Vertex RX-U failure

reeferfulton · 04/14/2013, 09:35 PM

Well , this was my second big purchase of a vertex product.

I purchased An RX-U with the intention of running biopellets. Along with that i picked up and Ehiem compact 3000 to run them.

First off . Again beautiful packaging and box . Vertex has definitely nailed this down pat.
Initial impressions are great . the unit feels solid . looks well engineered. It sits the perfect height outside my sump for the lines to make into my sump. Awesome

Now I was told that I needed to add NPX plastic mesh to the top and bottom of the unit to prevent the biopellets from escaping . This was fairly easy for the bottom. But the top is harder to to since the area that the pellets sit is wider then the opening at the top of the tube. So when you go to remove the media the NPX plastic hits the top portion and jams up. This could have been for seen . How did Vertex intend people to run there very own biopellets ? the media falls through bottom plate . In fact the bottom plate does not even touch the outside tube . so the pellets can fall all the way around the plate . Am I missing something ? why would they have designed it this way ?

Now to the issue.
IT LEAKS!
Where the clear tube meets the white plastic base . My unit slowly leaks water out of that joint/seem. My local Fish store will be helping me out getting this resolved. But Come on Vertex.
This is the most expensive universal media reactor on the market . and it leaks ? I am beginning to think Vertex puts more time into the fancy boxes then the product itself.

Review over . now onto my upset rant.

This is the second big ticket item from Vertex that i have had issues with .

Now dont get me wrong . my distributor and LFS have done there best to try and resolve these issues. So that is a gold star for them . But Why do i feel like I am the test subject for there hardware lol .

With the Higher price tags and now consecutive issues with my Vertex products I think I may be looking elsewhere for my skimmer upgrade.
I am now 3 for 4 when it comes to failed vertex products out of the box . .

QtY Failed
2 vertex Libra DC models. -----(first one had a bad motor, Second pumps run in reverse occasionaly when doseing )
1 Vertex RX-U1.5.

Qty PASS
1 Vertex Sensor mag-Product is awesome . really is

karsseboom · 04/14/2013, 11:34 PM

Wow you have had some bad luck with vertex. How's the stepper model you ordered? I have been loving there products lately. I just bought the new zeovit reactor and also own the libra and so far it's working as it should. I'm really happy with the reactor, it's a lot nicer then the older models. I can totally understand how irritating this must be. They should replace the reactor.

toofrigginswt · 04/15/2013, 12:13 AM

uh oh... i just ordered one of these to run bio-pellets as well. Did the pellets often fall to the bottom underneath the white plate?

scuzy · 04/15/2013, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toofrigginswt

uh oh... i just ordered one of these to run bio-pellets as well. Did the pellets often fall to the bottom underneath the white plate?

I use this reactor for gfo and its an awesome reactor for gfo. Have not tried i for biopellets but i recently gotten hydra aquatics for biopellets and i really love the tumbles since i piped it with my new diablo dc10500 return pump

toofrigginswt · 04/15/2013, 12:33 AM

How are you guys cleaning this reactor? I have one that I was planning on using for bio-pellets but haven't set it up yet. I actually bought two more for GFO and Carbon, which is in the mail. I currently have the BRS reactors and cleaning it is fairly easy because you unscrew the bottom and the whole thing comes off with all the water and the gfo/carbon inside the bottom container. With this reactor, I just realized that I'd have to unscrew the top and pull the top up as the GFO and Carbon is tumbling out, potentially creating a mess. Is this the only way to clean or replace the media?

scuzy · 04/15/2013, 08:04 AM

Cleaning is pretty east for me, just disconnect from plumbing take it outside dump the water as much as you can. Pour into a bag rinse and replace media.

Reel North · 02/10/2014, 07:08 PM

do you guys use a media bag for carbon or just free tumble it?

scuzy · 02/10/2014, 07:16 PM

I run mine with gfo never tried carbon.

davesolo29 · 02/10/2014, 07:41 PM

I use mine for bio pellets. Same issue. I use brs pellets and they go thru the plate. Tried mesh but it restricts the flow too much. Using the sponges that came with it and works beautifully.

JoelA7 · 02/11/2014, 10:59 PM

Tumble gfo. Pack carbon.

enthejungle · 05/07/2016, 01:10 PM

If I wanted to run a pump vs inline would the cobalt 1200 suffice?

04/14/2013, 09:35 PM	#1
reeferfulton Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 21	Vertex RX-U failure Well , this was my second big purchase of a vertex product. I purchased An RX-U with the intention of running biopellets. Along with that i picked up and Ehiem compact 3000 to run them. First off . Again beautiful packaging and box . Vertex has definitely nailed this down pat. Initial impressions are great . the unit feels solid . looks well engineered. It sits the perfect height outside my sump for the lines to make into my sump. Awesome Now I was told that I needed to add NPX plastic mesh to the top and bottom of the unit to prevent the biopellets from escaping . This was fairly easy for the bottom. But the top is harder to to since the area that the pellets sit is wider then the opening at the top of the tube. So when you go to remove the media the NPX plastic hits the top portion and jams up. This could have been for seen . How did Vertex intend people to run there very own biopellets ? the media falls through bottom plate . In fact the bottom plate does not even touch the outside tube . so the pellets can fall all the way around the plate . Am I missing something ? why would they have designed it this way ? Now to the issue. IT LEAKS! Where the clear tube meets the white plastic base . My unit slowly leaks water out of that joint/seem. My local Fish store will be helping me out getting this resolved. But Come on Vertex. This is the most expensive universal media reactor on the market . and it leaks ? I am beginning to think Vertex puts more time into the fancy boxes then the product itself. Review over . now onto my upset rant. This is the second big ticket item from Vertex that i have had issues with . Now dont get me wrong . my distributor and LFS have done there best to try and resolve these issues. So that is a gold star for them . But Why do i feel like I am the test subject for there hardware lol . With the Higher price tags and now consecutive issues with my Vertex products I think I may be looking elsewhere for my skimmer upgrade. I am now 3 for 4 when it comes to failed vertex products out of the box . . QtY Failed 2 vertex Libra DC models. -----(first one had a bad motor, Second pumps run in reverse occasionaly when doseing ) 1 Vertex RX-U1.5. Qty PASS 1 Vertex Sensor mag-Product is awesome . really is

04/15/2013, 12:13 AM	#3
toofrigginswt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 743	uh oh... i just ordered one of these to run bio-pellets as well. Did the pellets often fall to the bottom underneath the white plate? __________________ Jonathan

04/15/2013, 12:33 AM	#5
toofrigginswt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Elk Grove, CA Posts: 743	How are you guys cleaning this reactor? I have one that I was planning on using for bio-pellets but haven't set it up yet. I actually bought two more for GFO and Carbon, which is in the mail. I currently have the BRS reactors and cleaning it is fairly easy because you unscrew the bottom and the whole thing comes off with all the water and the gfo/carbon inside the bottom container. With this reactor, I just realized that I'd have to unscrew the top and pull the top up as the GFO and Carbon is tumbling out, potentially creating a mess. Is this the only way to clean or replace the media? __________________ Jonathan

04/14/2013, 11:34 PM	#2
karsseboom Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,183	Wow you have had some bad luck with vertex. How's the stepper model you ordered? I have been loving there products lately. I just bought the new zeovit reactor and also own the libra and so far it's working as it should. I'm really happy with the reactor, it's a lot nicer then the older models. I can totally understand how irritating this must be. They should replace the reactor.

04/15/2013, 08:04 AM	#6
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	Cleaning is pretty east for me, just disconnect from plumbing take it outside dump the water as much as you can. Pour into a bag rinse and replace media.

02/10/2014, 07:08 PM	#7
Reel North New King of Quarantine Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hammertown, Canada eh Posts: 1,175	do you guys use a media bag for carbon or just free tumble it?

02/10/2014, 07:16 PM	#8
scuzy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 6,499	I run mine with gfo never tried carbon.

02/10/2014, 07:41 PM	#9
davesolo29 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 107	I use mine for bio pellets. Same issue. I use brs pellets and they go thru the plate. Tried mesh but it restricts the flow too much. Using the sponges that came with it and works beautifully.

02/11/2014, 10:59 PM	#10
JoelA7 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,056	Tumble gfo. Pack carbon.

05/07/2016, 01:10 PM	#11
enthejungle Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 95	If I wanted to run a pump vs inline would the cobalt 1200 suffice?