skimmer. Sump depth, stuff like that. Post pics if you got them as well!

Jeff prefers AC pumps. Always has, always will. The original pump that I purchased it with was an Iwaki. I'm currently using a DC pump, Cor 20. No other reason than the Iwaki died on me and this is what I had on hand. I prefer the Iwaki but the Cor 20 works fine. One benefit is that that I can throw it in feed mode if I want to dose coral foods or something that the skimmer shouldn't be on for that isn't a hard off like cutting power. Probably not a huge deal, just one thing that is different if you will.

Noise? Depends on how sensitive your hearing is or those who are around the space. If you take the collection cup off, you will hear it. If you take off the venturi to collection cup hose, you will hear it. Beyond that, I don't know - it isn't a huge concern of mine. Also it doesn't help any that my hearing isn't the best due to working around fighter aircraft.

I've not noticed any heat but it also is not a concern of mine. If if is a concern one can install the skimmer/pump, outside of the sump. I do not believe this would be a huge concern but I acknowledge that pump can generate heat.

I invested in one of his skimmers back in 2000 and still using it today. Skimmers are just not something that need to be changed out and when properly taken care of will outlast the hobbyist time in the hobby. In my opinion.

I run a thicker skimmate. My guess is that there are other skimmers that work equally well. I am just one hobbyist who happens to prefer Lifereef. Prior to this skimmer I had an ETSS which did not run as well as this one. The only other skimmer I own is a CPR Bak Pak which was used on a 40 breeder. That is a great little kit if I am being honest but this is about Jeff's products.

Note: original purchase was for my 100 gallon. It is now running on my 210 gallon. I will be upgrading to a 370 and I will carry it forward. It is a VS2-24 I believe.

TL; DR - Jeff's preference is AC but if you ask him he will say a DC will work.

 

[reef’r]

Nice! I feel like my tank is a little noisy as is which doesn’t really bother me, definitely not silent. I don’t think the pump is that big of a deal heat wise either only reason I was slightly concerned is a run halides, so I take heat savings where I can get them! He certainly seems to have skimmers dialed in at least based off our convo last night. It’s tough to spend the money he’s asking seeing as I currently have two skimmers. Unfortunately I’m just not super happy with either and having to adjust my current one weekly is annoying

 

[Oldreefer44]

Have a Mag 12 on LR skimmer. Very light hum. IMO, not enough to worry about.

 

[X-37B]

I run a Tunze 9430 dc in the same 150 with the LifeReef. I also run a 9430 dc on my 112.
Tunze are very under rated skimmers.

 

[areefer01]

I run a Tunze 9430 dc in the same 150 with the LifeReef. I also run a 9430 dc on my 112.
Tunze are very under rated skimmers.

Why are you running two skimmers outside of redundancy? Do you have that high of a fish load or is there some other reason. I have a high bioload and my lifereef is more than enough in my 210 gallon. In fact the fish load will increase once I move everything to a 370 gallon and can't see a need to add another or upgrade.

Maybe the other question I was thinking of is if you ran one at a time and compared them. Maybe one would do the work of two? But admittedly not sure why you are running two at the same time if I understand correctly.

Not knocking Tunze other than the price.

 

[X-37B]

The 150 started with one 9430. I turned off my ozone reactor and added a second 9430 with ozone. Then replaced one 9430 with the LifeReef around 4 months ago.
All but one of my 7 Tunze skimmers were bought used. The LifeReef was used also.
Running 2 oversized skimmers allows me to feed the 11 fish heavy, 4-5 times a day, and use alot less gfo and vodka than I did running one skimmer to keep no3 and po4 in range.
It's just how this system morphed over the 2 years since startup.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

What issues are you having with the other skimmer. I have one and is the best skimmer I've ever owned and personally would not consider the lifereef having owned both and a lot of others.

 

[c4haskett]

How much did your skimmer cost?

 

[areefer01]

The 150 started with one 9430. I turned off my ozone reactor and added a second 9430 with ozone. Then replaced one 9430 with the LifeReef around 4 months ago.
All but one of my 7 Tunze skimmers were bought used. The LifeReef was used also.
Running 2 oversized skimmers allows me to feed the 11 fish heavy, 4-5 times a day, and use alot less gfo and vodka than I did running one skimmer to keep no3 and po4 in range.
It's just how this system morphed over the 2 years since startup.

Makes sense. I sort of figured there was a path something along those lines but wasn't sure.

 

[X-37B]

What issues are you having with the other skimmer. I have one and is the best skimmer I've ever owned and personally would not consider the lifereef having owned both and a lot of others.

I bought the LifeReef to run in my new 112. I was able to just fit the 9430 in so I put the LifeReef in the 150.
I have zero issues with Tunze skimmers.
The Lifereefs skim is darker but its in the first chamber and the 9430 is in the return.

 

[Tcook]

I also run a Cor 20 on my Lifereef. Works great. Used to use a Mag 9.5 and a Mag 12 and they ran pretty warm.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

What was the issue with the bubble king im asking

 

[reef’r]

What was the issue with the bubble king im asking

It’s crazy inconsistent. It’ll skim beautifully for a week, I’ll do a waterchange and it won’t pull anything out after I start it back up, I’ll have to adjust water and air to get it pulling how I like it. Starting it back up is the other issue, sometimes I have to restart it a handful of times. It’s also went crazy on me and overflowed for no apparent reason. Maybe I don’t have it tuned right idk but it has been anything but set and forget from my experience. Also, the cost of a replacement pump for it is not much less than a brand new Lifereef, or a lot of other skimmers for that matter

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

It’s crazy inconsistent. It’ll skim beautifully for a week, I’ll do a waterchange and it won’t pull anything out after I start it back up, I’ll have to adjust water and air to get it pulling how I like it. Starting it back up is the other issue, sometimes I have to restart it a handful of times. It’s also went crazy on me and overflowed for no apparent reason. Maybe I don’t have it tuned right idk but it has been anything but set and forget from my experience. Also, the cost of a replacement pump for it is not much less than a brand new Lifereef, or a lot of other skimmers for that matter

What power setting are you using it at. Each one has a sweet spot mine is 28. Mine is the most rock solid skimmer I have ever owned nothing i throw in the tank sets it off.i had an octopus skimmer before this that drove me nuts was always over flowing or never swimming

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

Also what skimmer model is it

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Spoke with Jeff at life reef yesterday for a long while. I’m done trying to get my bubble king to act right. I know BK is supposed to be one of the best but honestly mine has been nothing but a head ache. Anyhow Jeff wants to build me a VS3-27 and recommends the Mag 12 pump instead of the mag 9.5 due to the increased height of the skimmer. I know life reef has a great following from the people that decide to go with his products, any body currently using the mag 12? I’m not opposed at all to running an a/c skimmer pump just wondering about noise and heat output and any other general input from people using a life reef skimmer. Sump depth, stuff like that. Post pics if you got them as well!

Jeff is awesome. He will not steer you wrong. Bought from him over 20 years ago and absolutely loved my system. He designed and built the entire sump system and skimmer. I would absolutely trust him to make something awesome and functional. You chose well.

 

[MasterClassReefs]

Spoke with Jeff at life reef yesterday for a long while. I’m done trying to get my bubble king to act right. I know BK is supposed to be one of the best but honestly mine has been nothing but a head ache. Anyhow Jeff wants to build me a VS3-27 and recommends the Mag 12 pump instead of the mag 9.5 due to the increased height of the skimmer. I know life reef has a great following from the people that decide to go with his products, any body currently using the mag 12? I’m not opposed at all to running an a/c skimmer pump just wondering about noise and heat output and any other general input from people using a life reef skimmer. Sump depth, stuff like that. Post pics if you got them as well!

Jeff prefers AC pumps. Always has, always will. The original pump that I purchased it with was an Iwaki. I'm currently using a DC pump, Cor 20. No other reason than the Iwaki died on me and this is what I had on hand. I prefer the Iwaki but the Cor 20 works fine. One benefit is that that I can throw it in feed mode if I want to dose coral foods or something that the skimmer shouldn't be on for that isn't a hard off like cutting power. Probably not a huge deal, just one thing that is different if you will.

Noise? Depends on how sensitive your hearing is or those who are around the space. If you take the collection cup off, you will hear it. If you take off the venturi to collection cup hose, you will hear it. Beyond that, I don't know - it isn't a huge concern of mine. Also it doesn't help any that my hearing isn't the best due to working around fighter aircraft.

I've not noticed any heat but it also is not a concern of mine. If if is a concern one can install the skimmer/pump, outside of the sump. I do not believe this would be a huge concern but I acknowledge that pump can generate heat.

I invested in one of his skimmers back in 2000 and still using it today. Skimmers are just not something that need to be changed out and when properly taken care of will outlast the hobbyist time in the hobby. In my opinion.

I run a thicker skimmate. My guess is that there are other skimmers that work equally well. I am just one hobbyist who happens to prefer Lifereef. Prior to this skimmer I had an ETSS which did not run as well as this one. The only other skimmer I own is a CPR Bak Pak which was used on a 40 breeder. That is a great little kit if I am being honest but this is about Jeff's products.

Note: original purchase was for my 100 gallon. It is now running on my 210 gallon. I will be upgrading to a 370 and I will carry it forward. It is a VS2-24 I believe.

TL; DR - Jeff's preference is AC but if you ask him he will say a DC will work.

I am trying reef octopus for the first time. If I am unhappy with it straight back to Jeff . I loved my skimmer and sump.