Is lifereef really the best skimmer?

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

piranhaman00 said:
Yes but how strong does it have to be for the 23" version? I dont want to run a pump that pulls 100 watts. If I put a pump that does 1000gph (30 watts) will it even work?

For the 24” Lifereef, run a Sicce ADV 7.0 AC pump. It’s rated at 1900gph at 55 watts.

fishybizzness · Jan 20, 2021

On my 24 lifereef i run a sicce 5.0. I feel that it runs well. I may eventually upgrade to the 7.0 due to the fact that alot of people are saying they have great results with that combination.

Badilac · Jan 20, 2021

piranhaman00 said:
Yes but how strong does it have to be for the 23" version? I dont want to run a pump that pulls 100 watts. If I put a pump that does 1000gph (30 watts) will it even work?

I was running a Jebao 5000 on the standard LR skimmer which is a 40w pump rated at 1450gph and it was dialed back some. LR supplies the Mag drive 9.5 with that skimmer which is a 93w pump rated at 1010pgh.

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

Also, be sure to verify your actual current draw with a Kill-A-Watt or a 2016 Apex with power monitoring. Not all “energy efficient” needlewheel skimmers are honest about their actual current draw.

Bubble Magus Curve 7 Skimmer Pump - Pulling 71 watts?!?

Hi, I have a Bubble Magus Curve 7 Skimmer that is working fine. However, the pump (Bubble Magus SP2000) is pulling 69-71 watts according to my Apex. It says right on the label 22 watts though, which is part of the reason I wanted this skimmer (supposed to be pretty efficient). Can anyone with an...

www.reef2reef.com

piranhaman00 · Jan 20, 2021

Badilac said:
I was running a Jebao 5000 on the standard LR skimmer which is a 40w pump rated at 1450gph and it was dialed back some. LR supplies the Mag drive 9.5 with that skimmer which is a 93w pump rated at 1010pgh.

Interesting, so why doe sthe AC pump pull so much more power? Is it actually more powerful? I am confused because he says the pump needs to be 600gph but told me a jebao 4500 (1056 gph) is not strong enough but his Mag drive (1010gph) is. I dont understand.

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

DC pumps provide lots of flow per watt used, but are notoriously poor in pressure applications vs their old school AC counterparts. That’s why you see so many upsizing their DC pumps to compensate.

piranhaman00 · Jan 20, 2021

Water Dog said:
DC pumps provide lots of flow per watt used, but are notoriously poor in pressure applications vs their old school AC counterparts. That’s why you see so many upsizing their DC pumps to compensate.

I see, thank you for that information.

Fishy Jacket · Jan 20, 2021

What a timely thread! I am looking to get back into the hobby after 10+ year departure and planning to go back to LifeReef for sump/skimmer/refugium/ATO system on custom 160 system. However, I was just looking at better AC return pump/refugium choices and was starting to think Sicce ADV 7.0. Looks like I am on the right track!! Any noise comments? Got to better than Little Giant external I had back in the day. lol

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

Just understand that as a return pump, you may want to go with a bigger pump if you go with the Sicce ADV series. The 7.0 while it pushes 1900gph, head height wise, it’s max is only 11 feet. While it works great for the 24” skimmer, you’d probably want to go with the larger ADV 9.0 or 10.0 as a return pump for a 160 gallon tank and valve it back as necessary.

Discovery · Jan 20, 2021

I have two LR 24" skimmers - a circa 2000 model pushed by a Mag9.5 and one of Jeff's newer take apart models on a 250g run by a Sicce Syncra Silent 5.0 (replaced a Mag9.5) that pushes 1321gph. I noticed no difference between the two pumps and no gate valve adjustment was required. I may try to upsize the pump at a later date. Both being internal pumps are very quiet. I do have them resting on silicon pads in the sump. You can't go wrong with LR.

Fishy Jacket · Jan 20, 2021

Great point on larger pump for return, particulalrly since I will divert some with refug. Right now Jeff has my skimmer at 28" since I was thinking 32" stand (still waiting to officailly order after we find/buy new house and I check house layout). Thinking about bumping skimmer to 32" since my stand will likely be 38". Looking at the pump curves I would say the 7 is still good as skimmer pump even with extra height on skimmer. Agree? Jeff also suggested I have a dedicated third pump for extra media reactors (2 to start, maybe add thrid later) since their flow could vary a bit with media/plugging and therfore impact other flows if shared pump. Any suggestions on pump for that? Maybe switch to medium size Slient version?

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

Go right up the line with a Sicce ADV 5.5, 7.0 and 9.0 for your reactors, skimmer and return pump respectively.

tricky_tran · Jan 20, 2021

so i was handed down a MTC MVX skimmer that is 30" tall. its pretty much the same thing like lifereef. came with no pump and i was trying to figure what i should use. i ended up picking up a Sicce SDC 9.0 and run it at about 60%, which is about 63watts im guessing and it seems to be running really good, but overkill for my current system

Water Dog · Jan 20, 2021

Nice score. Those MTC venturi skimmers are sweet as well. It’s too bad that Jeff of MTC shut his business down. I believe it wa due to health reasons unfortunately.

MTC venturi skimmers and calcium reactors are very well regarded in the hobby.

DS204 · Jan 21, 2021

@Water Dog - Curious if you have any thoughts on a Sicce ADV7 vs Nepture COR20 for a skimmer pump?

Currently running a Lifereef SV3-24 skimmer using a Sicce SDC6.0 rated at approx 1400gph. When running at 100% it hums too loud for my liking.

Thinking the Neptune COR-20 might work nicely for that skimmer, or the ADV7 7.0 as well. If you could pick, which would it be and why? Appreciate any input!

t5Nitro · Jan 21, 2021

I have to say that I'm using the life reef 24 inch model with the stock mag drive pump and its so much quieter than I anticipated. I heard the sicce are quite loud actually. Its a beast of a skimmer no doubt. Still not cheap, but its certainly not worth spending thousands on a skimmer.

Water Dog · Jan 21, 2021

OCDean said:
@Water Dog - Curious if you have any thoughts on a Sicce ADV7 vs Nepture COR20 for a skimmer pump?

Currently running a Lifereef SV3-24 skimmer using a Sicce SDC6.0 rated at approx 1400gph. When running at 100% it hums too loud for my liking.

Thinking the Neptune COR-20 might work nicely for that skimmer, or the ADV7 7.0 as well. If you could pick, which would it be and why? Appreciate any input!

If you thought the Sivcce SDC was loud, my guess is that you wouldn’t like the ADV either as it’s essentially the same pump sans the controller. I had an ADV 7.0 and thought it was fine. Everyone’s perception of noise is different. Though I’ve never run a Neptune COR, by all accounts, they are very quiet pumps. Definitely go with the COR20 over the COR15 though.

DS204 · Jan 21, 2021

Water Dog said:
If you thought the Sivcce SDC was loud, my guess is that you wouldn’t like the ADV either as it’s essentially the same pump sans the controller. I had an ADV 7.0 and thought it was fine. Everyone’s perception of noise is different. Though I’ve never run a Neptune COR, by all accounts, they are very quiet pumps. Definitely go with the COR20 over the COR15 though.

Thank-you, appreciate your reply. The SDC 6.0 at 100% does seem to hum quite loud. It's certainly tolerable, but if I could go with a higher rated pump and dial down the flow/noise then that's my preferred option. I'm definitely knit-picking here.

Currently using the SDC9.0 for a return pump at 38% and it hums too, but can only hear it when inside the cabinet. I am just thinking of trying the COR-20 for a project and to compare different brands, having only ever owned Sicce pumps. (Sicce Syncra 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 4.0, SDC6, SDC9)

Also thinking the soft tubing I am using could be causing most of the hum while its vibrating, possibly resonating through the glass etc.