Vertex Skimmer club

Hi there

How you help the impeller to start? I took the cover off and pull the magnetic impeller out, it's pretty beat up, and shaved and what not....but is there a way to tell if the pump still good?

-some people blow into the flexible air tube.
-not that I know of, I've never messed with anything besides the impeller so I can't say that there isn't a way to determine if the pump itself is still good... But that being said, the impeller is basically the heart of the pump - and if you replace it you should have success.

From the sounds of it the impellers just don't last 2+ years. It's been mentioned several times throughout this thread: these skimmers are built wonderfully, but the pumps are cheap, not to the point where they don't perform but to how long they last and it comes down to the impeller assembly.

I'm actually getting a new pump soon for my gen1 in100, most likely the tunze hydrofoamer 9410.040. I think the body can handle more then 420l/h.
 
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-some people blow into the flexible air tube.
-not that I know of, I've never messed with anything besides the impeller so I can't say that there isn't a way to determine if the pump itself is still good... But that being said, the impeller is basically the heart of the pump - and if you replace it you should have success.

From the sounds of it the impellers just don't last 2+ years. It's been mentioned several times throughout this thread: these skimmers are built wonderfully, but the pumps are cheap, not to the point where they don't perform but to how long they last and it comes down to the impeller assembly.

I'm actually getting a new pump soon for my gen1 in100, most likely the tunze hydrofoamer 9410.040. I think the body can handle more then 420l/h.
thanks..i will give it a try later
From what I read, it seems the pump is well made but the impeller on the hand sucks...at least the version i have.

selling your old pump? :) i buy the impeller?
 
thanks..i will give it a try later
From what I read, it seems the pump is well made but the impeller on the hand sucks...at least the version i have.

selling your old pump? :) i buy the impeller?

Send me a PM, I may be getting rid of it in a couple weeks. :beer:
 
I'm actually getting a new pump soon for my gen1 in100, most likely the tunze hydrofoamer 9410.040. I think the body can handle more then 420l/h.

definately will, as stated i have a mini airstar running on my in100 with the small purple pinwheel. tried the large wheel but was just too much. this body will handle 600+lpm
 
definately will, as stated i have a mini airstar running on my in100 with the small purple pinwheel. tried the large wheel but was just too much. this body will handle 600+lpm

yup. I'm hoping to sit pretty at 600. it was between that pump and the tunze. I've heard good things about both, but also the occasional LOUD airstar. since tunze advertises silence, consumes nearly half of the energy and is adjustable I'm going that route. that being said, it's $40 more ;)
 
piotros u clean it with anything ? kinda odd for it to craze like that so fast or do you have a fuge light close to it. the pumps aren't dud's, just not strong enough for the skimmer.
even though i switched out pumps on mine this is still hands down the best skimmer i have owned out of 20 as far as efficiancy and amount it is pulling
evmibo did you get the pump yet and get it running ?
 
Hi NyReefNoob i used R/O water and dedicated tooth brush in a 5gal bucket like i always doo, water is at room temperature. My fudge light is over my fudge and is behind a plastic divider blocking light from the rest of the sump. The damage is inside the neck so light has nothing to doo with this. It happened the second time i cleaned the cup, i noticed it after finishing my maintnance routine when i truyed to put it back on the skimmer. This is first time i come across soemthing like this and i had octopuss/coralife skimmers before not to mention other acrilic products like reactors. Those cups are desighned to collect poo and be cleaned in the sink this acrilic is bad or something for this to happen.
 
send email to company or were you ordered it they should hook you up with new cup, they had this problem with first version of this skimmer.

i have 1st generation and and now 3rd generation insump 180 with same pump no issues, kicks butt.
 
send email to company or were you ordered it they should hook you up with new cup, they had this problem with first version of this skimmer.

i have 1st generation and and now 3rd generation insump 180 with same pump no issues, kicks butt.

I am in the process of exchanging e mails with the company i got it from. When i called in to specificly ask if this is revision 3 skimmer i was tould "probably is" on the phone.
 
Hello
I wanted to update on my skimmer problem. Everything is taken care of and i am now waiting for a new cup to come in. Big thanks to Brandon from BulkReefSupply customer care for taking care of it for me :beer:. Now i cant wait to get skimming again. Thank you and good luck
 
yup. I'm hoping to sit pretty at 600. it was between that pump and the tunze. I've heard good things about both, but also the occasional LOUD airstar. since tunze advertises silence, consumes nearly half of the energy and is adjustable I'm going that route. that being said, it's $40 more ;)

Do you have a update on your new pump?
 
How are the Vertex 180's, skimmers any issues? I was looking to put it on a 120 tank plus the sump. mixed reef two medium size fishes and 4 small ones, but I feed a lot. Thanks in advance
 
I personally don't believe that the 180 is enough skimmer to handle a system of that size, especially considering you feed a lot. I would consider a bigger skimmer. I have the IN-250 on my 156g (with appx. 35g's in the sump). It keeps up, but it wouldn't even touch my system with the stock pump. I modded mine for a Laguna/Askoll 1500 w/mesh, and now it's overkill. I, personally, don't believe in over-skimming, though... but that's just me.

The 250 will definitely serve you better, should you go the Vertex route. I'd spend the extra 25-40 bucks if you can. I hear the pumps are better now... no clue if that's true though as I had an older style.
 
Everyone's different, but I put the Bubble Blaster 3000 on my IN-180 and it performs well on my 140 with 60 gallon sump. Mixed reef with two tangs, two clowns, PJ, Lawnmower Blenny and some shrimp and crabs. Keeps it clean enough to keep the SPS happy. I had some issues dialing it in, because the pump is a little overkill for the body, but in the end it all worked out.
 
I run IN-180 second gen. on my SPS 120gal. with 14 fish in it,35 gal.sump,it is more than enough for this system.I got BB 3000 pump to upgrade about 6 mos. ago but this pump is still sitting in the box,because original pump is doing great.I also feed my fish 3 times a day.Here is an example from one day of work:

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Must be a 2nd gen thing. My first gen IN-250's pump really sucked. I use the pinwheel on my Laguna pump from time to time though. Fit right in there. :)
 
Finally got my new pump, a tunze 9410.04 on my in100 gen1 body. Just started breaking in tonight :thumbsup:

All I needed to do was put a generous amount of teflon tape around the pumps exit (which was enough to secure it in place), zip tie the pump in place for security and zip tie the air hose in place (hose doesn't fit in the guide on the body).

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