MTC MVX Skimmer review

[jason2459]

hi, do you think I'd be ok ,if I ran the skimmer from a manifold? I have an Ecotech L1 that I was thinking of using for return and possibly feeding whatever skimmer I purchase. what is the size of you tank if I may ask?


thanks

If it was a recirculating skimmer and the manifold was a feed into the body then I would. But I wouldn't use a manifold to push through a venturi or beckett injector.

 

[PANONHAS]

Would that be , because of head pressure lose? The L1 is pretty powerful. That is why I am asking

 

[jason2459]

Would that be , because of head pressure lose? The L1 is pretty powerful. That is why I am asking

Head pressure is the number 1 reason and a number 2 reason would be stability/consistency. A manifold design will lend to fluctuations in flow especially depending on what else the manifold is feeding.

 

[PANONHAS]

Ok. Makes sense.

 

[Stunna]

Incredible thread - thanks for sharing!

 

[jason2459]

Incredible thread - thanks for sharing!

Thanks, I learned a lot myself. I still have some plans to do some more modifications and will update this thread when I do.

 

[jason2459]

Just need a few 45's now

 

[jason2459]

Don't know why I didn't think of this before. But I just got 26SCFH out of my 684 stock mazzei.

Removed the hose barb and little oring and slapped on a 1/2" vinyl hose. It is not a quite mod. Being in my basement that doesn't matter so much.

 

[domination2580]

So if I understand this correct, this is a skimmer that has been modified?

 

[jason2459]

So far, only the venturi. The pump is always a la carte.

 

[natas]

Jason,

This may seem like a dumb question, but can you explain how you tune your skimmer. I have the same one (mine is 34 inches). I get good skimmate but nothing like you have shown. Currently I am running a Fluval SP-4, but prob going to switch to a waveline DC-10,000 (happen to have one).

BTW I have basically set mine up so the top of the water line goes to the bottom of the neck. From your videos it looks as though you are going much lower then me. I found that this gave me the most skim but its fairly wet. I am thinking the pump is not pulling enough air or I just dont have as much waste

 

[jason2459]

Jason,

This may seem like a dumb question, but can you explain how you tune your skimmer. I have the same one (mine is 34 inches). I get good skimmate but nothing like you have shown. Currently I am running a Fluval SP-4, but prob going to switch to a waveline DC-10,000 (happen to have one).

BTW I have basically set mine up so the top of the water line goes to the bottom of the neck. From your videos it looks as though you are going much lower then me. I found that this gave me the most skim but its fairly wet. I am thinking the pump is not pulling enough air or I just dont have as much waste

First, definitely try out the waveline. The fluval is horrible when it comes to handling headheight which that venturi increases a good amount along with all the pvc fittings.

Second, I feed a lot and a heavy fish population.

I have my water line right about at the flange. It has been producing a thick dry sticky foam. Every tank could be different but I think that waveline will make a big difference.

Is it the Apex ready version? If not you can upgrade it like I did mine. It handles higher head heights using a new controller and prop.

 

[natas]

thanks Jason, I will prob have to upgrade mine. It's a older unit. Where can you find the upgrade?

 

[jason2459]

thanks Jason, I will prob have to upgrade mine. It's a older unit. Where can you find the upgrade?

If it has a fan on the back it definitely is old and has had a couple updates. The units with a fan had issues of overheating and burning out.

 

[natas]

Yeah my old controller was replaced about 9 month after purchase. It's the one without a fan but no control for apex. Is there a new impeller design?

 

[jason2459]

Yeah my old controller was replaced about 9 month after purchase. It's the one without a fan but no control for apex. Is there a new impeller design?

Yep, there's the apex ready upgrade and you don't need an apex to use it. The controller is upgraded again and there's a new prop that comes with it that handles even higher head height.

 

[jason2459]

I thought I had posted something about this earlier in this thread but guess not.

I got the waveline DC 12000 in. This also answered two of my questions.

First was how I got it in the first place when premium aquatics said it was sold out. I had it in my wishlist on their site and when I went to check it it said buy now so I did and it didn't complain so I went through with the order not knowing what to expect. Premium aquatics completed the order and when checking the actual product page it still says sold out.

This is for the apex ready version which they have listed for $279. About $20 cheaper then everywhere else.

Basically premium aquatics sent me the original DC 12000 pump with the apex ready upgrade controller separate. Which was pretty awesome they did that or they could have just canceled the order and say they don't have the exact products I wanted in stock.


Since they did that I now have my second question answered. The original waveline DC 12000 has a head height rating of 19.9' but the newer apex ready model has a max head height rating of 22.96'.

Originall dc12000

When I asked this to the RLSS rep I was told the upgraded controller fixed some issues and pushed the max head height higher through firmware upgrades.

I had no idea how head height would be increased by firmware updates. And as I opened up the upgrade controller box my question was instantly answered. Not only is the controller upgraded on the newer apex ready model but so is the prop. The upgrade kit includes it.

And with that it's rated now for 22.96' [emoji1]

 

[jason2459]

So, its been a little over a month since I cleaned my skimmers collection cup. I was not expecting to find what I found but not surprised either. I went near a year with out cleaning my Aquamaxx collection cup once that was also running this same Swabbie neck cleaner.

It was a pretty nasty sight before. But this build up was much worse. This skimmer, at least for me, produces a thick and very sticky dry foam.

The inside of the collection cup was almost closed up

And the neck cleaner's arm was caked full. The plastic rod is not nearly this thick

I definitely shouldn't go much longer between cleanings then this.


Also, since my drain tubing isn't long enough now that I changed its location in the sump I tried to tune it way down by opening up the gate valve and bring the water level really low until I can replace the line and still aerate the water helping my pH.

But this skimmer just doesn't want to give up that easily...

And pushing over the top...I had to open the gate valve even more

 

[natas]

Wish I had room for a swabbie on mine. When I had my MVX made I maximized the size to fit under my tank (34 inches). I know I could run this bad boy externally, maybe thats what I will end up doing

 

[jason2459]

I swapped in a new sump the other night which is what prompted that skimmer collection cup cleaning.

Here's my new 75 gallon sump layout

One thing I noticed that could be helpful that wasn't planned is the depth of the water the MTC MVX skimmer runs in now places the venturi under water at all times.

When the return is turned off automatically for feedings several times through out the day so does the skimmer and the air line fills with water. When the return and then skimmer turns on that water is sucked out and air is drawn. Will see if this can eliminate or greatly reduce venturi maintenance.

I have concerns about salt creep still but ca1ore flushes his venturi out with a nifty automatic device he rigged up with saltwater.

I still need to check air draw and watts used now the skimmer is in 14-15" of water vs 7-8" it was in before. My guess is both have gone down. Now I want to try out the 784mazzei again. It had higher air draw numbers and flow was a lot more as lots of microbubbles where leaving the skimmer. With my setup now there's no chance for those microbubbles to reach the return pump. That skimmer area first baffle pushes them right to the top and the return is pulling from the bottom.