Vertex Skimmer club

Kenfuzed said:
edsbeaker: I think the reason there is no listed GPH is because it would vary based on how much air is introduced and other factors like depth. Many skimmer pumps including the RD only show air intake (lph) rather than GPH. If you want to roughly figure your GPH try allowing the output of the skimmer fill a 1 gallon container and time it. Figure out the GPM and multiply by 60. However no skimmer will ever capture 100% of the overflow water unless it is designed to have the over plumbed into the body. To prevent reskimming I direct the skimmer output away from the direction of the intake pump, while directing the overflow water as close to the pump as possible. It is still better to end up reskimming than to have the sump flow so fast it bypasses the skimmer.
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Thanks, that makes sense.
 
OK Vertex experts what am I doing wrong. I have a new in 250 that I just put in my sump. It is a new tank as well with new saltwater. It is sitting in 7 inches of water and constantly overflows the collection cup. I have the wedge pipe all the way open and the output pipe is half in half out of water. The pump is fulling seated in skimmer oring and I am out of ideas. The cup fills up with water in about 10 mins. I let it run for about an hour and hooked up a tube to the drain in the cup and it drained probably 5 gallons. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks
 
Pics of my Alpha 250 before breaking it down. It just seemed to be too much for my 120 since I switched over from SPS to liightly stocked mixed reef. If anyone is looking 250 I am parting with mine, I have decided to stick with the Eshopps Snocone seems more appropriately sized for tank and bioload.

AlphaKone4.jpg

AlphaKone1.jpg
 
bobbyrocco said:
OK Vertex experts what am I doing wrong. I have a new in 250 that I just put in my sump. It is a new tank as well with new saltwater. It is sitting in 7 inches of water and constantly overflows the collection cup. I have the wedge pipe all the way open and the output pipe is half in half out of water. The pump is fulling seated in skimmer oring and I am out of ideas. The cup fills up with water in about 10 mins. I let it run for about an hour and hooked up a tube to the drain in the cup and it drained probably 5 gallons. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks
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That is pretty normal with al new saltwater. IT will probably take a week or so before you will be able to run it. I have the same issue when testing skimmers in a seperate tank with new water. They will overflow all day long. Put them in my tank and the water level will drop 4 to 6 inches. Its crazy really but no worries it will be ok. Give the water a little time to settle in.
 
bobbyrocco said:
OK Vertex experts what am I doing wrong. I have a new in 250 that I just put in my sump. It is a new tank as well with new saltwater. It is sitting in 7 inches of water and constantly overflows the collection cup. I have the wedge pipe all the way open and the output pipe is half in half out of water. The pump is fulling seated in skimmer oring and I am out of ideas. The cup fills up with water in about 10 mins. I let it run for about an hour and hooked up a tube to the drain in the cup and it drained probably 5 gallons. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks
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I had the same problem at first with my IN250. You just have to let it run wide open with the cup water draining back into the sump until it breaks in. Also as mentioned the new water needs to condition.

Personally I think the pump that comes with this skimmer is over powered. I have thought of putting a bushing (piece of smaller hose) inside the pump output to reduce the flow. When I placed an Eheim 1260 needlewheel pump on the skimmer I could close the wedge pipe approx 3/4 and get a nice dry skim.
 
i hear so many people bashing this pumps? whats the problem here? my in-250 is DEAD silent, pumps like a MOFO.... what more can i ask?

has anyone actually had a pump die on them? it seems like everyone is jumpin on the hate band wagon and its all hear say....
 
jayb12 said:
i hear so many people bashing this pumps? whats the problem here? my in-250 is DEAD silent, pumps like a MOFO.... what more can i ask?

has anyone actually had a pump die on them? it seems like everyone is jumpin on the hate band wagon and its all hear say....
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No hate here, my IN-250 pump died after 4 weeks of use. Turns out it was assembled incorrectly by the factory and was missing the end bushing, so the impeller spun off balance until finally it would not start anymore.

The reason I don't hate this skimmer (yet) is the mfg is sending me replacement parts and were very helpful over the phone.
 
jayb12 said:
i hear so many people bashing this pumps? whats the problem here? my in-250 is DEAD silent, pumps like a MOFO.... what more can i ask?

has anyone actually had a pump die on them? it seems like everyone is jumpin on the hate band wagon and its all hear say....
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:rolleye1:
I don't see any "hate" anytime recently.

The truth is gen1 pumps were failing for some people and the gen2 pumps have seemed to be much better (mostly on the IN100). Luckily most people have dealt with vendors that have great customer service: premiumaqutics.com , marinedepot.com , etc.. If you don't believe it, read through the thread if you'd like to read about some people's pumps dying on them - and then a follow up by who they ordered it from.
 
I noticed recently that at least a couple of people are selling their Alpha skimmers because they're so impressed w/ the eShopps cones skimmers. I just ordered my Alpha 200, but haven’t received it yet and before I considered the SnoCone 200, so I can’t comment from experience. But did a lot of research on this site as well as consulted the guys at PA (when I considered the SnoCone they had on clearance) and they said it was no contest on build quality and pump…Alpha was superior. Not trying to start a brand war or anything, just thought it was a little surprising that a couple of Alpha owners are switching to eShopps brand.
 
skimmers are like cars its matter of taste they all work well its just what you prefer, i like a low cost skimmer that kicks butt. i'd rather spend few bucks on good skimmer with low cost so i can spend more on corals. Eshopps cone skimmer looks like it produces alot of air from the video i seen. i have gen I vertex 180 still kicks butt and is very quiet.
 
Alright not a half hour ago the UPS man rang my doorbell and Im now the owner of a IN-100. As Im typing this im running it thru some vinegar water. My question is this, the water level in my sump is 9" everything ive seen says run it in 6-8" for best performance. Do I need to make a 1 or 2" platform to set it on or will running it at 9" be ok? Sorry for such a noob question, but this is my first skimmer. Thanks
 
krazysvede said:
Alright not a half hour ago the UPS man rang my doorbell and Im now the owner of a IN-100. As Im typing this im running it thru some vinegar water. My question is this, the water level in my sump is 9" everything ive seen says run it in 6-8" for best performance. Do I need to make a 1 or 2" platform to set it on or will running it at 9" be ok? Sorry for such a noob question, but this is my first skimmer. Thanks
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Some eggcrate should do the job, I wouldn't hesitate to bring it to 7 or 8 inches. welcome!:bounce1:
 
Thanks! I built a little stand for the skimmer, its now sitting in ~7.5" of water and am working on getting it as dialed in as I can until its broken in. I put a gate valve on my return and need to have it almost closed to get the water level and foam level in the skimmer right. Is that normal or just one of those "break in" things??
 
krazysvede said:
Thanks! I built a little stand for the skimmer, its now sitting in ~7.5" of water and am working on getting it as dialed in as I can until its broken in. I put a gate valve on my return and need to have it almost closed to get the water level and foam level in the skimmer right. Is that normal or just one of those "break in" things??
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dont worry about it too much for the next couple weeks. Open up your return gate valve and just "open" up the wedge pipe on the skimmer, start tweaking it a little closed each day or so and eventually it'll be broken in. no worries just keep an eye on it the first week - you're sure the have a couple collection cup overflows in the break in stage ;)
 
- 7-8 inches of water.
- keep the wedge pipe more open then closed for the first week or so, so the pump breaks in.
- keep the pipe where the water exits half in the water and half out (conveniently 7-8 inches).
 
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