Royal-Exclusiv / Vertex Cone Skimmer Club
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
Eel-byte
Premium Member
Jeremy your thoughts? Still trying to get a hold of Albert.
cthedaytrader
Active member
Hello,
I was considering upgrading my skimmer to the Alpha 170, but I am still not sure if its warranted.
I currently have a 75G with a 15 Sump heavy sps tank. I was dosing biofuel, but I just switched to biopellets and I know a good strong skimmer is required
I am currently using an Octo Extreme 160, with the red pinwheel. I was debating on whether I should upgrade the pump to the bubble blaster 2000 or upgrade the skimmer itself to the Alpha 170.
I think the Extreme is great, since I have added the red pinwheel, I have had no start up issues. Is there any specific way to determine if a skimmer is insufficent on a particular tank.
I was considering upgrading my skimmer to the Alpha 170, but I am still not sure if its warranted.
I currently have a 75G with a 15 Sump heavy sps tank. I was dosing biofuel, but I just switched to biopellets and I know a good strong skimmer is required
I am currently using an Octo Extreme 160, with the red pinwheel. I was debating on whether I should upgrade the pump to the bubble blaster 2000 or upgrade the skimmer itself to the Alpha 170.
I think the Extreme is great, since I have added the red pinwheel, I have had no start up issues. Is there any specific way to determine if a skimmer is insufficent on a particular tank.
Chris,
In an attempt to help Jeremy out a bit, I think the biggest concern with carbon dosing of any sort as it relates to skimmers is with the oxygen level in your tank and unless you have equipment to test that level, which most of us don't, the best indicator that I found were my fish and their rate of breathing. Also, I would watch nitrate and phosphate levels over the course of the week without making any other changes to see whether your current skimmer is keeping up or not. I think you will come to a conlusion fairly quickly. Good luck!
In an attempt to help Jeremy out a bit, I think the biggest concern with carbon dosing of any sort as it relates to skimmers is with the oxygen level in your tank and unless you have equipment to test that level, which most of us don't, the best indicator that I found were my fish and their rate of breathing. Also, I would watch nitrate and phosphate levels over the course of the week without making any other changes to see whether your current skimmer is keeping up or not. I think you will come to a conlusion fairly quickly. Good luck!
The pump should be drawing right around 58w or so if I remember correctly. If you're reading 139w then your measuring device is not using power factor figured in for it, OR, there is something definitely wrong with the motorblock.
Eel-byte
Premium Member
I picked up a kill o watt meter, that is reading 38w. I have an rma from Proline to send the pump back for testing.
Eel-byte
Premium Member
I've never had a return call or email from Albert. Shane has been superb so far. We'll see how quick i get the pump back.
vthondaboi
Premium Member
So I owned an Alpha 170 a while back on a heavily stocked 90G but it was very inconsistent.
Starting up a new system with around 280G total volume. I've heard much better things about the Alpha 200 and how much more balanced it is then it's bethren.
My question is would the Alpha 200 be plenty or would the BK Supermarin 250 or ATB 10.5 Deluxe blow it out of the water if I have a moderate to heavy bioload?
Starting up a new system with around 280G total volume. I've heard much better things about the Alpha 200 and how much more balanced it is then it's bethren.
My question is would the Alpha 200 be plenty or would the BK Supermarin 250 or ATB 10.5 Deluxe blow it out of the water if I have a moderate to heavy bioload?
An Alpha 200 would be fine in my opinion, but personally do not like to oversize skimmers. An Alpha 250 would also work well on that size setup, as would a SM 200 or 250. Personally, I don't think you'll see much performance difference between any of these on that size system.
goofball310
Premium Member
Any word on when the Omega's are gonna be coming out?
Jeremy,
I have a Alpha 200 on a 200 G tank and it would overflow once every two weeks or so. The skimmer is sitting in 9.25 inches of water and turn about 1.5 turns from close.
The only problem i could think of is that currently there are only three fish, three shrimps and four crabs in the system. Its a relatively new setup and i just started buying fish. I do feed a little on the heavy side, but there doesn't seem to be much bio load at this point.
What should I do now, since i have such a light load even with heavy feeding? I'm in the process of getting more fish, but how do i keep the skimmer from overflowing.
Thanks.
I have a Alpha 200 on a 200 G tank and it would overflow once every two weeks or so. The skimmer is sitting in 9.25 inches of water and turn about 1.5 turns from close.
The only problem i could think of is that currently there are only three fish, three shrimps and four crabs in the system. Its a relatively new setup and i just started buying fish. I do feed a little on the heavy side, but there doesn't seem to be much bio load at this point.
What should I do now, since i have such a light load even with heavy feeding? I'm in the process of getting more fish, but how do i keep the skimmer from overflowing.
Thanks.
I would recommend moving the skimmer to 8" of water, then 2 full turns out from closed on the venturi. From there adjust the skimmer accordingly. If you're still overflowing, then you're running the water level too high inside the skimmer body.
@Bello - Open your wedge pipe up a little bit, around 40% or 50%. You're running the water level too high in the skimmer if it keeps overflowing.
We can get replacement lids, although I don't have pricing / availability on them. Are you concerned with breaking yours if you go with the Swabbie? We're looking at trying to bring the Swabbie's in now and offering these as an upgrade to a brand new skimmer, or a retro to those who already hae the Alpha's, or any other skimmer for that matter.
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