MTC MVX Skimmer review

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jason2459

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But now I have dual 584s installed. Pretty crazy.

A single 584 was pulling about 20ish scfh of air. Dual 584s are right now pulling about 15-16scfh each so about 30-32scfh total which is about 6scfh less then the Aquamaxx EM300 I had was pulling.

Watts drawn right now are between 147-148watts which is on par with the 684 at full power. So, about the same flow maybe. Definitely a lot more then previous as I had to quickly open up the gate valve a good amount as the water level quickly shot up and flowing into the collection cup. Which I'll have to clean out in the next couple of days and start tracking the skimmate production after I get the water level dialed in.

But that air draw.... It's noticeably the most air in that body yet and swirling around like crazy. Much more microbubbles escaping then even the 784 at full power. Definitely not a setup if your sump can't handle microbubbles. I designed my sump specifically to completely stop any amounts of microbubbles from getting to the return pump and this is the perfect test for it and is passing with flying colors.

Took video of starting up. All the crackling at the beginning is the water getting sucked out of the airline tubes as the injectors are underwater a bit. Seems to be keeping them cleaned out ok.

 
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I think the dual 586 mazzei injectors has some potential here to be the winner. I still have dual 684s to try out too.

I just got around to cleaning the collection cup out tonight to get a good view and dumped the skimmate locker to get a daily average of skimmate produced.

But looking opening up the lid looked promising showing that nice thick and sticky skimmate

20170217_230400.jpg



And I think I have it dialed in which for this setup the water line is just under the flange which before is usually just over the flange
20170217_233109.jpg


And this also is a very promising sign. Not even 5 minutes after turning it on after cleaning its pushing up the skimmate nice and thick
20170217_233112.jpg
 
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FYI, I'm totally going to pick up the new apex flow monitor 1" and put it on the skimmer pump. I've been tracking flow by watts used but I don't know exactly what that flow is. I know the air draw so this will complete the full picture. Which in the end is nothing more then for my curiosity and entertainment and not really practical. :)
 
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Sweet

I noticed it spun better in one direction over the other and positioned it that way.
8f036c24bbdc4ccce2edf8b7dc40f034.jpg


3b30b107fc9956d50d676a082da47b09.jpg


Stock 684 with 3/8 to 1/2" bushing and 1/2" tubing
1dda570ad6b9b724b2164d7bdec62389.jpg



So far that's my favorite setup. Back down slightly to pulling ~147 watts, ~26scfh, and now I know the Flow! I was guessing around 300s but its landing around 245gph so far.

3f71ea56e1adcd7090a722548fbfcd9f.jpg


I'm actually quite impressed with the accuracy of the Apex 2016 reading for Watts pulled. Its wavering between 145-147 and mainly staying between 146-147. Which matches up with the killawatt.

Will see how that flow reacts now over time. I wish I had this setup from the beginning but it just came out. I'll have to swap stuff around again just to see. I bet the dual 584s is closer to that 300gph.
 
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FYI there is a direction molded on the back side. And apparently there's a video explaining that which I haven't watched.

481c27478d2dfabe3ade69eb07d0ec5e.jpg
 
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I just got both the DCP15000 and 18000 and will try on my skimmer! Will compare flow rate, watts drawn, and air draw vs. a waveline dc 12000 apex ready pump.

Looks like there's also a dcp 20000 according to the manual.
4947fefd199e4a2e58daf8ed178addb1.jpg


I'm extremely thrilled these came with pvc slip adapters. That's awesome.
 
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I'm not sure China understands inches. lol

I'm trying to get to 1" and looks like the 1.5" included fitting is 1.5" on the outside but seems slightly bigger.

1 1/2" coupler doesn't fit on the 1 1/2" slip fitting included. But a 1 1/4" bushing fits inside.

So, that lines up with standard schedule 40 size for 1 1/4" pvc with outside diameter around 1.6"

So weird....
ddc54f70fb113a638efbf2180536c12f.jpg
 
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It's pretty awesome even if it's max flow or head isn't 100% accurate.

7a84701f1f4017767b17f93da7d93f4b.jpg


I find it quieter then the waveline dc12000 when I first ran it but the waveline did quiet down a lot over a few weeks to being almost silent at 100%.

I'm impressed it can go up in 1% increments from 30% to 100%. And I really like it gives how many watts are being pulled by the pump. Killawatt is higher from the wall.


Watts sent to pump at 30%
110cb0f836e13558deccff77adefcd5e.jpg


1% increments
d9257aa6c3c5419186259550f400e61f.jpg



Here's a quick first look and going to run the pump at 100% to get a good running average so these numbers will most likely change a bit over time but not by very much.
55be206ce1e365b22e7dc53e130f00d0.jpg



]With that much flow and air draw I'm afraid its going to be a bit much but will see. I have the water line way down and its pushing up some nice dry foam so that's promising.

a6c127c97a815cc55dae4eb2c6b39eea.jpg
 
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Looks like at 100% power flow is settling in at around 290gph but nothing else really changed. The controller keeps flipping between 129-130 watts delivered to the pump, Apex says 150watts draw at the outlet, Killawatt says 152 so that went down a bit and air draw ~30scfh. And I'm still seeing some really nice dry foam. I haven't cleaned out the collection cup yet and will let things break in a few days and reset and see how production is.

Previous numbers.
55be206ce1e365b22e7dc53e130f00d0.jpg
 
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I sent Jeff an email last night and I got to talk with him this morning about buying a 5" extension and a beckett injector! Can't wait to get them. Probably be a few weeks.

I have about 6" above the skimmer so figured 5" extension would be nice.

He let me know to make sure to have the injector above the waterline in the skimmer or water may spray out. Something I would have found out the hard way. Also, too make sure to adjust the air intake to make sure it's not pulling in to much air and making to large of bubbles.

This will be interesting.
 

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Look I just wanted to say I follow this I might never post but I do read every post so thank u and keep it up I enjoy stuff like this
 
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Thanks! Playing with this skimmer has been one of the things I've enjoyed most of all the testing and experimenting things I've done. This and my microscope thread.
 
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lol

I have the Beckett and extension ordered so just waiting on those.

The DCP 18000 has been doing great. I'd say at least as good if not ever so slightly better then the waveline dc 12000 which is the first time I've liked a setup other then the waveline 12000 with stock 684 mazzei.

But it is also still with the stock mazzei. Haven't had a chance to try the other configurations but if it's anything like before they will be ok but I won't be as happy as I am with the stock 684. Either will be to much flow or the bubbles to big or to wet a skim etc.

It's like Jeff new something about building skimmers or something and I'm just trying to screw it up.
[emoji1]
 
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Nope not yet. I can say my new favorite setup is the stock mazzei with the jebao dcp 18000. It's producing slightly more skimmate overall of good sticky nastiness but I like that it's pulling in more air and less watts pulled.
 

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Can u explain to me what ur swapping out to control the air??
 

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Nope not yet. I can say my new favorite setup is the stock mazzei with the jebao dcp 18000. It's producing slightly more skimmate overall of good sticky nastiness but I like that it's pulling in more air and less watts pulled.

I posted a thread a while back about the long term results of the Jebao return pumps, and reefers have great words about them.
I was going to buy the adjustable 18000 series, and still might, but I got a great deal on a Vertex.

So the stock mazzei wins !
 
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Can u explain to me what ur swapping out to control the air??
I've swapped out quite a few things so far.

1. Mag 18 what the heck 684 mazzei injector
2. Mag 18 with 784 mazzei injector
3. Waveline dc12000 Apex ready w/ 684 from 80% to 100% in 10% increments
4. Waveline dc 12000 Apex ready w/ 784 from 80% to 100% in 10% increments
5. Waveline dc12000 Apex ready with 484x at 100%
6. Waveline dc12000 Apex ready with dual 484x at 100%
7. Waveline dc12000 Apex ready with 584 at 100%
8. Waveline dc12000 Apex ready dual 584s at 100%
9. Jebao dcp 18000 with 684 at 100%

I may have missed something

Still to try
With 5" extension tube
Jebao 18000 with Beckett injector
With 784
With dual 485x
With dual 584s
With dual 684s.


I posted a thread a while back about the long term results of the Jebao return pumps, and reefers have great words about them.
I was going to buy the adjustable 18000 series, and still might, but I got a great deal on a Vertex.

So the stock mazzei wins !

So far it's a good balance of air draw and flow rate with very consistent head
 

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