Vertex Skimmer club

Downgrade?

Downgrade?

flipsideleo said:
D'oh! I always thought it was way overkill for your tank, and respect your decision in going with something smaller, pk1.

Just wanted to report that my Vertex IN-250 w/modded Laguna/Askoll 1500 (Red Dragon) pump is doing great. I have the pumps intake about 2.5" below the surface of the water, and the body of the skimmer is about 9" submerged. I had to use a stand to elevate the skimmer a couple of inches because I didn't feel like modifying the baffles, or rebuilding a sump. I tried to use it without the stand, and it blew the top off! Good thing I was prepared for that.

For the price, the skimmer itself is great. The pump I got was junk, though. Stalled a lot, and pretty flimsy.
Click to expand...
You Bet Leo, It was fun making this skimmer rock, Like you the OEM pump had many Issues. My buddy Is taking his tank down and offered me his I-Tech 100 W/Tunze Hydrofoamer 9410 so off I go.
Gotta say this was a great thread to take part in, Had some good discussion on here and lots O fun.
I'll stop by every now and then:thumbsup:
Bill
 
Sounds good, Bill! That's a gr8 skimmer you're hookin' up with, too! I was a hairline fracture away from buying their big version because I love their volute design, body design, and customer service. Good luck with it! I'm sure you'll love it and it should be able to handle anything you throw at it in your tank. ;)
 
For Sure, I've seen what It did on his hardly stocked 110gal and was amazed! He knows the MFG personally as he used to live In Tampa.
Bill
 
ok finally upgraded my vertex 180 gen I to the 180 gen 3 model and is breakin right now. Looks alot better with bubble plate lowered down so it can have alot more contact time for bubbles.
 
frenchie said:
ok finally upgraded my vertex 180 gen I to the 180 gen 3 model and is breakin right now. Looks alot better with bubble plate lowered down so it can have alot more contact time for bubbles.
Click to expand...

Would love to see pictures of it in action! I'm kind-of curious how low you have it in the water, and how low the bubble plate is now.
 
direction still say 6-8 inches for in the sump, but now bubbles go down to bubble plate which is more than double from what gen 1 model did so now there is a ton more contact time for bubbles. Plus bubble plate has a bigger diameter bar far than gen 1 model and even gen 2.
 
My gen 2 In-250 has started to give me problems. I move my sump last night into my basement. The skimmer is sitting in about 9.5 inches of water (same as before I moved it).

The problem is tht I am getting large bubbles instead of small ones. The first thing I tried to do to fix it is to pull off and clean the venturi valve, and cahgen the air hose from 3/8 to 1/2 inch. I disconnected the silencer (now that the sump is in the basement the level of noise is fine).

What do I do next to try and fix this thing?
 
shluffer said:
My gen 2 In-250 has started to give me problems. I move my sump last night into my basement. The skimmer is sitting in about 9.5 inches of water (same as before I moved it).

The problem is tht I am getting large bubbles instead of small ones. The first thing I tried to do to fix it is to pull off and clean the venturi valve, and cahgen the air hose from 3/8 to 1/2 inch. I disconnected the silencer (now that the sump is in the basement the level of noise is fine).

What do I do next to try and fix this thing?
Click to expand...

Put it in 6" of water.
 
It wasn't.

I just finished adding 6 inches to the skimmer stand. the skimer is now in 6.25 inches of water.I'm now have my little (micro?) bubbles back. I'm readjusting it now. I'm goping to have to run it 90% + closed to get it to skim wet (I prefer it wet).

Is it a bad thing to have to run it this closed? Before the move I had it at around 10%.

The other question I have is if I need the elbow. the skimmer is in the basement and I can't hear it from upstairs. The elbow helps it stay quite, but I don't realy care about that at this point. Does it serve any other purpose?
 
shluffer said:
It wasn't.

I just finished adding 6 inches to the skimmer stand. the skimer is now in 6.25 inches of water.I'm now have my little (micro?) bubbles back. I'm readjusting it now. I'm goping to have to run it 90% + closed to get it to skim wet (I prefer it wet).

Is it a bad thing to have to run it this closed? Before the move I had it at around 10%.

The other question I have is if I need the elbow. the skimmer is in the basement and I can't hear it from upstairs. The elbow helps it stay quite, but I don't realy care about that at this point. Does it serve any other purpose?
Click to expand...

I found that if I rotated my elbow slightly so it was not pointed straight down in to the water and not completely submerged my skimmer performance was a little better. I ended up swapping to a better brand of pump to cure all of the problems in the end though.
 
just ordered a gen 3 in 100 for my tank, if i want to upgrade the pump later on to a bubble blaster which one should i put on there
 
I have a used gen2 180 coming in. I read a post that the gen 2 is not a "plug in" if I replace the pump in the future with a BB. What kind of mod is needed?

PS: It would really help if people posted what model and generation they are talking about. It is difficult to figure out if BOB 3644 has a IN-80 or 250 and what pump:)
 
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Evil Nemo said:
I have a used gen2 180 coming in. I read a post that the gen 2 is not a "plug in" if I replace the pump in the future with a BB. What kind of mod is needed?

PS: It would really help if people posted what model and generation they are talking about. It is difficult to figure out if BOB 3644 has a IN-80 or 250 and what pump:)
Click to expand...

Think I found the answer. Looks to be sch 20 thin wall fittings that need to be sanded.

How about gate valve modification. Same deal?
 
Pump failed on gen 1 in100 so i just a bought sicce psk2500. My question is how are others plumbing it in. Can someone enlighten me and possibly show some pics. Thanks
 
sump depth for in-250

sump depth for in-250

hey guys what should the water depth be for a vertex in-250? Does anyone have anything bad to say about it? How does it compare to other skimmers under $500
 
Good or Bad?

Good or Bad?

mike&kel said:
hey guys what should the water depth be for a vertex in-250? Does anyone have anything bad to say about it? How does it compare to other skimmers under $500
Click to expand...

I Suggest you start reading from the beginning of this thread, Bad is not quite the word I would use, Pump issues definatly! Good or bad Is up to you to decide JMO
On another note My I-Tech has really started to kick in and has already produced more weekly skim than the 250/BB So that tells me a lot!
Bill:dance::dance:
 
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