MTC MVX Skimmer review

[jason2459]

Opps it's been 4 days...all the better!!!!

Holy COW!

That's hard to see but that right there is about 1.5 gallons. OR about 6 CUPS PER DAY!



Averaged around 128watts

I'll have to crunch the numbers later as I have a few other things to work on but will see if the production out weighs the wattage used.

 

[jason2459]

In the mean time Level 10!

Sucker is pulling like between 20 and 22scfh

No wait! That can't be right. That's what level 9 was pulling. I put the hose to my ear and I could hear some crackling. I got 1/2 cup ro/di and microwaved it for 2 minutes. Brought it down and shoved the hose in it.

Gave it another minute to get all that through the air tube and listened again. A nice smooth flow of air. That was easy.

Ok, Level 10

Sucker is pulling like 24 scfh!

And something in the 140's watts wise. I'll check tomorrow night to get a good running average.

Just have 11 and 12 to go! Then the 784 mazzei starting back on level 8.

 

[jason2459]

Had to lower the water level a little lower last night otherwise it seemed to wet. Here it is this morning looking perfect.

 

[jason2459]

Some cool stats update 3

Aquamaxx Em 300
Air draw: ~38 scfh
Watts: rated 27watts actual: 31.38watts
Skimmate produced: ~1 cup dry/day and ~3cups wet/day low side

Mag18 as return pump w/ ~12' head height
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 71.18watts
Flow: rated 1500gph@0 head actual: ~750gph@12' head pressure

Mag18 with MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
Air draw: ~12 scfh
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 62-63watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dry/day high side

Mag18 with 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~14scf
Max head height: 16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 65-66watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dryish/day low side

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~18scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 114wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~4 cups dry/day!!!

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~22scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 128wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dryish/day!!!


The waveline is pushing through that mazzei extremely well and handling the head height much better then I expected. This also then has the one down side of allowing the Waveline to pull more watts for those that want to be energy saving savvy.

But the production is so much more.

So lets see some form of percentage of the ratio between cups dry produced vs wattage vs. air draw used
Aquamaxx Em 300
vs. wattage used: 3.2% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 2.6% "performance"

MTC MVX with Mag18 and MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
vs. wattage used: 4.8% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 25% "performance"

MTC MVX with Mag18 and 784 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 21.4% "performance"

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 3.5% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 22.2% "performance"

Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
vs. wattage used: 4.7% "efficiency"
vs. air draw: 27.3% "performance"

Ok, now that's interesting. The most "efficient" setup so far is the recommended MTC MVX setup with the Mag 18 and stock 684 mazzei. It's also so far the second best "performance." The waveline dc 12000 @ level 9 just pushes past it in regards to the performance ratio. So far, they are all more energy efficient if you consider the production vs. energy used then the Aquamaxx with much lower wattage usage.

That's awesome. Again, it's amazing what so little air draw with that mag 18 was doing.

 

[jason2459]

Level 10 performed about as well as level 9. ~6cups per day even with a bit more air draw of 24scfh. So with it running close to 20watts more I'm not sure 10 is worth it. Could be pushing to much water through.


Pretty close to 1 1/4 gallons or around 6 cups per day

Ended up averaging 142watts

On to level 11

 

[jason2459]

Level 11

Pulling slightly more watts saying around 147 watts right now.

It's also pulling in the same amount of air as level 10 at around 24scfh

So, with the same air draw as level 10 and slightly higher energy draw it must be pushing through a bit more water. Which if its like level 10 vs 9 I might not see any improvement in skimmate production. This may have tapped out the stock 684 venturi with level 9 being optimal. We shall see.

 

[jason2459]

Darn I thought there was a level 12. Now I get to switch to the 784 but probably tomorrow night. Ran out of time to get that done tonight.

Level 11 being 100% now makes a lot more sense that its pulling so many watts. It's still pretty amazing to me it's near max watts at 0 head pushing through that venturi.

Averaged about 147watts

Production went down slightly probably from increased water flow reducing the contact time

Not quite 1.25 gallons. Around 5.5cups per day.

 

[jason2459]

Holy Moly!

Just switched out venturis. Stock 684 with the 784. I totally understand now on the need for a pressure rated pump. The waveline I don't think is listed as pressure rated but the head height it's rated for puts it up there with them.

Level 8 with 784 mazzei

Around 22-24scfh! Bouncing between those lines

Right now killawatt says between 113-114 watts used.

I was not expecting level 8 on the 784 to pull just about as much air as full power level 11 with the 684. That is awesome.

Level 8 with 684 was pulling around 18scfh and 114 watts.

I'm to tired and distracted right now to think about what that's telling me but I'll come back to that.

 

[jason2459]

Well, getting so many microbubbles now the bubble trap isn't keeping up. I could angle the air outlets inside the skimmer up more, I could throw a foam block between the baffles which I don't really want to do or I just did this quick

Its a large 7" 200 micron mesh sock. That did the trick. Look how thick that air is now all the way at the bottom compared to previous shots.

This is at least telling me the 784 is pulling as much air as level 11 with 684 and more water.

 

[jason2459]

I have to reset the skimmer and clean out the collection cup and neck. Its produced very very little so need to make sure its adjusted right or its just to much for the body if the skimmer. Will see.

 

[shakinghorizons]

I'm following this thread on RC as well, but this thread is what made me indecisive about Lifereef or MTC!

 

[jason2459]

I'm following this thread on RC as well, but this thread is what made me indecisive about Lifereef or MTC!

Thanks. I think you'll be happy with either. I like the design of the MVX more and very happy with it.

 

[shakinghorizons]

Thanks for your input Jason! Lifereef is approximately 20 miles from my house, so I made up going that route just due to location.

 

[jason2459]

Thanks for your input Jason! Lifereef is approximately 20 miles from my house, so I made up going that route just due to location.

What size are you planning on getting?

 

[shakinghorizons]

What size are you planning on getting?

SVS2-24 in-sump

 

[jason2459]

SVS2-24 in-sump

Nice, if you can squeeze in a little more height he can custom cut it to be taller. I think he's running a mag18 on a 24" now.

 

[shakinghorizons]

A mag18?!??!? Good lord!

The inside of the stand is 28", so I would really be pushing it to increase the height at all. This is going on a 60g, so I don't feel the need to go real crazy, but it will house either a Antennata or Dwarf/Zebra Lionfish, so I do have a need for a great nutrient exportation device.

 

[jjvanb]

I have tried four different occasions to call MTC.. but no one ever answers. From what I have read, that is not uncommon. I will keep trying... I like the design of the MVX and hope to have one in the near future.....

 

[jason2459]

I have tried four different occasions to call MTC.. but no one ever answers. From what I have read, that is not uncommon. I will keep trying... I like the design of the MVX and hope to have one in the near future.....

Yes, he has recently gotten harder to get a hold of due to some health issues.

He also makes these to order so will take a few weeks to get. I think it took about 5 to get mine but well worth it. Email a few times and a few phone calls letting it ring at least 15 times.

 

[jason2459]

I was not able to get very good production at all with level 8. Lots of bubbles up top just popping right away not forming a very good foam head. Maybe just to much water flow. Need a taller body and neck. Got around 3 cups per day and averaged about 114watts.

Resetting to starting with level 9 tonight just to see. Not expecting anything different. Maybe I should go back to level 5 or something to reduce the flow.

Level 9 is pulling about the same amount of air as level 8. Around 22scfh. I ran boiling rodi water through just to make sure. I recall seeing just over 120 watts being pulled. Will check that tomorrow night.