Vertex Skimmers

[Myka]

Originally Posted by str255

I've been breaking in a Vertex 80 for the past week and had also subsequently picked up a used EuroReef RS80.

I'll post an update in a few weeks and let you know which works better in my tank

Awesome! You could just sell me the EuroReef though!

[StirCrazy]

I got my 100 last week, impressed witht he build quality, love the cup mount, why didn't anyone ever thing of this befor.. only need a 1/4" of clearance to remove the cup. has feature of a much higher end pump but a realistic price. I haven't firred it up yet, guess I should do the viniger break in but I am not in a hurry, I have two different skimmers, both home made one beckett and one venturie that I made custom with features to increace contact time, so that is what my assesment of this will be when I decide to get off my but and get my system running.

Steve

[christyf5]

Any updates on the vertexes? or the vertex vs any other skimmer?

[Keri]

So far, so good, but I don't have any livestock in there aside from some LR, yet.

[str255]

here's my 3 weeks experience with the Vertex IN-80 ... your mileage may vary.

setup
- 55g tank + 10g sump, Tunze ATO, skimmer is in 7.5 inches of water
- 50lbs LR, cleanup crew, zoas, xenia, 1-big leather, 1-blenny, 1-chromis
- tank is about 3 years old

pros
- wedge pipe makes water level adjustment easy;
wedge pipe assembly can also be moved/rotated (to a degree) around
the skimmer body for a smaller footprint
- collection cup has a drain

cons
- noisy ... humming seems to resonate in the sump; airline intake is loud too (this is by far the worst factor for me ... I have to crank up the TV!)
- the collection cup has to be "wiggled" off (at least for me) and if the cup is almost full, then it may be easy to spill some skimmate

performance
- given the light bio-load, I think it is pulling out a decent amount of skimmate
- seems to be sensitive to water levels ... on one occasion I shut off my return pump and the sump level rose from 7.5 inches to about 9.5 for a couple of hours (had forgotten to turn the return pump back on) ... got lots of foam that overflowed the collection cup.
- seems sensitive to feeding ... after feeding flakes, the foam head collapses for 1-1.5 hours; after feeding msysis, cyclopeze, it collapses longer
- I'm not sure whether or not the skimmer is broken-in / dialed-in yet ...
- I'm trying to get the bubbles to break just as they enter the bottom of the collection cup, but doing so results in very wet skimming ... so the bubbles are breaking near the top of the skimmer body (and the skimmate production does seem decent)
- I don't think the noise level is going to subside, though

comparison
- I've picked up a used EuroReef RS80 that I'll put in the sump next week and it will offer a good comparison to the IN-80.
- I've used a Deltec MCE600 (both in HOB and in Sump) ... it's skimmate was
much nastier ... but it also had issues:
-- collection cup walls built up a lot of crud and had to be cleaned every couple of days (otherwise skimming efficiency would drop)
-- there was some humming noise (not as loud as the IN-80).
- I've used a Remora Pro in HOB ... not very effective.
- I do have a EuroReef RS135 on a 95g ... I like it very much.

I hope the information has been helpful.

[christyf5]

Thanks! Thats great info. I'm waffling between the ER RS250 and the Vertex IN-250. The price of the vertex is awesome but I already have an ER CS6-2 and the security of knowing I'm happy with ER is working more in its favor right now.

[albert_dao]

Originally Posted by christyf5

Thanks! Thats great info. I'm waffling between the ER RS250 and the Vertex IN-250. The price of the vertex is awesome but I already have an ER CS6-2 and the security of knowing I'm happy with ER is working more in its favor right now.

The Vertex has the EXACT same body as the ER but with better features.

Here`s a larger sampling of product review:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1