Anyone using the new Needle Wheel skimmers by Vertex & PM?
 

I was wondering if anyone has used either of the new skimmers by Vertex or Precision Marine?

Both Needle Wheel. I know PM is a pretty good company....... never heard of Vertex.

Vertex
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/vt...0+Gallons.html

Precision Marine
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/pm...n+Skimmer.html

Cheers,
Vic

Im setting up a tank right now with a PM RL100, i'll let you know how it works. Its really well built and a good looking peice of equipment as far as i can tell right now.

Of the two lines, the Vertex looks to be the better skimmers with the bubble plates, smoothed out necks and collection cup drains. But the pumps on both probably leave something to be desired. The PM skimmers look like they're using Octo pumps rather than better quality Eheim, Sicce or Askoll pumps. I can't tell what the Vertex ones are using, but I sure hope the specs on the IN-250 are wrong since 145W for a needlewheel pump is extremely inefficient.

It looks as if J&L brought these two lines in to replace the loss of their ER skimmers - the PMs which look to be exact clones of ER's RS line. For their relatively low prices they're probably skim pretty good especially after some mesh modding, but I wish our otherwise wonderful local vendors would bring in a greater variety of modern mid- to higher-range skimmers such as:

http://www.cncmarinesupply.com/catal...693989daba9ce4

or:

http://www.warnermarine.com/Skimmers/

or:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-11/pr/index.php

yah I'd like to see the WM skimmers here...been following a thread or two in the US with one...and it works VERY VERY well!

but interesting to see how these skimmers do.....

Here they mention that the Vertex uses a Resun pump which they thought was a negative.

http://glassbox-design.com/2008/macn...ium-specialty/

Cheers,
Vic

Call me crazy but I've seen speculation that the new Vertex skimmers could actually be re-badged / Chinese made Euro Reef skimmers with some little changes. I think it was Hanmeister on RC who suggested this.

Compare the pictures for yourself:
http://www.euro-reef.com/defaultImag...mer%20View.jpg

http://glassbox-design.com/wp-conten...er-225x300.jpg

Euroreef RC series is manufactured in China...

I have been running a PM RL150 for a month or so now and I love the skim I get off of it. The vertex skimmers look more appealing because of the Bubble plate. The pumps that come with them are crap! I would take a product made in the USA anyday over a MADE IN CHINA product. I have talked to people who have seen both skimmers running. The end relust is if you put the RL pump on the Vertex you would have the best of both worlds. The bottom line when your buying a skimmer is the quality of the pump in my mind. But hey we cant really complain both are very good skimmers for the price.

EVERYONE JUST NEEDS A BUBBLEKING !

145W for that size of skimmer (150-250gal tank)? That is indeed not very good. I can run a sizeable beckett skimmer off a Mak4 and it draws 110W. Needlewheels are supposed to trump becketts in the power usage category if all else (ie., tank volume ratings) is comparable. Not the other way around!! The design of the skimmer itself seems good though.

I'd hate to burst the bubble for PM, but RL skimmers are also made in China. They are running RLP/OTP pumps which are the same as the pumps you'll find on the Octopus skimmers (needlewheel).

Vertex skimmers run Resun pumps. For any of those not aware, these skimmers have been used to great success by many skimmer manufacturers over on this side of the pond (e.g. EuroReef). You probably know them as Gen-X pumps. Additionally, they are running pinwheels, not the archaic needlewheel.

I guess my point boils down to this:

RL 100 $219.00.....Vertex 100 $198.95
RL 150 $289.00
RL 200 $369.00.....Vertex 180 $284.95
..........................Vertex 250 $319.95

Both skimmers have the same neck assembly. The Vertex product sports the following features over the RL:

Cup drain w/ plug
Bubble plate
Zirconium Ceramic shaft and bearings (interesting fact: if you hold one of these impellers in your hand and flick it with your finger, it will spin 30-50% longer than a comparable impeller from another company)