MTC MVX Skimmer review

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natas

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If all things go well I am moving my MVX to the waveline 10k this weekend. I am going to get it cleaned up tonight (soak in vinegar) then make my home depot trip to build out a 1.25 to 3/4 barb. I will let you know how it performs compared to the Fluval. Unfortunately I do not have the piece of hardware that your using to test the air volume....so my test will be more about skimmate production. Also I am guessing the Fluval will be at a disadvantage because it hasn't had a cleaning in a year. In fact it maybe really bad because I have my calcium reactor output and biopellet output going near the pump.
 
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jason2459

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Let me know how it goes. I would bet you will even see a difference in the density of the bubbles in the body of the skimmer.
 
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Ok, so I was getting close to 26scfh continously with the 1/2 tubing in my old setup running in a depth of about 7-8 inches of water.

Now that I swapped out sumps and running in about 14-15 inches of water I am getting about 22scfh.

But to compare apples to apples I put back on the original tubing setup.

So, with the Waveline Dc 12000 at full power w/ the mazzei 684 in place @ 14-15 inches of depth
Air draw: 20scfh
Watts used: 144

So, increasing sump depth does have an impact. Now to swap out and try the 784 mazzei now. 

Previous numbers running in about 7-8" water
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 11 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~24scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 147wattts (w/ adapter)

jason2459;24653962 said:
Some cool stats update 4


Aquamaxx Em 300
Air draw: ~38 scfh
Watts: rated 27watts actual: 31.38watts
Skimmate produced: ~1 cup dry/day and ~3cups wet/day low side


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Mag18 as return pump w/ ~12' head height
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 71.18watts
Flow: rated 1500gph@0 head actual: ~750gph@12' head pressure

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mag18 with MVX stock 684 mazzei venturi
Air draw: ~12 scfh
Max head height:16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 62-63watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dry/day high side


Mag18 with 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~14scf
Max head height: 16.85'
Watts: rated 150watts actual: 65-66watts
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dryish/day low side

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~18scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 114wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~4 cups dry/day


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~22scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 128wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dryish/day!!!


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 10 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~24scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 142wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dry/day


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 11 w/ 684 mazzei
Air draw: ~24scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 147wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~5.5 cups dry/day


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 8 w/ 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~22scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 114wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~3 cups dry/day


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 9 w/ 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~22scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 128wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~5.5 cups dry/day


Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 10 w/ 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~24scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 143wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dry/day

Previous numbers at 7-8" water depth.
Waveline DC 12000 @ Level 11 w/ 784 mazzei
Air draw: ~26scfh
Max head height: 22.96'
Watts: rated: 150watts (w/ adapter) 139watts (after adapter) actual: 150wattts (w/ adapter)
Skimmate produced: ~6 cups dry/day



Will calculate out the efficiency/performance thing next. but right now I have to rip apart a power bar... ha!
 
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natas

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Well I installed the dc10000 and it's actually weaker then the fluval. I kept the gate valve the same and the wave line couldn't get past 3/4 of the main tube. I have the older model and bought it when it first came out so it maybe worn out.

Trying to decide if I should just buy a wave line 12k
 
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jason2459

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Interesting. I'd say something is wrong with the waveline dc10000 or there's a significant leak in the plumbing

Fluval Sea SP4 Pump is rated for 1822gph at 0 head pressure with a max head height of 9.4ft

Waveline DC10000 Gen 2 is rated for 2853 gph at 0 head pressure at 100% and a max head height of 16.4ft

Looks like the gen 2 already has the upgraded prop then there's an apex ready controller upgrade to it.

Looks like you have the gen 1 if you don't have the dc 10000ii.

Gen1 pump and original prop had slightly less flow and headheight but better then the fluval by quite a bit.

So, yeah I'd say something is wrong. Could even be a clogged venturi.
 

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It's a gen 1, pretty sure. I try to suck water into the Venturi two times a month so I am pretty sure it's fine. I am betting it's the wave line. I noticed over the years getting weaker. When I first used it on my new tank I had it set 3/4 power. Before I took it offline I had it at full blast and had to close the gate valve on my overflow.

I later replaced it with a vectra l1 and I had to open the gate valve a lot. This is running at 3/4 and it's way more flow
 
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jason2459

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I went to take the screw out of the gate valve to take to a hardware store to match thread type and size to replace with a nylon screw.

But I don't think I will worry about it. It just keeps the handle on which if I don't pull up on it just stays in place.

I'm not sure what kind of metal the screw is but there seemed to be a black coating on it that was coming off.

dc85231d38b4fe952e8f635d3f2c47ff.jpg


1bb1d5e0b216a0590353c386fdf7e214.jpg
 
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jason2459

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Found the one year between cleaning swabbie pick from when it was on my Aquamaxx EM300

20160604_082125.jpg


vs. the 1 month between cleaning with it on my MTC MVX

lol


20170117_212317.jpg


20170117_212259.jpg
 
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Perhaps I misunderstood but have you found that the Fluval has more flow than the Vectra L1?


It's a gen 1, pretty sure. I try to suck water into the Venturi two times a month so I am pretty sure it's fine. I am betting it's the wave line. I noticed over the years getting weaker. When I first used it on my new tank I had it set 3/4 power. Before I took it offline I had it at full blast and had to close the gate valve on my overflow.

I later replaced it with a vectra l1 and I had to open the gate valve a lot. This is running at 3/4 and it's way more flow
 

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jason2459

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Jason here is the test of the 6000.
On page 3
I had to google translate;)
I have posted this before, and people seem to like to purchase products that are overrated. Know an overrating of say 10% I would let it go but 33% is ridiculous.
http://www.danireef.com/2016/07/08/waveline-dc6000-pompa-portata-variabile-recensione/3/


Nice find. I'll have to get that translated too and read it. I know the gen1 had a lot of complaints about the flow rates seeming to be underwhelming. But I haven't heard that from any of the gen2 stuff that came out. Plus, my experience with the DC 12000 has been spectacular and seems to match up well with what it's spec'd out to and using the mazzei performance charts on flow/pressure/air flow
 
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jason2459

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Ok, here's where I have to be skeptical of both that review's flow rate specs and waveline's flow rate spec, and well everyone's flow rate spec. Tunze and Ecotech have proven flow rates can be tested in various ways and come out with different numbers. So, I do appreciate that that article does point out that every pump that they've tested flow on is less then what the manufacturer specs and 30% off isn't bad. Which 30% off seems pretty bad BUT to keep in perspective is how is this person judging flow rate and is it accurate itself. I'm sure it's close but I'm sure wave lines is close and the truth is somewhere in the middle. Getting flow rate at 0 head is difficult. More difficult then at 1' and more head height. Because that can easily be tested with a bucket. :)


So, one simple test I can do is unhook the waveline dc12000 from my skimmer and fill up a bucket. After calculating headheight and matching it to RLSS' height loss chart I can see how close they are. ;) Challenge is on.


Edit: but to add even if my waveline dc12000 is exactly matching the RLSS' chart (I doubt it will) this wouldn't disprove that the dc 6000 is off by that much as they are totally different pumps and the dc6000 very well could be off by that much or close to it. Either way I like the challenge and opportunity to test the equipment specs.
 
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jason2459

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Jason , it is very well possible that the Fluval is a strong pump.
The Waveline is overrated by 33%. This has been tested.

I would be shocked if a company underrated their equipment by any considerable amount. I have always been put back buy how underwhelming their abilities are to handle head height. If they really are underrated by a lot I'd be happy. The Fluval SP series has some great flow rates and seems like a reliable pump otherwise. They just seem to be optimized for sitting right under a tank for a return pump. Not so much as a venturi injector pump like a lifereef or an mvx.
 
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jason2459

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Jason, this fella has test a bunch of Sicce and Eheim pump in which almost all fell with in 5%.
As what you may not be aware of is he has access to Sicce equipment at the Sicce factory;)

That's a good reason then to be skeptical of the results vs other pumps and why the sicce pumps were measured so close. This has happened before very publically when Tunze pumps were measured in a different way that Tunze was measuing flow rate and found well under advertized flow rates and then Tunze measured that competitor's pumps different from how they measured their flow rate and was well under their rated flow rates.
 
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