Vertex Skimmer club

Vertex problem

Vertex problem

I just wanted to share my latest experience with my Vertex skimmer. I have an IN-250 and the Resun pump on my Skimmer was making noise like hell (you could clearly hear it on the floor above). I tried fixing it but it kept on making noise and it stopped on me a couple of times in the last months so I decided to change the pump for a Sicce 2500. At first I was a little disappointed due to quantity of bubbles in the skimmer chamber, the bubble diffuser is presently half used due to the Sicce pump spitting in less water. However, the skim coming up into the collector cup is denser! I'm thinking about adding on another Sicce2500 by cutting another hole into the skimmer body and diffuser chamber but in the opposite direction from the other pump and lower by about 2 inches.
What are your thoughts on this mod? I have a 320 gallons system which is not heavily stocked at the moment and want to be sure that I'm going to be OK. I do like the pump and quantity of air it's mixing in.
 
dedfish said:
I have had a IN-180 since the end of November. Several weeks ago it started overflowing on me. Prior to this it seemed to be working fine, then suddenly it will not run for more than a week without overflowing. I've had it happen to me 3 times now, and this last time I didn't catch it till it made a real mess under my stand. When I try to turn it back on after it overflows sometimes it will not start up correctly. I can hear the impeller trying to spin but it doesn't seem like it can get going, it sounds like it's trying to though. I've read that the air line can get clogged and this last time I was real careful to check that without disturbing anything that may have clogged it but I didn't find anything. Do you think I need a new impeller? Do you think PA will replace it at no charge almost 3 months after purchase?
Click to expand...

My skimmer started overflowing when a 4x4" colony of zoanthus decided it was time for them to shrivel up and die :( usually the skimmer overflowing is caused by a chemical in the tank (something dying, stress coat, melafix, etc). an over adjustment to the wedge pipe or the water level is too high in the sump can also cause it.

when you turn it on and it rattles like that try just covering the pump intake with your hand. It should stop rattling and start foaming instantly. if not i would call them they will probably give you a replacement.
 
lapja said:
I just wanted to share my latest experience with my Vertex skimmer. I have an IN-250 and the Resun pump on my Skimmer was making noise like hell (you could clearly hear it on the floor above). I tried fixing it but it kept on making noise and it stopped on me a couple of times in the last months so I decided to change the pump for a Sicce 2500. At first I was a little disappointed due to quantity of bubbles in the skimmer chamber, the bubble diffuser is presently half used due to the Sicce pump spitting in less water. However, the skim coming up into the collector cup is denser! I’m thinking about adding on another Sicce2500 by cutting another hole into the skimmer body and diffuser chamber but in the opposite direction from the other pump and lower by about 2 inches.
What are your thoughts on this mod? I have a 320 gallons system which is not heavily stocked at the moment and want to be sure that I’m going to be OK. I do like the pump and quantity of air it’s mixing in.
Click to expand...


I like sicces, but the bubble blaster line is more efficient and processes a lot more water and air. IMHO, if you have to buy another sicce, I would add a bb5000 to your skimmer, and possibly use the sicce and the bb5000 together.
 
vertex in-100 LOUD, no solution in sight

vertex in-100 LOUD, no solution in sight

I recently purchase the vertex in-100. It was obnoxiously loud. I received a replacement impeller from the dealer (after a week of EXTREMELY loud humming and rattling). I replaced the impeller and the sound is worse.. I put the old impeller back in and it is still worse than the original noise.

Is there a "trick" to installing the pump to the bracket? have I done something wrong there? what about inserting the pump into the housing..
some "tweak" there.. any other "tricks" I might try?

I cannot live with this noise. The skimming is good, but, not worth the noise.
I will replace the pump if necessary, but, I can't seem to get a handle on which pump I can use with the Vertex in-100, Gen 2.

I would like to get the eheim needle wheel, but, cannot determine if I will be able to get this to fit on this skimmer. I've read about sicce pumps, tunze hydrofoamer pumps, bubble blaster pumps being used.. but can't decipher which model of skimmer for which pump.. or what type mods may be needed, etc..

I talked to one person at the dealer that had used the eheim pump mod and loved it.. but, after discussing discovered that they were using the GEN 1
model skimmer.. and it just "plugged in"... since the Gen 2 pump lays on it's side and connects to the "bracket"... I cannot seem to figure out which pump will fit in this situation... and.. if the outlet will fit into the skimmer.. or it there is some mod that could be use..

HELP.. I am at my wits end.. want get this resolved.. if not.. I'm going to have to "chunk" this skimmer and figure out another option.

I would REALLY appreciate any "real life" solutions to this problem
 
yes, I tried that many times.. but.. I will try again.
also put my finger over the air intake for a second or so...
I've lifted the skimmer off the bottom (not touching anything) and still
have the rattle/hum.

Seems when I first turn it on it is quieter until the bubbles reach about 1/3 up
the chamber leading to the overflow cup (not the overflow cup).. then it becomes louder.

Feels like when I lower the pump to the bottom of the sump that a big magnet
clamps it down.. or is it some sort of suction?! I don't know.. it is more than just the weight of the pump/skimmer.

Ok. tried placing my finger over the pump intake again.. seems to get quieter (not quiet).. when I release my finger and the bubbles reach about 1/3 way up the chamber leading to the overflow cup.. I get the humming.. with a high pitched rattle again (not a clanking)... more like a whining noise. so it is something like a lower hum (not so annoying) with a high pitch humming on top of that (very annoying).

Thanks for the suggestion.
 
smsreefer said:
Have you been able to get the Tunze Hydrofoamer set up yet ?
I'm thinking of trying this pump also .
Click to expand...

Ugh. Not yet. Ended up on an impromptu trip to Las Vegas and I'm still getting caught up. Hope to do it within the next month between trips.
 
I have same issue.
i have in-180 G2 for about 3 months. The pump is loud humming and rattling. When turn it on it is quieter until the bubbles reach about half.
Maybe I should call PM for new Impeller ?
 
It sure wouldn't hurt to try a new impeller.. I guess.. didn't help me.

I did this and it seemed to help some.. my sump water is about 7-7.5" deep.
I removed the long extension from the water return.. so that I just had the elbow connected... and moved it around to different positions.. tried it up, down, sideways, etc.. now I have it pointed down.. but.. that seemed to help some. give that a try and see if it helps.

I just started wondering since the sound was getting louder as the bubbles rose.. maybe it had something to do with the back pressure in the water return? I had read somewhere about people messing with this.

It's still too loud, but, better.
 
I think back pressure is the the issue. Some time I can found the sweet spot which would have lowest noise( but still loud for me). But every time restart the pump the spot is gone.
Need try to find it again.
 
I was just messing around with the in-100 again.
looking for the rattle/hum source.

I grabbed the chamber just where the collection cup joins the skimmer body and slowly lifted/tilted the skimmer back... at a certain point the noise gets softer... then at a certain point louder.. just after it gets louder I move it back to where the noise is the lowest... that would actually be satisfactory for me.. IF.. I could get the skimmer to stay there without holding it.

while I held the skimmer in this position... the bubbles entering the chamber or maybe it is the bubbles going through the bubble plate? is the loudest thing I hear... I believe that is the "rattle" I am hearing... I could live with it at this level...the hum is fairly low at this point.

So.. question.. How far do you shove the pump output tube into the chamber? I've been pushing it as far as I could get it in. I believe I read a suggestion about only inserting in so that the tube is "just inside" the chamber.

and another question.. anyone got any ideas on how to raise the bottom of the skimmer on the side where the pump is and keep it at a certain level?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Also, anyone that has successfully used a different pump on the in-100, gen2 (the one with the pump bracket where the pump is laying on it's side)? If so.. which one?.. and what did it take to accomplish this?
 
sorry. I wasn't very clear about what I was doing to get the lowest noise level out of the in-100.

I grabbed the skimmer just below where the collection cup joins the skimmer body. I then tilted the skimmer slowly back on the side away from the pump... so that the skimmer on the pump side was being lifted.
at a certain point the noise began to get lower.. once I got to the point where the noise began to get louder again... I moved it back to the position where the noise was the lowest.

when I'm raising the pump.. it feels like a "suction" by the pump to the bottom of the sump is being broken at one point?! don't know if that might have something to do with the noise level or not?! but.. if I grab the skimmer below the collection cup.. and lift it.. so that it is touching nothing.. I still have a very loud noise level?! dunno?!
 
vertex-in100 noise level is now reduced-- YIPPEE

vertex-in100 noise level is now reduced-- YIPPEE

I cut a piece of filter padding (about 1/4" thick type) into approx. a 1.5" x 4" strip.
raised the side of the pump where the suction is.. and placed it under that side of the pump. I had to keep folding it until I got the right thickness.. and moved it around until it sounded right..

now the sounds coming out of the the vertex in-100 are amazingly quiet.

this was about to drive me crazy.. so.. if you are having this type problem you may want to try something like this.

I believe a lot of the noise is caused by the pump suction being so close to the bottom of the pump and therefore clamping tightly to the bottom of the sump.. and causing a big humming and rattling.

btw... I've got the newer model in-100 where the pump is on it's side attached to a bracket.

I may try putting some type rubber matting under the whole skimmer a some point.. but.. right now... I'm just enjoying the quiet... ahhhh.. thank goodness.
 
have an in 180, working well just wanted to know if anyone has upgraded pump and if so what pump did you use. nog is not super dark, good build up on inner tube in collection cup.
just wanted to see if anyone has any info.
 
ctmgardea said:
have an in 180, working well just wanted to know if anyone has upgraded pump and if so what pump did you use. nog is not super dark, good build up on inner tube in collection cup.
just wanted to see if anyone has any info.
Click to expand...

I have had mine running for a few weeks now. So, far it is quite and seems to work okay. I think it is pushing more water than air though. I dont have much of a load in my 90 yet, so I will keep an eye on it as my load increases over the next few months.
 
the pump for my in250 is toast.. what pump should i get to replace it?
without doing any mods to the skimmer and not too exspensive.
 
sean A. said:
I'm thinking about getting the in280 for my 240g tank. Has anybody had n e issues
with it?
Click to expand...

I was gonna get the 280, but it was on back order forever, so I got the 250. It is a great skimmer so far, no problems and i have had it for about a month now. It pulls out a lot of nasty stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

R
Replacement Pump for Vertex Omega 150 Protein Skimmer
Replies
4
Views
83
r1racer
R
jay505
Is STARS still an active club
Replies
3
Views
86
griss
griss
sauceyreefOG
New (but old) Member - Hello!
Replies
12
Views
561
Reefing102
Reefing102
Guygettnby
Stuck between 2 skimmers...
Replies
12
Views
450
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
S
Why do oversized protein skimmers not adequately remove protein from a tank?
Replies
12
Views
257
Paul B
Paul B
Back
Top