Vertex Skimmer club

DragonFish - yup those bubbles look really big, though you are getting foam. In the video I couldn't see the opposite side where the water is discharged. Is the output above water? If that elbow is submerged it will put backpressure on the output flow and increase the level inside the skimmer. I keep my output elbow sideways rather than facing down to prevent any backup. Also try lifting your skimmer an inch or two.
 
vid does not work for me, but if the neck is a dirty as it looks in pic, you need to clean the neck and close the valve some.. Dirty neck makes it ALOT harder for skimate to rise over to cup.
Noise is even less today, most of it is vibration thru skimmerbody.. I have some silicone pot holders on the way here, to set skimmer on.. ( between body and glass) Its not really needed, but I want to try it ..
 
mcbaes72 said:
OneReef - Cool! Mine was skimming quickly as well, just like yours. But that's probably because of a couple of reasons: bought my 200 used from PA and because I ran skimmerless for months before setting one up again. Did you go skimmerless, too or did you just replace an old skimmer w/ a new one?
Click to expand...


I replaced a smaller skimmer that had not been performing well for me. Almost felt like I was running skimmerless at times.
 
little info for those trying to find out the water level, take a flah light and shine it into the skimmer body and you will see where the water level is
 
My Bubble Blaster arrived today! That's the good news. The bad news is it arrived missing parts. :mad:

It is supposed to come with a union fitting and a bushing for the output, both were not included. Sent pictures over to Reef Specialty to see what they can do.

For now I have a piece of vinyl tubing stuck in the end of the outlet, then a larger piece of tubing over that to fit into the skimmer body. It is restricting the flow to the point where my wedge pipe is 3/4 closed to get foam into the neck.

Overall though the pump is producing super fine bubbles and thicker foam. Once I have all the right parts I'm sure it will really shred.
 

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Yes, the elbow is submerged. I had it above the water line for a few hours but the big bubbles didn't go away, and I really didn't like the splashing noise. It seems to work fine like it is, I just need to close the wedge pipe a little more to make up for the back pressure.
 
Well I've had the Bubble Blaster running for the past 6 hours and so far I'm skeptical. I'm hoping it is just the restrictive way I had to connect it but so far I haven't been able to get the foam to crest the top of the neck into the cup. I can run it almost closed with the "Close" sticker almost touching the arrow, but that has the water half way up the neck and too wet to keep a consistent froth.

I will hold judgment until I get the right parts but if that doesn't fix it then the 3000 is too weak for a IN-250.
 
Mine came with the male side of a 3/4"you show ( that matches up with the octo extremes) , and a 1" union..
The extra union was in a plastic bag along with air line.. Did you get bag with air line?
Ken, do you have watt meter?
Did you run pump in vinegar bath? ( pump may have oils on it)

Everything, I see is that it will handle a 250 skimmer, My valve is 7/8 open.. sitting in 9.5" water.. (Tee is 1/2 way underwater)
How deep do you have yours?
 
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I believe its ok to have the tee under water on these skimmers. The sicce pump is one pump that seems to have problems with back pressure, but my vertex with the resun and the bubble blaster- it doesn't seem to matter.
in fact sitting lower may have helped, But I have not really play aroung with different water leve much on this skimmer. (only 7.5 and 9.5....... 9.5 was better..)

Air line hose is 2x the size of the one that came on resun pump !! (3/8" ID- 1/2 OD)
 
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My pump came with this extra 1" union in the box. it also had the 3/4 fitting attached to pump. I removed the 3/4 union and used the 1" one with 1' PVC.
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Ken and Charlie.
I know it is only a matter of time before I need to replace my pump on my IN-280 as it gets louder by the day. I know that Charlie has owned a askoll and bubble balster, I amnot sure about you Ken but my question is, I am looking at BB 5000 for $225 and Askoll 1500 for $299. Is the Askoll worth the extra money as far as reliability and noise? I know the BB is fairly new and you two are the few ones I know that has used them. Any input? Thanks in advance.

Noel
 
:) You are asking a unfair question. Compair the new unkown pump, to a pump that has very good record.. ( the BB3000 will push My vertex 180 to its limit! when 1" pipe is used)

I can better answer why I went for bubblebaster. It matches up directly to my Ocx200, it has a 3yr warrentee, and I like new toys! ( and the askoll would have been too much pump for both of my skimmers)


If I were you, I would call both places you want to buy from, get as much info as you can, and go from there. ( IE. find out discharge size on askoll- Make sure the BB5000 comes with the 1" union you would need)
 
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btw after messing around with air line and taking it off the built in silencer ive gotten much more air less tubulance from pump. thinking with how it connects which is down sizing the air inlet ws restricting air pull. much happier now,
 
Well, these BB is supposed to be the next best thing (since Askoll) as far as skimmer pump is concern only a little more affordable, right? That's the only reason I asked the question and I don't think it is unfair :).

I have talked to both places I could order the pumps from and I could easily get these pumps plumb in. Just need some inputs before I pull the trigger. I could save about $74 going with the BB, Askoll has a 3 year warranty as well doesn't it? I could be mistaken but I thought that's what it is.

I guess I'd wait until a little longer to get some reviews on the BB pump. In the meantime I'd do with my noisy pump.:)

Noel
 
Noel, I agreed :D I just did not want to appear to be dissaproving of the askoll. I like both pumps! And there is nothing wrong with a few options out there..
IF I was to buy another pump right now- with your equipment- I would go with the HY5000 75$ sounds pretty good in the pocket :)
 
reefguard said:
Well, these BB is supposed to be the next best thing (since Askoll) as far as skimmer pump is concern only a little more affordable, right? That's the only reason I asked the question and I don't think it is unfair :).

I have talked to both places I could order the pumps from and I could easily get these pumps plumb in. Just need some inputs before I pull the trigger. I could save about $74 going with the BB, Askoll has a 3 year warranty as well doesn't it? I could be mistaken but I thought that's what it is.

I guess I'd wait until a little longer to get some reviews on the BB pump. In the meantime I'd do with my noisy pump.:)

Noel
Click to expand...

hey reefguard how do you doing with the vertex in-280 because I thinking to buy one to my new setup
 
Kenfuzed said:
My Bubble Blaster arrived today! That's the good news. The bad news is it arrived missing parts. :mad:

It is supposed to come with a union fitting and a bushing for the output, both were not included. Sent pictures over to Reef Specialty to see what they can do.

For now I have a piece of vinyl tubing stuck in the end of the outlet, then a larger piece of tubing over that to fit into the skimmer body. It is restricting the flow to the point where my wedge pipe is 3/4 closed to get foam into the neck.

Overall though the pump is producing super fine bubbles and thicker foam. Once I have all the right parts I'm sure it will really shred.
Click to expand...

Ken, I called and found out first batch of pumps, did not have the 1" union in the box. but the new ones do. I hear your is on its way..
Your skimmer is right on the edge, of the 3000 and the 5000 ( but that was not out when you ordered your 3000:( )
My 180 was at max with the 3000 -- It turned it into a Vertex Bubble Monster! :)
 
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