Lifereef skimmer

[mcarroll]

just wondering about noise and heat output

I've used Mag's quite a bit and they seem to be very quiet up through the Mag 18. The 24 and 36 are a larger motor block and a louder noise category than the others...a much louder hum, corresponding with the increases in power and flow.

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!

If your system is heat-strapped due to the halides, then you might be better off with an external pump like Iwaki or Blueline.

But if you have the heat budget to spare, then the bigger pump will just make your heaters run less.

For what it's worth, in the past I've actually had the system automation shut the heaters down completely while metal halide lighting is engaged.

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.

Being too aggressive with tweaks can be a problem.

Basing tweaks on current skimming performance rather than skimmer output can also be problematic.

 

[reef’r]

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

Also what skimmer model is it

I’ve had it all over the map. For example for over a week it did very little skimming but I didn’t want to mess with it just wanted to leave it and see if maybe organics in the tank were not high enough so it stopped pulling. Finally I got tired of waiting so I upped pump speed can’t remember exactly where it started but I stopped at 46 watts and I was either second to last or third to last hash mark on wedge pipe adjustment. Skimmer ran beautifully I was thinking to myself “yeah this is what makes a bubble king worth it”. Next week came around and reluctantly I shut skimmer down to do my WC. Dosed coral snow after water change just like I always do and being as my skimmer is my only form of export besides a little floss and after it ran so good the week before I was excited to turn it back on and watch it pull all the junk out…. Nope, sat at the exact same settings that worked so well the week before, for 3 days and never even cleared the neck. Adjusted wedge pipe to last setting “as closed off as it can go” and cranked air from 46 watts to 50 and it’s been pulling so so for the past week. Noticed this morning that the bubbles in the neck were kinda big so I turned pump down to 48 watts from 50, all foam falls outta neck, no skimming being done

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

your tank could just be to clean i would keep it at 28 watts even the brand ambassador on Facebook never recommends high wattage they are not designed to run like that

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

How much did your skimmer cost?

like $1500

 

[reef’r]

your tank could just be to clean i would keep it at 28 watts even the brand ambassador on Facebook never recommends high wattage they are not designed to run like that

Skimmer at 30 watts….
No bubbles in the body

 

[00W]

Lifereef vs3-24...

Best skimmer I've ever owned.
Period.
I ran a mag 9.5 for a bit but was just too loud for me.
I've worked in a kitchen my whole life and when I get home, I just can't take anymore noise .
This one I run with a Jebao 8500, something like that.
Best thing with the DC pump is, as mentioned above, easy adjustment.
The ac pumps are always on and the DC will have a slight fluctuation but it's silent and works just fine.
I've never had an issue with a jebao pump.
I also clean my skimmer weekly.
Today was water change day.

 

[RobertK]

Skimmer at 30 watts….
No bubbles in the body

What model BK skimmer is that?

 

[reef’r]

Lifereef vs3-24...

Best skimmer I've ever owned.
Period.
I ran a mag 9.5 for a bit but was just too loud for me.
I've worked in a kitchen my whole life and when I get home, I just can't take anymore noise .
This one I run with a Jebao 8500, something like that.
Best thing with the DC pump is, as mentioned above, easy adjustment.
The ac pumps are always on and the DC will have a slight fluctuation but it's silent and works just fine.
I've never had an issue with a jebao pump.
I also clean my skimmer weekly.
Today was water change day.

Sweet! I think the bigger collection cup looks good on the lifereefs too

 

[reef’r]

What model BK skimmer is that?

Double cone 180. RD3 speedy pump