202 Gallon Diesel Tank.

Diesel · Mar 30, 2014

Lucifa68 said:
Hi, i have been wondering which life reef skimmer are you using and how do you find it?????

thanks

Thanks for looking!
I'm using the Lifereef VS3-30.
Have been using different skimmers over the years but this baby is working top notch for me.
Not saying other skimmers are junk, they are not.
They all do one thing and that is removing fish poop!
The lifereef is base on old but improved venturi and as of now it works as a gem.
Another thing a should mention I should mention is that if your pump goes out you can replace it with any return pump with the recommended gallon output on your skimmer.
A lot of brands out there you have to replace it with a pump that fits the skimmer connections.
I tried 5 brand of pumps with this skimmer and not a problem to get the same results.
It came with a Danner MAG 12, but had on there a Waterblaster, ATB, Cicce and Red dragon.
They all worked perfect.
As of now I'm running only my skimmer and no GFO or Carbon and I'm keeping my PO4 between the 0.08 and 0.12.

Lucifa68 · Mar 30, 2014

Diesel said:
Thanks for looking!
I'm using the Lifereef VS3-30.
Have been using different skimmers over the years but this baby is working top notch for me.
Not saying other skimmers are junk, they are not.
They all do one thing and that is removing fish poop!
The lifereef is base on old but improved venturi and as of now it works as a gem.
Another thing a should mention I should mention is that if your pump goes out you can replace it with any return pump with the recommended gallon output on your skimmer.
A lot of brands out there you have to replace it with a pump that fits the skimmer connections.
I tried 5 brand of pumps with this skimmer and not a problem to get the same results.
It came with a Danner MAG 12, but had on there a Waterblaster, ATB, Cicce and Red dragon.
They all worked perfect.
As of now I'm running only my skimmer and no GFO or Carbon and I'm keeping my PO4 between the 0.08 and 0.12.

thanks for the quick reply. i asked as i have the same skimmer.....not currently running at the moment..........i did notice on your that it looks like there is a valve just before the venturi...or is it just a "T connector with a plug"??????

Lucifa68 · Mar 30, 2014

i am actually thinking of firing it back up and taking of my swc 250s.........make some more room in the sump for frags.

Diesel · Mar 30, 2014

Lucifa68 said:
thanks for the quick reply. i asked as i have the same skimmer.....not currently running at the moment..........i did notice on your that it looks like there is a valve just before the venturi...or is it just a "T connector with a plug"??????

The T is there to run fresh air from the outside as that in the winter months when we run the heater it keeps my PH in check on 8.2.
Now we have the AC back on as I switch and run the air from inside the house, what also keeps my venture clean.

Acro · Mar 30, 2014

Just went through your whole thread, totally epic.

Diesel · Mar 30, 2014

Acro said:
Just went through your whole thread, totally epic.

Thanks dude!
I think so too.

Acro · Mar 30, 2014

Diesel said:
Thanks dude!
I think so too.

Just hope my tiny frags grow to be like yours!

Diesel · Mar 30, 2014

Acro said:
Just hope my tiny frags grow to be like yours!

Stick with the system, it's not rocket science you know.

Acro · Mar 30, 2014

Diesel said:
Stick with the system, it's not rocket science you know.

I know! I have everything set with dosing and feeding so the numbers stay the same throughout the week. It's figuring a good light schedule that's boggling me now!

Lucifa68 · Mar 30, 2014

Diesel said:
The T is there to run fresh air from the outside as that in the winter months when we run the heater it keeps my PH in check on 8.2.
Now we have the AC back on as I switch and run the air from inside the house, what also keeps my venture clean.

if possible could you take a close up picture so i can see. i just set mine back up tonight as well. time to vinegar bath the other skimmer and pump.

hung · Mar 30, 2014

Hey bud, willing to share your radion graph? I'd like to check it out thanks!

Lucifa68 · Mar 31, 2014

hi Diesel, i see the john guest fitting now that you mentioned. but it looks like you are running a white gate valve before the venturi. am i correct and whats the benefits.

thanks much.

Diesel · Mar 31, 2014

Lucifa68 said:
hi Diesel, i see the john guest fitting now that you mentioned. but it looks like you are running a white gate valve before the venturi. am i correct and whats the benefits.

thanks much.

Not a gate valve but a Venturi clean out.
That is if you refer to the fitting with the yellow knob on it.
Not sure the Lifereef skimmer you have but the older models didn't have that clean out as the self clean air tubing.

Lucifa68 · Mar 31, 2014

ahaha hi bro, i just saw it on a youtube video. mine does not have that. i guess it would not take much to put one on... a "T" and a "plug". thanks anyways for the reply. how hi up do you have your water level???? trying to dial mine in. still skimming to wet.

Diesel · Mar 31, 2014

I think yours is still breaking in.
Not sure how high the water level is as I have adjustable baffles in my sump.
I would say maybe 7"+.

Battlecorals · Mar 31, 2014

Diesel said:
Thanks for looking!
I'm using the Lifereef VS3-30.
Have been using different skimmers over the years but this baby is working top notch for me.
Not saying other skimmers are junk, they are not.
They all do one thing and that is removing fish poop!
The lifereef is base on old but improved venturi and as of now it works as a gem.
Another thing a should mention I should mention is that if your pump goes out you can replace it with any return pump with the recommended gallon output on your skimmer.
A lot of brands out there you have to replace it with a pump that fits the skimmer connections.
I tried 5 brand of pumps with this skimmer and not a problem to get the same results.
It came with a Danner MAG 12, but had on there a Waterblaster, ATB, Cicce and Red dragon.
They all worked perfect.
As of now I'm running only my skimmer and no GFO or Carbon and I'm keeping my PO4 between the 0.08 and 0.12.

Hey Ben,

couldn't help notice you have let your phos levels rise a little. Just wondering if you are seeing anything different. better or not.

Diesel · Mar 31, 2014

Battlecorals said:
Hey Ben,

couldn't help notice you have let your phos levels rise a little. Just wondering if you are seeing anything different. better or not.

Well................. must say that the color is getting a little deeper on the corals.
Some multi color SPS you want them light in color the see the contrast better, I must agree on that.
That's why I thinking to setup two separate systems in the frag room.
Better control on PO4 from one tank to the other.
In that case I can have the multi color frags growing out in some what lower PO4.
Will shoot you a text tomorrow as I have a of forum question for you.

Battlecorals · Mar 31, 2014

Interesting for sure and good experiment as well. So you are going to keep some of the same acros in separate systems with controlled phos levels? Very Interested to hear more results. Text or call me any time. More than happy to chat