Skimmer Comparison - ATB 840 vs Vertex IN-100

[Jeremy B.]

I have had quite a few people wanting me to compare and contrast the ATB 840 with the Vertex Alpha 170 and Vertex IN-100. I've had more inquiries about the 170 being compared, however I do not yet have the 170 in stock to be able to do this, so in the mean time I am using the IN-100.

This post is not meant to push one brand over another, but more for potential buyer's to form their own opinions of each. Below are pictures of the two models being compared.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Both skimmers have been running for 5 days on this particular system, although quite a bit longer on other systems for each around here.

The ATB has a noticably longer reaction time as the bubble plate in the IN-100 is higher. The IN-100 also has quite a bit more of noticeable turbulence within the skimmer.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Here are a couple of photos of the collection cup. Just visually looking at it and not really being scientific about it the skimmate in the cup is identical to each other. The IN-100 had slightly more skimmate in the cup, which you can see in other photos of the actual measurement. The buildup in the neck was the same thickness between the two, although there was just a little more with the ATB, as the neck is a little taller and slightly larger diameter.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Vertex IN-100 Skimmate:

ATB Econo 840 Skimmate:

And to give you an idea of where the water level is running in each skimmer...

I will do a comparison on the Alpha 170 and ATB 840 once the 170 is in. I will also try and get the Warner Marine K2 and the SWC Mini going as well.

 

[sjm817]

Very nice job Jeremy! This is the kind of thing people look for. Actual performance testing. This is a great idea and I look forward to the other comparison tests. Another thing that would be nice to add even if it is subjective is noise level of the skimmers. This is something that many people are interested in when selecting a product.

 

[Rwinfrey]

also air pull and water intake would be good

 

[Big_D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15079393#post15079393 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sjm817
Very nice job Jeremy! This is the kind of thing people look for. Actual performance testing. This is a great idea and I look forward to the other comparison tests. Another thing that would be nice to add even if it is subjective is noise level of the skimmers. This is something that many people are interested in when selecting a product.

Agreed... great job!


Should definately help folks out when it comes time to make a decision.





D

 

[Husky_1]

Hey Jeremy, would you say that both of these guys are tuned in as good as possible? Its amazing to me that the ATB, a $650-800 skimmer is only keeping up with a $200 version.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I honestly don't see how I could tune them any better. The water level of the sump they are setting in is equal for both, but geared towards the ATB, the Vertex actually needs to be a little deeper, but I wanted to set the ATB up as good as I possibly could.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Here are a couple of photos that I just took a few minutes ago. I cleaned them yesterday, right before I posted the water level photos with the clean cups, so this is about 24hrs worth of production.

If anyone has any other popular comparisons they would like for me to do please let me know and I will try to accomodate over the next couple of weeks or so.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[sjm817]

Askoll cone skim off would be awesome. Alpha 250/ ATB 1050A/ SWC 1A

 

[Husky_1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15084128#post15084128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jeremy B.
I honestly don't see how I could tune them any better. The water level of the sump they are setting in is equal for both, but geared towards the ATB, the Vertex actually needs to be a little deeper, but I wanted to set the ATB up as good as I possibly could.

Great!

 

[Jeremy B.]

I don't have a 1050A to run. That's the comparison I really wanted to do, but probably won't get the chance.

I will do the ATB 840, Alpha 170, and K2 once the 170 is here. I have the K2 here now, just waiting on the 170.

 

[sjm817]

Yeah, that would have been a good one. Can you do the Alpha and 1A? Adding in a BK200 would be interesting as well.

If you have the MiniS, that would be a good one to add to the other cone test.

A really interesting one would be a Beckett Vs PW test. I dont have enough exp with the Becketts to pick models that would be good for the test.

 

[mojo~]

Yea maybe a Sumpbuddy 40 with a mag 7 would be a good one. Or maybe a bermuda BPS 3c. or maybe even a aquaC ev 120.

 

[mojo~]

How come the air silencer isnt hooked up on the vertex in 100 and is on the ATB. Just something I noticed in the last pic.

 

[Jeremy B.]

I just never bothered hooking it up. I just went and unhooked the ATB silencer, and hooked up the silencer on the Vertex. I honestly think it's splitting hairs and isn't going to make a bit of difference either way.

 

[mojo~]

oh it doesnt really matter to me, I waas just curious. Thought maybe you had it off for air draw test or somthing. Now if it were a Mojo~ brand skimmer or something lol. Then I might care. Jk I will never have the kind of money it takes to make these units. cheaper to buy 10 and keep the best one. Thats not really far from reality.

Mojo~

 

[mojo~]

Did you test the air draw. Was curious to see if you got what I was getting. I think the Vertex was somewhere around 420 lph and the ATB was around 700. I ran the vertex at 7 inches and hte atb about 6 to 6.5 .

 

[ct_vol]

I might also add that it took at least 3 weeks for my ATB 1050A to break in... To be honest, I was starting to get fairly angry that it was not performing up to my expectations... I had replaced a H&S A200-1260, which was a beast, with the ATB, and it was not performing as well as my H&S was... Now it is not only performing as well as the H&S, but has surpassed it...

So, another variable might be break in time... Just my two cents worth...

Oh, and it also appears from the picture of the collection cup lids, that the ATB is skimming drier, than the Vertex, this would effect total volume of the skimmate produced...

This is a great side by side comparison though, thank you to Jeremy for doing it... I am quite surprised by the production of the Vertex and will now be recommending it to my club members in search of a more economical skimmer choice...