Vertex Skimmer club

[mojo~]

Most skimmer s fall into the 6 to 8 inch range. Just been what I have seen over the years. A few like it shorter and some like the msx say 8 to 10. However If I could redo my baffles I would set them about 7 inches.

[EvMiBo]

I'm siliconing my baffles in today.

Guess I'll just put them at 7" for the sweet spot on the IN100.

[newmoon]

This skimmer is kicking @ss!
VERY stable, very quiet, and is puling out a lot of dirty.
Most impressive, principally if you take into consideration the price.

[lpsluver]

Newmoon...what were you running before and how does this compare? You seem fairly impressed.

[newmoon]

Originally posted by lpsluver
Newmoon...what were you running before and how does this compare? You seem fairly impressed.

Octo Xtreme 200.
I will say this: The IN 180 out of the box kick's my "stock" Octo X 200's @ss. It produces more skimmate and have a much more solid/stable head of foam. It's quiter, too.

Now if you meshmod the X200, then you will have more air(if you do a good mesh), but you will have to deal with the mesh, may have start up problems, noise etc. Some people can deal with this just fine, other don't.

So, if you want a skimmer that's pretty much set and forget and gives a strong performance, I would go with the IN 180.
If you want to play the air/mesh game for the highest air numbers possible and don't mind the pump noise and issues that may happen, then go with the X 200.

Right now, I don't know which I would choose if I wanted to keep just one. I meshmoded my X 200 and it gave me an awesome performance, but I had big problems with it re starting and had excessive noise, too.
I think I will have to keep both and change them once in a while so they don't feel too sad!

I like that the long neck cup of the IN 180 fits in the X 200, same for the tubes and air silencer.
The IN 180 will stay in the tank right now, though. I'm enjoying the silence and the easy to keep. I may put the X 200 again later after I try another mesh mod.

[ecoreefer]

Nice to hear newmoon. Hopefully your review/feedback will help people on the fence decide. So far everything I've seen/heard has been positive.

[tangtang clown]

No noise with my Octo 200.

[newmoon]

Originally posted by ecoreefer
Nice to hear newmoon. Hopefully your review/feedback will help people on the fence decide. So far everything I've seen/heard has been positive.

I'm REALLY enjoying this skimmer, it's producing way more than my unmeshed Octo X200 did, and a much more stable foam of head, too.

The Vertex design makes the bubble transition from the body to neck smoother, so that's why it probably have a more stable/smooth head of foam, I would say. And it definitively pushes more air than the stock Octo 200, too, which helps the foam.

As I said, I don't think anyone will be disapointed with it. Another awesome skimmer to add to the "skimmers that perform like it costs twice it's price" category, if you know what I mean.

[tangtang clown]

How much air moon?

[newmoon]

No idea Tang, but it's skimming a lot. I need to get the meter to be sure.

[mordibv]

Here we go again .
The pump has quit again . I take it apart and it's good to go but I catch hell putting the intake cover back on . The o-ring moves back and forth . Now it running again but with a full body of thin bubbles all over the place . Not in the top portion of the body where they usually are .
I contacted PA again .. so we'll see . I'm glad most people are happy with theirs . I wish I could get it running correctly . I am stressed out enough with the 120 downgrade to 100 acrylic and plumbing . Light swap upgrades . ETC ..
Guess what ? I just went in the kitchen to get rolls out of the oven and it quit again .. OH Well ...

[newmoon]

Less than 2 days of skimming, between stopping the skimmer and puting my hand a lot in the tank. Notice the solid "PVC white" foam column. I never got as close as this head of foam/skimmate with my stock Octo 200.





After it breaks in even more, I will fine tune it for a slightly dryer skimmate. I like to skim wet.

[frenchie]

solid white full of bubble, gotta love it, mine is turning green and purple in sump from coralline algae growing on it. think i'm gonna get rid of macro algae and use live rock in sump only.

[DidYouSayReefer]

I just got a 110 for Christmas. I plan on having moderately to heavily stocked tank with a 55 gal sump. It will based on a lagoon biotype, mostly LPS, maybe an LTA nem. I don't want to "overskim" stripping the water of everything, but I am sure unless I spend a grand, I won't have to worry. For those of you with the In-180 and have had other skimmers, would you say this is the best bang for your buck for <$300? I am not afraid to modify, but I need something consistent so I think I will stay away from the mesh game. What do you guys recommend?

[gorey]

You won't be disapointed in preformance Didyousayreef. For the money the product is outstanding.

[JACOXVIII]

i think the in250 water should be at 8"or 9"
or just up to the bubble plate

but i have only played with it i a tub from a water change and old skim mate

[jpc763]

All,

I just got my In250 today! It is going in a 75g Sump under a 125g tank.

Here a couple of pics of it assembled...





Here is a pic of the pump info...



Here is a picture of it with a 2L bottle of water on it. This thing is HUGE!



I have a couple of questions
1) I notice from other pics that people are not installing the PVC after the Elboe (on the return). Why?
2) I can't see a picture of anyone with the airline attached to the venturi nipple. Why?
3) I pulled the impeller out and rinsed per PA's instructions above. That is one hard thing to pull apart! Am I doing something wrong?

OK I will wait on answers while I fill a tub with water and vinegar!

Of course I still don't have my new tank yet

John

[jpc763]

OK so I have no vinegar so you have more time

You know how bad I want to run out to Walmart right now!!!

J

[jck9]

jpc763-i never ran mine in vinegar. worked out fine for me. i just rinsed real well. we have taken the last section of pvc off of the output to keep it from being submerged. when it is submerged it creates too much backpressure and is hard to adjust the water level. as for the airline connected to the venturi nipple, it has to be connecteed or it wont pull any air.
DidYouSayReefer-you will love the in 180. that is what i have and am very impressed and satisfied wiis skimmer. i have not been satisfied with a skimmer since i got into this "obsession" .lol

[jpc763]

Thanks!

I need the vinegar so I can verify the pump works and such. Also
because I have no tank to hook it to! This skimmer is bigger than my whole sump I have on my 55g!

J

[gorey]

Dude, that 250 is a beast!!! SWEET!!

[jck9]

do a water change real quick and put the old water in a rubbermade tub with the skimmer and dump some skimmate in with it plug it in and watch her go.

[jpc763]

Originally posted by gorey
Dude, that 250 is a beast!!! SWEET!!

Definitely will handle my 125 g and my 75g sump! It is almost as tall as my 8 year old!

[jck9]

what are you guys putting on the o-ring in the neck to make the collection cup come off easier? nine is a pita sometimes to get off.

[frenchie]

mine isn't to bad at all to take off, little snug but not hard.