Vertex Skimmer club

hey mojo man ...aquestion

hey mojo man ...aquestion

Mojo, do you have a opinion about grease in skimmer pumps? A different make skimmer (not vertex) uses a special grease in it's pump. I'm only asking cause you've owned a cajillion skimmers and you are very knowledgeble about them. Does that seem safe? I know many invertebrates secrete turpine like oils,but I'm just wondering.
 
Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Hi!, I just bought the IN-100 for my 90 gal. When I first plugged it in it was noisy dialed it in and it looked great. Went upstairs and when I returned 1 hr later it had stopped working. I pulled the pump out and notice it was hot, so I let it sit for awhile. Plugged it back in 30 min. later and it worked but it made all kinds of noise, oh my god. Could not keep a level in the bubble column. Called premiun aquatics and got a 180. Got it home and plugged it in. The skimmer was super quiet, looked good. Came back in a n hour and it had stopped working. Same thing again! I pulled the pump out and lwet it sit. Plugged back in about 30 min later. It works now but can not keep the thing dialed in. Adjusted the bubble column close to the top and came back a little later and it was overflowing all over the place so I backed it off. Then the bubble column started lowering then it was raise then lower. What a pain in the ***. There has got to be something I am doing wrong or maybe its just a piece of junk. I will call Premium Aquatics today. Any one got any ideas?
 
I had a little trouble getting mine dialed in after I cleaned it the first time. I finally realized I had moved the pump and it wasn't seated in the skimmer correctly. Problem solved. HTH.
 
Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14636177#post14636177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dlucia
Hi!, I just bought the IN-100 for my 90 gal. When I first plugged it in it was noisy dialed it in and it looked great. Went upstairs and when I returned 1 hr later it had stopped working. I pulled the pump out and notice it was hot, so I let it sit for awhile. Plugged it back in 30 min. later and it worked but it made all kinds of noise, oh my god. Could not keep a level in the bubble column. Called premiun aquatics and got a 180. Got it home and plugged it in. The skimmer was super quiet, looked good. Came back in a n hour and it had stopped working. Same thing again! I pulled the pump out and lwet it sit. Plugged back in about 30 min later. It works now but can not keep the thing dialed in. Adjusted the bubble column close to the top and came back a little later and it was overflowing all over the place so I backed it off. Then the bubble column started lowering then it was raise then lower. What a pain in the ***. There has got to be something I am doing wrong or maybe its just a piece of junk. I will call Premium Aquatics today. Any one got any ideas?

Send it back and get a real skimmer, or at least an issue-free skimmer. :lol:
 
Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

same thing happened to me with the Gen 1, 100 and I returned it. Guess they still have issues..

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14636177#post14636177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dlucia
Hi!, I just bought the IN-100 for my 90 gal. When I first plugged it in it was noisy dialed it in and it looked great. Went upstairs and when I returned 1 hr later it had stopped working. I pulled the pump out and notice it was hot, so I let it sit for awhile. Plugged it back in 30 min. later and it worked but it made all kinds of noise, oh my god. Could not keep a level in the bubble column. Called premiun aquatics and got a 180. Got it home and plugged it in. The skimmer was super quiet, looked good. Came back in a n hour and it had stopped working. Same thing again! I pulled the pump out and lwet it sit. Plugged back in about 30 min later. It works now but can not keep the thing dialed in. Adjusted the bubble column close to the top and came back a little later and it was overflowing all over the place so I backed it off. Then the bubble column started lowering then it was raise then lower. What a pain in the ***. There has got to be something I am doing wrong or maybe its just a piece of junk. I will call Premium Aquatics today. Any one got any ideas?
 
Wow! I'm really disappointed that the manufacturer hasn't solved the crappy pump issue on this model of skimmer. Seems like a "no brainer". The skimmer body seems well built. Oh well, I guess you can replace the pump with a better one even after the company is out of business.
 
Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14636177#post14636177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dlucia
Hi!, I just bought the IN-100 for my 90 gal. When I first plugged it in it was noisy dialed it in and it looked great. Went upstairs and when I returned 1 hr later it had stopped working. I pulled the pump out and notice it was hot, so I let it sit for awhile. Plugged it back in 30 min. later and it worked but it made all kinds of noise, oh my god. Could not keep a level in the bubble column. Called premiun aquatics and got a 180. Got it home and plugged it in. The skimmer was super quiet, looked good. Came back in a n hour and it had stopped working. Same thing again! I pulled the pump out and lwet it sit. Plugged back in about 30 min later. It works now but can not keep the thing dialed in. Adjusted the bubble column close to the top and came back a little later and it was overflowing all over the place so I backed it off. Then the bubble column started lowering then it was raise then lower. What a pain in the ***. There has got to be something I am doing wrong or maybe its just a piece of junk. I will call Premium Aquatics today. Any one got any ideas?

Pull the pump apart and get the impeller out. If you spin the impeller on the shaft you'll notice that it doesn't spin real well, and feels tight on the shaft. This was the problem with these pumps that first come over here. We got new shafts and impellers to fix this issue. Shoot me an email at jeremy@premiumaquatics.com and we'll get a replacement right out to you.
 
FWIW

FWIW

my gen1 in-100 is still trucking. almost 2 months now and producing some disgusting skimmate.:thumbsup:

as far as i know, my skimmer is a "real" skimmer.
 
Yeah I feel pretty lucky lol.

PA has great customer service, so see what jeremy can do for you regarding the pump. I assume its the gen2 correct? Hopefully the replacement pump solves the problem, these skimmers are great when everything is working correctly :).
 
i have had gen I insump 180 no problems and kicks butt. Any new skimmer will take time to break in plus you guys just now getting the skimmer if you stick the inlet tube in skimmer body to far inside tube were bubble plate is you will have inconsistent foam head the tube coming from pump to bubble chamber needs to be no more than 1/8 inch inside chamber. I found when i set mine up and messed with it and found that it disrupts flow pattern. this will work for gen I models not sure about gen II models.
 
Re: Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14636255#post14636255 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangtang clown
Send it back and get a real skimmer, or at least an issue-free skimmer. :lol:

this skimmer pulls more air stock than msx or octo extremes, just got to remember this is a new line of skimmers and still getting improved, made by proline aquatics who is trying to put out a good affordable skimmer.
 
In a 200 gal including sump and fuge, which one would perform better? the GEN II vertex model 250 or the octopus extreme model 200?
 
Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14636177#post14636177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dlucia
Hi!, I just bought the IN-100 for my 90 gal. When I first plugged it in it was noisy dialed it in and it looked great. Went upstairs and when I returned 1 hr later it had stopped working. I pulled the pump out and notice it was hot, so I let it sit for awhile. Plugged it back in 30 min. later and it worked but it made all kinds of noise, oh my god. Could not keep a level in the bubble column. Called premiun aquatics and got a 180. Got it home and plugged it in. The skimmer was super quiet, looked good. Came back in a n hour and it had stopped working. Same thing again! I pulled the pump out and lwet it sit. Plugged back in about 30 min later. It works now but can not keep the thing dialed in. Adjusted the bubble column close to the top and came back a little later and it was overflowing all over the place so I backed it off. Then the bubble column started lowering then it was raise then lower. What a pain in the ***. There has got to be something I am doing wrong or maybe its just a piece of junk. I will call Premium Aquatics today. Any one got any ideas?

My gen2 IN-180 has been flawless.... I recently tuned it in at 8" of water, and it is running perfectly. What depth is the water in the sump that you have the skimmer in??
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14637453#post14637453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plancton
In a 200 gal including sump and fuge, which one would perform better? the GEN II vertex model 250 or the octopus extreme model 200?

IMO.. The stock 250 Vertex would easily outskim the 200 Octo. If you mesh mod the Octo, you may get similar performce according to many of the related threads. The thing you want to keep in mind is that you want to match air draw into the skimmer with water throughput to get the best results.
 
Re: Re: Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

Re: Re: Re: Vertex Gen-2 IN-100 & IN-180

this skimmer pulls more air stock than msx or octo extremes, just got to remember this is a new line of skimmers and still getting improved, made by proline aquatics who is trying to put out a good affordable skimmer. [/QUOTE]

I agree, it blows Octos and MSXs away!!! I just don't have any evidence of this. :lol:
I would suggest reading through the OCTO Extreme thread b4 making such BOLD statements.

I feel sorry for all the people who have purchased one of these skimmers and had to deal with all the pump problems.
I have been following this thread b/c I am always looking for the best, obviously this skimmer isn't it.
Vertex or whoever makes these should have done a lot more R&D/Troubleshooting b4 they put these on the market.

Question, does anyone here want to sell there collection cup, i.e someone with a skimmer, but their pump won't work. :mixed:

I really like the design of these skimmers, the transition from body to neck. I just hate it that the pumps SUCK. Keep posting pics and nog shots.
Tanks guys.
 
IMO.. The stock 250 Vertex would easily outskim the 200 Octo. If you mesh mod the Octo, you may get similar performce according to many of the related threads. The thing you want to keep in mind is that you want to match air draw into the skimmer with water throughput to get the best results. [/QUOTE]

How so? I am thirsty for knowledge. :confused: Did I get ripped off by buying an Octo 200?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14637830#post14637830 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangtang clown
IMO.. The stock 250 Vertex would easily outskim the 200 Octo. If you mesh mod the Octo, you may get similar performce according to many of the related threads. The thing you want to keep in mind is that you want to match air draw into the skimmer with water throughput to get the best results.


How so? I am thirsty for knowledge. :confused: Did I get ripped off by buying an Octo 200?
[/QUOTE]

If the Octo is skimming to your expectations, then NO you did not get ripped off.
 
It is doing much better than the OCTO NW 200 recirc I had before. I'm pretty sure that right now the OCTO/MSX line is the best bang for the buck. I had mine meshed @ 45-50scfh and it was too much for my 75. I have the SWC PW in and it is pulling 25ish scfh and skimming great. There is a new PW for the ATB pumps thats works in a sicce and is doing 33 scfh. I will post some pics here once it arrives, so we can compare and contrast.
I think this "Skimmer Battle" will be beneficial to brand owners.

Good luck Vertex :uzi: :uzi: :furious: :uzi: :uzi:
 
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