The 9410 skimmer uses a Tunze Hydrofoamer pump, which uses a needlewheel impeller.
Upgrading My Skimmer - Your Recommendations for a 120 mixed reef
- Thread starter mattdg
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The 9410 skimmer uses a Tunze Hydrofoamer pump, which uses a needlewheel impeller.
DC version is quiet.
Non dc hums a little.
Get the DC.
Acrylic is not heavy duty per say but is Tunze quality.
Cup just lifts off.
I clean mine every 6 months, it could go longer.
I do not run the skimmer sock and its not really needed.
My return pump is 6" away from the skimmer overflow and return with no micro bubbles.
Many to chose from but this one deserves a look, imo.
Non dc hums a little.
Get the DC.
Acrylic is not heavy duty per say but is Tunze quality.
Cup just lifts off.
I clean mine every 6 months, it could go longer.
I do not run the skimmer sock and its not really needed.
My return pump is 6" away from the skimmer overflow and return with no micro bubbles.
Many to chose from but this one deserves a look, imo.
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OP
OP
Very helpful. There is not enough info about this skimmer floating around. Probably not "whiz bang" enough for most hobbyists. Fortunately, I am not really into that sort of thing. Just looking for something with a workable footprint that skims efficiently, is reasonably quiet and dependable long term. The Tunze is up there at the top of the list, for me, with a couple others. Thank you for the reply.
No. 9415 maybe but a 9430 would be better, imo.
For a 220 get the 9415 which is only available in AC or 9430 DC. A great thread on the Tunze 9410 can be found here...
Tunze 9410 DC DOC Skimmer Review
I think this is the first time in all my years of reef keeping that I have been compelled to write a review of a product. This skimmer has been the easiest to adjust of any that I have owned and I have had many popular brands, both high end and less expensive. The performance has been impressive...
www.reef2reef.com
Thanks! I'm looking for something silent and I love Tunze products. Their recommended size capacity looks like it's a little higher than it should be.For a 220 get the 9415 which is only available in AC or 9430 DC. A great thread on the Tunze 9410 can be found here...
Tunze 9410 DC DOC Skimmer Review
I think this is the first time in all my years of reef keeping that I have been compelled to write a review of a product. This skimmer has been the easiest to adjust of any that I have owned and I have had many popular brands, both high end and less expensive. The performance has been impressive...
I bounced around with a few and ended up using a Lifereef
What I like is you can use any pump you want and that once they are broken in if the water level stays consistent they rarely need adjusting
Nothing better than calling Lifereef and talking to the owner of the company himself
What I like is you can use any pump you want and that once they are broken in if the water level stays consistent they rarely need adjusting
Nothing better than calling Lifereef and talking to the owner of the company himself
Whatever they rate the skimmer for on a full sps they recommend -70% from the max rating.
Check their website for more info.
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OP
OP
So I went ahead and ordered the Lifereef SVS3-24 modded to fit my 24" max height and 10" sump area. It was close between that and the Tunze, but here is why I finally settled on this decision.
I found Jeff to be a wealth of knowledge. Speaking with him in person, filled in all of the holes in my knowledge of skimming. I like the idea of purchasing a product from a company / craftsman / owner, that always picks up the phone, answers all of my questions and passionately stands behind his products. One of my criteria was to get something that will last for many years... done.
I actually prefer the concept of Venturi only skimming. Not a huge needle wheel, or DC motor fan, so this works for me. Being able to choose any pump is critical for longevity, affordability and keeping up with improving AC/DC motor tech, if I choose to. With that said, I ordered it with the supplied Mag Drive. I want to see how it works, AS IS. I'll replace it with another pump, if I am not satisfied. I can always use an extra Mag Drive somewhere.
I chose the SVS3-24 over the SVS2-24, due to it coming with the flange, for future expandability.
This is a heavy duty skimmer. Even though I have a high bioload, I tend to skim light and run a nutrient rich system, utilizing several means of nutrient export. I will put it on a timer, if I feel it is skimming too heavily. The timer could actually help, if it does end up being too noisy in my quiet living room. I can run it at a time when no one is sitting on the couch, back to the tank. I will of course report back, when I have installed the unit and ran it for several months. I don't think I'll be installing it until after the holidays anyway, just to be safe.
As far as good value, I think the points above cover this. It was at the mid to high end of my budget $641 shipped, but I believe the price is justified.
As I stated, I prefer equipment that is simple with as few things to fix / maintain / adjust / replace / plug in / screw up, as possible. According to Jeff, you don't even really need to clean this skimmer. The Venturi is as straight forward as it gets, unless a foreign particle clogs it. It sounds like removing a small plug and utilizing a special brush will take care of that. Please let me know if you have had any experience with maintenance on your lifereef skimmers. Have you needed to perform regular cleanings, other than emptying the cup?
As far as build quality, I don't think a skimmer could be any more beautiful. I can't wait to receive mine, ordered it with a deep maroon/red red flange and skimmer cup cover, black used for all other fittings and unions. I'll post my unboxing pics, when it arrives.
Thank you to all who replied to the thread and recommended Lifereef. I did come around, even if the website still does need a serious update. Hahaha! I did mention that to Jeff and he stated that he has been working on one, but migrating the extensive information he has on his current site, to a new platform, has proven a daunting task, given his busy shedule. I can see why.
Keep the recommendations coming. There are plenty of great skimmers out there and I feel like this thread has already become a pretty good resource for those looking for a quality unit with a small footprint.
Pictures to come.
I found Jeff to be a wealth of knowledge. Speaking with him in person, filled in all of the holes in my knowledge of skimming. I like the idea of purchasing a product from a company / craftsman / owner, that always picks up the phone, answers all of my questions and passionately stands behind his products. One of my criteria was to get something that will last for many years... done.
I actually prefer the concept of Venturi only skimming. Not a huge needle wheel, or DC motor fan, so this works for me. Being able to choose any pump is critical for longevity, affordability and keeping up with improving AC/DC motor tech, if I choose to. With that said, I ordered it with the supplied Mag Drive. I want to see how it works, AS IS. I'll replace it with another pump, if I am not satisfied. I can always use an extra Mag Drive somewhere.
I chose the SVS3-24 over the SVS2-24, due to it coming with the flange, for future expandability.
This is a heavy duty skimmer. Even though I have a high bioload, I tend to skim light and run a nutrient rich system, utilizing several means of nutrient export. I will put it on a timer, if I feel it is skimming too heavily. The timer could actually help, if it does end up being too noisy in my quiet living room. I can run it at a time when no one is sitting on the couch, back to the tank. I will of course report back, when I have installed the unit and ran it for several months. I don't think I'll be installing it until after the holidays anyway, just to be safe.
As far as good value, I think the points above cover this. It was at the mid to high end of my budget $641 shipped, but I believe the price is justified.
As I stated, I prefer equipment that is simple with as few things to fix / maintain / adjust / replace / plug in / screw up, as possible. According to Jeff, you don't even really need to clean this skimmer. The Venturi is as straight forward as it gets, unless a foreign particle clogs it. It sounds like removing a small plug and utilizing a special brush will take care of that. Please let me know if you have had any experience with maintenance on your lifereef skimmers. Have you needed to perform regular cleanings, other than emptying the cup?
As far as build quality, I don't think a skimmer could be any more beautiful. I can't wait to receive mine, ordered it with a deep maroon/red red flange and skimmer cup cover, black used for all other fittings and unions. I'll post my unboxing pics, when it arrives.
Thank you to all who replied to the thread and recommended Lifereef. I did come around, even if the website still does need a serious update. Hahaha! I did mention that to Jeff and he stated that he has been working on one, but migrating the extensive information he has on his current site, to a new platform, has proven a daunting task, given his busy shedule. I can see why.
Keep the recommendations coming. There are plenty of great skimmers out there and I feel like this thread has already become a pretty good resource for those looking for a quality unit with a small footprint.
Pictures to come.
You will be happy with your decision
I used the mag drive for several years and they are pretty bulletproof pumps.
The skimming level can be adjusted a bit by setting it to skim drier vs wet.
be warned though they are a boring skimmer
Once set they just run and run with no need to tinker
I used the mag drive for several years and they are pretty bulletproof pumps.
The skimming level can be adjusted a bit by setting it to skim drier vs wet.
be warned though they are a boring skimmer
Once set they just run and run with no need to tinker
OP
OP
The Lifereef SVS3-24 has been installed for 3 days. It was well packaged and the skimmer itself looks and feels like an original work of art, which it very much is.
It took a few days to start producing skimmate. I assumed it would. The turbulance in the skimmer body is truly something to behold. Due to my long, detailed conversation with Jeff, the footprint and height came out 'spot on'. Fits in my sump like a glove, with a little room to spare. The Mag Drive Pump, that Lifereef included, is working perfectly. It's quiet and seemingly sized appropriately. I don't think I'll see any need to swap it out. I did apply the rubber cushion, that he supplied upon my request, to the bottom of the skimmer and the pump, which I am sure helped with any potential noise. It is also worth noting, that I built my stand dense and heavy, which also goes a long way to reducing cabinet resonance. The hose that connects the skimmer cup to the venturi does a amazing job at quieting the hiss that is produced, to almost inaudible, when the cabinet door is closed.
This is by far, one of the nicest pieces of reef keeping equipment that I currently own. I'll post some pics and a link to a video soon.
It took a few days to start producing skimmate. I assumed it would. The turbulance in the skimmer body is truly something to behold. Due to my long, detailed conversation with Jeff, the footprint and height came out 'spot on'. Fits in my sump like a glove, with a little room to spare. The Mag Drive Pump, that Lifereef included, is working perfectly. It's quiet and seemingly sized appropriately. I don't think I'll see any need to swap it out. I did apply the rubber cushion, that he supplied upon my request, to the bottom of the skimmer and the pump, which I am sure helped with any potential noise. It is also worth noting, that I built my stand dense and heavy, which also goes a long way to reducing cabinet resonance. The hose that connects the skimmer cup to the venturi does a amazing job at quieting the hiss that is produced, to almost inaudible, when the cabinet door is closed.
This is by far, one of the nicest pieces of reef keeping equipment that I currently own. I'll post some pics and a link to a video soon.
To be clear, skimz seems to have gone out of business and wasn’t returning calls to BRS so they dumped the lineup (lots of poor reviews didn’t help). The other big one was Vertex and they went under as well.
I imagine most of BRS discontinuing product lines is due to companies going under (or it’s just terrible but that often doesn’t make it through their product testers).
OP
OP
Yeah, BRS finally alluded to having some sort of issue with Skimz, in a recent video. This makes sense. One good thing about BRS is they stay on top of their product offerings. I do wish they would put more information regarding their reasons for discontinuing a product, directly on the website.
OP
OP
Yes thank you for peaking my interest in Lifereef. Really appreciate Reef2Reef and it's members, which prove invaluable when it comes to problem solving and weeding through the noise.Woohoo... took some prodding, but we have another convert!
andrewb70
Community Member
This one, build quality fantastic, I have the power set to number 2 so about 17watts of draw
Skimmer Specifications:
VarioS-2 S Pinwheel Pump Features:
Skimmer Specifications:
- Body Diameter: 6"
- Neck Size: 4.7"
- Foot Print: 11.4” x 10.4”
- Total Height: 20.6”
- Output Size: 40mm - 1.25”
- Recommended sump water depth: 6" - 8"
VarioS-2 S Pinwheel Pump Features:
- Air Draw: up to 900 LPH / 31.5 SCFH*
- Power Consumption: 15-25W
- Voltage: DC 24V
OP
OP
So far, I am very happy. Like most have said, you set it and forget it. It's wonderfully boring.
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