Vertex Skimmer club

[reefguard]

Kenfuzed,
I have the same size tank as you do with a light bioload. I picked up the 280 because it was a good deal, maybe the 250 was abetter fit fro my tank but oh well. how 1s your skimmer performing? It might be just me but I never could get the skimmate to overflow into the cup like what I have seen others have. Maybe the skimmer just dont have much to skim. Water parameters are good and no algae problem so i am not too worried about it.

 

[DT's_Reef]

IMO, if you want the thick gnarly nasty foam, then you have to be careful and not oversize your skimmer for your system.

 

[reefguard]

I agree DT's

 

[Charlie Davidson]

You may have heard a saying I started... "There are no oversized skimmers,, just underfed tanks"

( yes, I have oversized skimmer before)

 

[reefguard]

That's funny Charlie. I think i just need to buy more fish. Sound like a pretty good excuse to tell the mrs we need more fish.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Ken, and others.. My BBpump just arrived. I have only just open the pump, but it comes with a screw on union to match the octx200 union. BUT, to does come with a 1" threaded union also.. I lost my calipers, and will wait till monday to buy new pair so I can measure.... but if 1" pvc pipe fits into your pump connection-- You could make this pump work!
This looks very promising

 

[Hagisan]

Hello. I just got my IN-100 I got from another RC member up and running. The skimmer is sitting in 8" of water.

I am getting lots of micro-bubbles returning into the tank. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong here?

Thank you.

Bradley

 

[Kenfuzed]

Ken, and others.. My BBpump just arrived. I have only just open the pump, but it comes with a screw on union to match the octx200 union. BUT, to does come with a 1" threaded union also.. I lost my calipers, and will wait till monday to buy new pair so I can measure.... but if 1" pvc pipe fits into your pump connection-- You could make this pump work!
This looks very promising

Following closely, I may place an order soon if this pump produces finer bubbles than the stock one.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Hello. I just got my IN-100 I got from another RC member up and running. The skimmer is sitting in 8" of water.

I am getting lots of micro-bubbles returning into the tank. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong here?

Thank you.

Bradley

Open the wedge valve some..

 

[reefguard]

Ken, and others.. My BBpump just arrived. I have only just open the pump, but it comes with a screw on union to match the octx200 union. BUT, to does come with a 1" threaded union also.. I lost my calipers, and will wait till monday to buy new pair so I can measure.... but if 1" pvc pipe fits into your pump connection-- You could make this pump work!
This looks very promising

What would be a good replacement pump for the 280? I woke up this morning and the pump is rattling really bad. I opend it up tp investigate and I already know about the broken shaft now the bushing inside the pump has gotten out of round and the bushing doesn't fit snugly anymore. This sucks.
Noel

 

[Hagisan]

Open the wedge valve some..

Thanks for the reply. The valve is wide open. When I close the valve the water rises too high in the chamber.

I also found an acrylic triangle-shaped piece in the box. What's this piece for?

Thank you.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Can you post pic of the outlet piping?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

What would be a good replacement pump for the 280? I woke up this morning and the pump is rattling really bad. I opend it up tp investigate and I already know about the broken shaft now the bushing inside the pump has gotten out of round and the bushing doesn't fit snugly anymore. This sucks.
Noel

That is one thing I got this pump for,, Can you measure the inlet to the skimmer ( pump disharge size) ?

 

[reefguard]

Charlie, I have the skimmer taken apart and I will try to install my under size sicce on there. I have no caliper to measure but when I tried a 3/4" pvc fitting, it fit snugly on the skimmer inlet. doesn't go pass the o-ring but I am sure i can shave it a littler so I can push it pass the o-ring.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I put a 3/4"fitting up to a 1" pvc pipe, they look like they are the same size..
I don't see why you couldn't make it fit without too much work.. It is suppose to push 1400 L/H air -- which is 300 more than your pump.. ( I have not hooked mine up yet)

from the base (floor) measure to the center of the inlet pipe. if its 3-3/4" or higher.. you may be set!! ( you can subract 1/4" or so and if higher, you build small stand- if you want)

 

[reefguard]

Charlie,
Are you referring to the BB HY5000?

 

[Charlie Davidson]

No I have the BB3000. (HY3000S) it has my meter pegged at 50- 52+ scfh in 10" of water (5g bucket)
It came with 2 fittings , a 3/4" for the octx skimmer and a 1" union

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Charlie, I have the skimmer taken apart and I will try to install my under size sicce on there. I have no caliper to measure but when I tried a 3/4" pvc fitting, it fit snugly on the skimmer inlet. doesn't go pass the o-ring but I am sure i can shave it a littler so I can push it pass the o-ring.

BTW, I have run a akoll pump with discharge simply pushed into a sung fit.. It ran 6mths with no problems-- (I just sold it)

 

[reefguard]

Askolls are pricey. Are they really worth the money? How much are the BB? i would imagine i'm gonna have to go with the 5000.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Askolls are pricey. Are they really worth the money? How much are the BB? i would imagine i'm gonna have to go with the 5000.

I have not tried it on my vertex 180 yet, but from what I see now, (buckett test) This pump will perform alot better than your exsisting pump on your 280 ( using the 1" supplied union)
the pump performance is dropped, when it uses the 3/4 union.. (for octx)