Vertex Skimmer club

Hey guys,
on Mojo's rec, i picked up the Vertex in-180.
Love it. super quiet and no problems whatsoever.
Anyway, I went to MarineDepot to check on the footprint and the item is no longer available. If i get to the page through google, it says that it has been discontinued.
Anyone know whats going on?
 
In response to Geno- I totally agree, the Vertex is a great product, which is why I purchased a second on for my frag system. The people at Proline Aquatics explained that every thousand or so units have a pump issue where the epoxy was did not fully seal, but other than that, which could happen to any pump, the Vertex products are fabulous. Like I said I purchased a second one, I'm very happy with the Vertex units.
 
i'm still using my vertex 180 gen I model, still love still kicks butt. Had mine since begining of this vertex skimmer thread.
 
rkb said:
Looks a lot like the impeller on both of my Vertex skimmers.
Click to expand...

The impeller on the 100 I received today is flexible and white in color. The impeller on the depot's website is black and the pin pattern is different.

I don't know.... I fell on the Bubble Magus band wagon last year. I have to say they have a great impeller design. The neck, body, and dept you have to run the skimmer in is all wrong. That's for another thread though.

Funny thinking of the body shape of the BM and the vertex. The new funnel skimmers, I've never ran one. The concept between the vertex body design and the funnel are close to the same principle. That is to reduce head pressure. They do it in different ways. The Vertex is short and fat at the base. The neck is narrow and long. The cones taper in the same way but over a long distance.

There are pictures somewhere of a Vertex and a $800 cone skimmer run side by side. The Vertex made as much skimmate if not a little more on the same system.

I guess I'm getting a little premature. My vertex isn't producing any skimmate as of yet. I'll let you guys know when break in is over.
 
Be Patient, And don't run It closed too much or It Will overflow when It kicks In! About 1/2 way between open/closed worked better for me than trying to force It B4 It was ready. It will run great just give It time. JMO
Bill
 
mike810 said:
If you guys had to do it all over again. Would u still get the vertex or would u opt for another skimmer. If so which skimmer and why?
Click to expand...

I have had my 180 running for just over a month now and I have already had to replace the impeller. I like the body but the pump just stinks. Yes, mine is quite, but the performance just isnt there. The pump/impeller is just pushing to much water. All I get is a lot of very wet skimmate and it is not dark at all. It is in 8" of water and it is very stable and I have to run the wedge pipe full open or it will just overflow.

Like I said the body and construction is great but I will end up replacing the pump withe the bubble blaster. If that doesnt work I will probably go back to thinking about the i-tech skimmer.
 
Ahh, check your airlines and fittings for clogs. They will reduce the air intake and increase the water volume going through the skimmer. Your unit should have a solid column of white over top of the bubble plate.

- Albert

jdrabek said:
I have had my 180 running for just over a month now and I have already had to replace the impeller. I like the body but the pump just stinks. Yes, mine is quite, but the performance just isnt there. The pump/impeller is just pushing to much water. All I get is a lot of very wet skimmate and it is not dark at all. It is in 8" of water and it is very stable and I have to run the wedge pipe full open or it will just overflow.

Like I said the body and construction is great but I will end up replacing the pump withe the bubble blaster. If that doesnt work I will probably go back to thinking about the i-tech skimmer.
Click to expand...
 
Proline said:
Ahh, check your airlines and fittings for clogs. They will reduce the air intake and increase the water volume going through the skimmer. Your unit should have a solid column of white over top of the bubble plate.

- Albert
Click to expand...

No clogs in the airline. I clean it regularly and still am not getting very good performance out of this pump.
 
It would appear from reading back that the 180 model seems to be an issue. I know my 100 is working like a champ. Today is my official start skimming day and it is day #3.

I will post pictures soon. So far one heck of a skimmer. I don't see the pump as a problem, more to come....... :)
 
Vertex In-280 Assembly

Vertex In-280 Assembly

I just bought a vertex in-280 and am trying to set it up, but the instructions that come with it are useless. Help please! Here are a couple of pics:

IMG_3447.jpg

IMG_3446.jpg

IMG_3448.jpg

IMG_3449.jpg


I'm not sure if I have all the parts? Can you guys have a look and let me know....thanks. If I have all the parts, then how does everything fit together? How does the pump fit on the skimmer? I am brand new to this so I hope you understand the noob questions. Thanks for your help.
 
The flat L shaped piece is a bracket to give the pump a footing.
The skimmer just joins with pump at that hole to the right of where the pipe assembly is.Make sure to shove it in snug.
Next,Put the opaque airline hose that came with the skimmer on the valve at the top of the Tallest pipe and screw the clamp on it.Attach it to the venturi valve on top of the pump.
Other than that you look set.
 
Also, the pipe labeled B isn't really necessary in my opinion. Your water level should be around the 90 degree portion of the pipe, if you twist it so that half is in the water and half is out of the water the skimmer should be a little more consistent/less back pressure on the pump. That is where skimmed water will exit the skimmer, so what I do is just make sure that's pointed towards the next section of my sump. Good luck, let us know how it goes.
 
geno7 said:
I just joined the club. My IN100 will be in tomorrow. The pump issue is a little scary for me. Hopefully it will work great with no issues. It seems that from what I've read some folks have problems some don't. We will see....
Click to expand...

Just stay VERY vigilant. I went through two pumps before getting it up and running reliably. Well...actually the first pump burned out totally and was replaced. The second one seized up (impeller issue) but PA sent a new impeller and it has worked wonderfully since then.

As for break-in, I did the vinegar thing but only for about 6 hrs. Mine began skimming junk out within 24 hrs.

I'm still a happy member of the club.
 
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