Vertex Skimmer club

[Kenfuzed]

That does help. I am currently using API stress coat, but will be switching to prime when it runs out. Shouldn't last much longer.

My skimmer has been running for about 10 hours now. I upped the water level to about 8 inches this morning. I am going to wait a couple days before making any more adjustments.

I was getting some skimmate this morning (a very light brown) but it seems to have stopped. It may just need more time.

Using dechlorinated tap water is not a good idea long term. You are adding things like phosphates, silicates, and other unwanted things like copper. All the skimming in the world won't be able to compete with what is being introduced in your top off water. Not sure how much top off you go through per day but if it isn't much try getting water from one of those purified water vending machines if they have them in your area. Here they have them in front of every grocery store. It's not perfect but far better than tap water. Water conditioners will overflow your skimmer.

 

[t5Nitro]

Joining the club soon. Just placed an order for the alpha 170 cone. What water depth should this skimmer be ran in?

Are you supposed to let it run in a vinegar bath for a while or straight to the tank? If so, how long?

 

[frenchie]

I am running the pump on a octx200 now. It was great on the vertex 180! I will be going back to the 180 soon, That was a killer set-up!

since you have ran both skimmers how is stock performance between vertex 180 and octo extreme 200 few people in local club asked but i use vertex 180 but havent tried octo extremes yet.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

IMO the pump is the heart of the skimmer. Each pump has different advantages (disadvantages) . I prefer the sicce pump over the resun.
I like the 1" input on the vertex skimmer body. (VS 3/4" on octx)
Both are great skimmers for the cost! (octx220 with PPW and the vertex 180)

I would love to mesh the resun pump too see what it could do, but have a bubbleblaster pump I wanted to try. The vetex with the bubbleblaster is doing 50+ scfh and seems to be a perfect match. taking it to its max-potental.. I only wish I could find the "thinwall" PVC tube I used for others.. It must be metric
Are resun replacement pumps easy to get? I see I can get pin/w to mesh for 30$ at premiumaquatics..

 

[shluffer]

Using dechlorinated tap water is not a good idea long term. You are adding things like phosphates, silicates, and other unwanted things like copper. All the skimming in the world won't be able to compete with what is being introduced in your top off water. Not sure how much top off you go through per day but if it isn't much try getting water from one of those purified water vending machines if they have them in your area. Here they have them in front of every grocery store. It's not perfect but far better than tap water. Water conditioners will overflow your skimmer.

An RO/DI unit is going to be a while. Not much of a choice. I do have a pur water filter I can use. Will that help? I'm hesitant to use a drinking water filter in place of declorinator. Maybe I can use both.

 

[frenchie]

shluffer buy distilled water at walmart if you can cause you will be fighting hair algae and cyano using tap water. I learned hard way when i first started, than i bought water from pet store.

 

[carolina reefer]

T5Nitro
I ran my IN180 in a vinegar bath for 15-20 minutes. Then ran it in the tank wide open for 24 hours. Then set it up to run. I run about 1/2 open in 10 inches of water and am pleased with the performance.

 

[shluffer]

frenchie, I appreciate the advice. I'm going to eventually spend the money on RO / DI since it is the only cost effective alternative. I don't have it now since I spent it on my skimmer. I don't have any algae issues as of yet. It sounds like I will eventually have one (if I don't start using RO), but for now it will have to wait.

Kenfuzed - I am topping off less than 5 gallons a week on what is something like 140 gallons total water (tank = 120, sump = 40, skimmer bucket = 18, less live rock).

My skimmer seems to skim wet (not sure its stable its only been running 4 days) when running wide open. Its in 10 inches of water (IN-250). Does anyone have any easy plans for a skimmer stand? I'm thinking I will stack egg crate on the bottom untill I'm happy. I'm not sure how much height egg crate uses, or how much height I should get rid of in a shot. I'm going to wait until its been running at least a week before I deal with it, so I have time to figure it out.

 

[Kenfuzed]

I stacked pieces of egg crate until I found the perfect height. The outlet (base of the tee) is slightly above the water line in the sump.

 

[ironwill723]

My new IN-280 is going crazy with foam. Can someone please verify with me that I have the output pipes in the right order. I have the "A" pipe going up vertical out of the 90 glued into the skimmer then the T fitting, short unlabeled piece horizontal, 90 pointed down, Pipe labeled "B" vertical into tank...is this right? I have had the tall pipe opened 100% for 2 days and it is still overflowing with bubbles. The skimmer is on a plastic milk crate and is about 9 inches deep in water.

 

[ironwill723]

frenchie, I appreciate the advice. I'm going to eventually spend the money on RO / DI since it is the only cost effective alternative. I don't have it now since I spent it on my skimmer. I don't have any algae issues as of yet. It sounds like I will eventually have one (if I don't start using RO), but for now it will have to wait.

Kenfuzed - I am topping off less than 5 gallons a week on what is something like 140 gallons total water (tank = 120, sump = 40, skimmer bucket = 18, less live rock).

My skimmer seems to skim wet (not sure its stable its only been running 4 days) when running wide open. Its in 10 inches of water (IN-250). Does anyone have any easy plans for a skimmer stand? I'm thinking I will stack egg crate on the bottom untill I'm happy. I'm not sure how much height egg crate uses, or how much height I should get rid of in a shot. I'm going to wait until its been running at least a week before I deal with it, so I have time to figure it out.

Try a plastic milk crate turned upside down.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

 

[Charlie Davidson]

 

[t5Nitro]

Where are you guys placing the O-ring on the red dragon pumps? And the upgrade kit is supposed to screw in all the way back? The distance on the new white piece and the prop area is around the same length. I just don't want it to be stuck.

Anyone have a link to some manuals?

 

[sondaar]

OK guys I need some help. I've had my In 180 for about 4 months and all was good and pulling a nice skim mate. I moved to a new house and finally got the tank reset up and running today. Cleaned the skimmer inside and out really good and now it isnt making any bubbles at all no matter where I have the vent pipe set. There is nothing in the tank now but rock and sand but shouldn't it al least be making some kind of bubbles?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

no bubbles at all only water in skimmer? Air line is blocked.

 

[sondaar]

Air lina appears to be clean as I can hear air being pulled thru it and when I put my finger over the line the water raises up the skimmer.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

if it is pulling air into skimmer, then it has to be bubbles in skimmer.
Are you saying not enought bubbles?
What is salinity of water?

 

[tangtang clown]

pics

 

[sondaar]

will get pics up shortly