Vertex 200i replacement help

[charlottereef]

Hey all..
Im replacing my Vertex 200i and im trying to decide what to use in its place.. I just found it was over skimming halve the time and the water hight is constant.. I literally had to have it in 5in of water to not over skim.. and it should be at 7 to 9"..

I am also thinking to go with a DC pump skimmer to be able to get more control over the skimmer.

Any suggestion???
Tank is 150g with about 100lbs of rock
plus another 25g or so in the sump
here is the sump 9" water hight in skimmer section
http://www.elite-aquatics.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=58&product_id=47

 

[gus6464]

When you say it was over skimming you mean that it was overflowing? The 200i is too big for a 150g though so that might be why.

 

[charlottereef]

yes it was constantly overflowing.. but i cant see why if it was oversized (but not by much) it would be overflowing..if anything not skimming enough..

 

[gcarroll]

You probably need to adjust the venturi. Have you contacted support?

 

[goreef170]

Vertex alpha 200 is to big for your tank. You probably have closer to 100 gallons with that 100 lb rock.

I have the vertex alpha 200, and I have 250 gallon, and I sometimes think it too big. Its because of the 5 inch neck....

 

[JohnnyBoyPerth]

FYI i think you guys are talking about two different skimmers.

Vertex omega 200i 100-225g range
Vertex alpha 200 150-300g range

In saying that, both skimmers on paper a suitable for your 150g tank. The overflowing is quite common in the vertex skimmers. I know my omega 150 is a pain to get tuned correctly. Its either no skim or overflow. Had it for 2 years and never really been happy with it. I'll likely replace it with a JNS Co2.

Some people love the Vertex products but i am slowly giving up on them.

 

[gus6464]

Vertex skimmers draw an insane amount of air. Unlike most manufacturers who bloat their specs, vertex underrates. 200i is too big for a 150g.

 

[charlottereef]

Im already giving up on vertex.. ive had many of there products but have always had problems..

yes it does make a ton of air but that shouldn't result in overflow constantly would it?

 

[redddogg69]

Im already giving up on vertex.. ive had many of there products but have always had problems..

yes it does make a ton of air but that shouldn't result in overflow constantly would it?

There are only a few things that will make a skimmer constantly overflow. Either the skimmer is oversized for the system (Omega 200i is suggested for Lightly Stocked - 225 Gallons, Medium Stocked - 185 Gallons, Heavily Stocked - 155 Gallons), it is in too deep a depth (Omega 200i is recommended Optimal Level: Max 8.66" Min 7.08"), initial break in can take 1-2 weeks before it will skim consistently, or finally there is something that is affecting the surface tension of the water.

 

[Kies1]

Skimmer is way too big for your tank. I am running a vertex 180i on a heavily stocked 90 gallon and it kicks but. The 180i would work much better on that size tank. It is rated for 90 gallon up to 180 gallon. Just my two cents. These are great skimmers if being used on the appropriate size tanks. As said before vertex does not over rate their skimmers and I think this is why people have problems because they are trying to use too big of a skimmer. Then they think the skimmer is crap.