Best Pump to drive LifeReef Venturi Skimmer

[niccumec]

I have a 36” LifeReef Skimmer currently powered by a GHL Flow 9 (made by Sicce - looks to be same as Sicce 9 ADV/SDC). This pump does not seem to power the Venturi skimmer at the high end 80% very well at all. Pump is rated for 2500 gph. I get a varying rate that wreaks havoc with my skimmate, almost as if pump randomly gets bogged down for a bit then returns…. Not sure if I got a bad pump or it cannot handle the Venturi backpressure well. It certainly does not sound right. My other GHL Return pumps are constant and relatively quiet. I have an open ticket in with GHL.

What is the best pump to power a Venturi skimmer like this?

 

[areefer01]

I have a 36” LifeReef Skimmer currently powered by a GHL Flow 9 (made by Sicce - looks to be same as Sicce 9 ADV/SDC). This pump does not seem to power the Venturi skimmer at the high end 80% very well at all. Pump is rated for 2500 gph. I get a varying rate that wreaks havoc with my skimmate, almost as if pump randomly gets bogged down for a bit then returns…. Not sure if I got a bad pump or it cannot handle the Venturi backpressure well. It certainly does not sound right. My other GHL Return pumps are constant and relatively quiet. I have an open ticket in with GHL.

What is the best pump to power a Venturi skimmer like this?

Out of curiosity did you happen to shoot Jeff an email and ask his recommendation or thoughts on what you may replace it with? He responds pretty quickly.

Basically his skimmers will use any pump be it AC or DC but have a minimum requirement. The 36" I believe needs 1100 gph. Of course the pump output will depend on plumbing size.

I still use the 24" skimmer I purchased from him going back to 2000. Originally it was using an Iwaki. I forget what I did to that pump (which was amazing) so replaced it with a mag 1200. Now I'm using a Cor 20. The skimmer is the best purchase I've made in this hobby with it lasting 24 years now.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Of course the pump output will depend on plumbing size.

And there are calculators out there that will tell you what the decrease in output will be depending on what the length of plumbing you have as well as the bends in said plumbing.

 

[niccumec]

Out of curiosity did you happen to shoot Jeff an email and ask his recommendation or thoughts on what you may replace it with? He responds pretty quickly.

Basically his skimmers will use any pump be it AC or DC but have a minimum requirement. The 36" I believe needs 1100 gph. Of course the pump output will depend on plumbing size.

I still use the 24" skimmer I purchased from him going back to 2000. Originally it was using an Iwaki. I forget what I did to that pump (which was amazing) so replaced it with a mag 1200. Now I'm using a Cor 20. The skimmer is the best purchase I've made in this hobby with it lasting 24 years now.

Yes, I emailed Jeff as well. Thanks. Looking for any/all sources for recommendation from personal success.

Interestingly, I also had a 24” in 2005, I believe also powered by an Iwaki. When I got back into the hobby this year, I contacted Jeff and he said if I still had that old 24” it would still work perfectly. Of course, I did not have it so I bought a new 36” one from him. I too love his skimmers. My gut is telling me that some of these new DC pumps, even though rated for the rate and head, do not like running continuously at the upper 60-80% of their pump curves.

 

[DCR]

I have a 36" Life Reef with a Mazzei and use an Iwaki 30RT and works well. In spite of what Jeff says, the rated head is more important than the flow. If you look at the head loss data published by Mazzei, you will realize that the actual flow through these skimmers is about 200-300 gph for most aquarium pumps. The venturi really restricts it. You can use a DC pump if you like but I would be looking for a pump that will generate at least 15 ft of max head. You would need to run the Sicce 9 at full speed by my estimates. I personally prefer AC for this application. I don't think you will save much power going DC because it has to be run at high speed.

 

[niccumec]

Agreed. Head capability has to be key to driving the Venturi. You can even tell by feeling the flow at gate valve outlet, no more than 200-300 gph.

Even though the Sicce 9 has the rated flow and head capability, it does not seem to like it (or I got a bad pump).

 

[KStatefan]

I tried the Sicce SDC 7 and it did not work very good and I went back to the mad pump

 

[14 foot reef]

Venturi's need high pressure, look inside one, just one time and you will understand the need for high pressure, GPH means nothing to a venturi valve. I had a large comercial RK2 Skimmer and the venturi on that beast needed a 1 hp pump to make it run. It could not produce anything with a 1/4hp pump. Yes this is way out of scale for your application, but it gives you an idea of the difference of GPH and head pressure pumps.

As others said, there is no one that knows more about what is needed than Jeff.

 

[legionofdoon]

I use a DCP 8000 which is around 2000gpm. I've used this set up for years and it works well I also use the mazzei.

 

[niccumec]

I use a DCP 8000 which is around 2000gpm. I've used this set up for years and it works well I also use the mazzei.

Multiple mentions of using the mazzei Venturi. Is it a big difference versus the standard Venturi?

 

[niccumec]

I tried the Sicce SDC 7 and it did not work very good and I went back to the mad pump

That’s what surprised me using the Sicce 9. Pump flow curves show it should have plenty of power. It does, but when running at 80%, it bogs down and does not stay at a constant rate which is causing my water level and skimmate to fluctuate all over the place.

 

[areefer01]

That’s what surprised me using the Sicce 9. Pump flow curves show it should have plenty of power. It does, but when running at 80%, it bogs down and does not stay at a constant rate which is causing my water level and skimmate to fluctuate all over the place.

How do you have it plumbed? Is it being reduced at all? You mentioned water level but the skimmer body will only hold so much. You sure your return pump(s) are not causing trouble here?

 

[niccumec]

How do you have it plumbed? Is it being reduced at all? You mentioned water level but the skimmer body will only hold so much. You sure your return pump(s) are not causing trouble here?

Sorry, I meant the level within the skimmer body by adjusting the gate valve, not the sump water level. I have minimal restrictions. 2” bulkhead directly to the pump and 1” directly to the skimmer.

I reduced the Sicce 9 to 55% and still getting descent bubble generation, but not sure what I am losing in terms of total flow rate and if I would get finer and more varied bubbles at the higher speeds. Just seems that my Sicce 9 does not run very smoothly at the higher speed/head which is unfortunate.

Still only a 2 month old tank so not a lot of organic in skimmate, still trying to dial it in. It looks this clean since I just took it apart and reinstalled to make sure I had nothing clogging the Venturi.

See attached setup and video.

 

[areefer01]

Sorry, I meant the level within the skimmer body by adjusting the gate valve, not the sump water level. I have minimal restrictions. 2” bulkhead directly to the pump and 1” directly to the skimmer.

I reduced the Sicce 9 to 55% and still getting descent bubble generation, but not sure what I am losing in terms of total flow rate and if I would get finer and more varied bubbles at the higher speeds. Just seems that my Sicce 9 does not run very smoothly at the higher speed/head which is unfortunate.

Still only a 2 month old tank so not a lot of organic in skimmate, still trying to dial it in. It looks this clean since I just took it apart and reinstalled to make sure I had nothing clogging the Venturi.

See attached setup and video.

I should have known that. Sorry about that. The only thing that I could think of that maybe is hurting your flow is the pump reduction if there is any. Hard to see in the photo.

I'm not sure if it is related but have a Royal Exclusive RD3 that I was going to install on my system which has 1" return line plumbing to a 1" Sea Swirl. The RD3 uses 1.25" exit. I was going to reduce it as it exited the pump and reuse what I have, reached out to Royal Exclusive support, and they advised against it. In fact they said I needed to use 1.25 inch plumbing all the way to the Sea Swirl and reduce it at that end point for best results.

Not sure if that is a thing here or not but sticks in my mind. I've not swapped out yet so can't say one way or the other than that is what they recommended to me.

Very clean install. Great job.

 

[DCR]

That pulsing large bubble volume does not look right to me. I get a much more consistent looking column of foam on my 36" LR skimmer.

 

[ca1ore]

Multiple mentions of using the mazzei Venturi. Is it a big difference versus the standard Venturi?

Ask Jeff what venturi he uses. Based on the pictures on his website, he may well be using the mazzei.

 

[DCR]

I believe the mazzei is typically an option at added cost. In the past, Jeff has stated that he does not see a large benefit in the smaller skimmers (24-30"), but doe see a benefit in the taller units. I would recommend it for a 36". Need to decide if you want the ozone resistant Kynar model or not if you want it.

 

[DCR]

With variable speed DC pumps, the discharge head changes with the square of the speed so reducing the speed has a large impact on the head developed by the pump.

 

[niccumec]

GHL responded and agree that something is wrong with the pump. They are replacing it. I will try again at the upper end and see if I get better performance.

 

[legionofdoon]

Sorry, I meant the level within the skimmer body by adjusting the gate valve, not the sump water level. I have minimal restrictions. 2” bulkhead directly to the pump and 1” directly to the skimmer.

I reduced the Sicce 9 to 55% and still getting descent bubble generation, but not sure what I am losing in terms of total flow rate and if I would get finer and more varied bubbles at the higher speeds. Just seems that my Sicce 9 does not run very smoothly at the higher speed/head which is unfortunate.

Still only a 2 month old tank so not a lot of organic in skimmate, still trying to dial it in. It looks this clean since I just took it apart and reinstalled to make sure I had nothing clogging the Venturi.

See attached setup and video.

Lower your bubble line to where the sticker is.