Vertex Skimmer club

[BlueStag]

Loving my In-250. This thing skims amazing.

[Lightsluvr]

Does Vertex make an external recirculating skimmer?

LL

[ecoreefer]

Originally posted by Lightsluvr
Does Vertex make an external recirculating skimmer?

LL

Not to my knowledge; in sump only for now. Although I wouldn't be surprised if one is coming down the pike shortly.

[frenchie]

evan

it will pick up once you start adding coral and cleanup crew, but you need to buy some cured live rock to add on top of that dry rock cause you need the bacteria from live rock to seed the dry rock. If not it will take longer to build up a good biological filter. Find a couple of local reefers in your area and get a small cup of sand from a couple of them so you can add some live sand that already has bacteria and critters and buy atleast a few pieces of live rock from lfs. This will help cycle and get the good bacteria growing quickly and remember don't add fish to quick i would add one fish every 6 to 8 weeks, or somewhere in that time period after testing water parameters cause this is were most new reefers mess up they think like freshwater and add fish quick than you will be in worst algae outbreak you ever seen and in first year you will be ready to quit.

Once you get some live rock and snails and crabs, and eventually fish your skimmer will come alive again it just don't have anything to skim out right now.

[frenchie]

oh yeah nice lookin tank evan, like the rock work.

[frenchie]

I'm curious where everyone elses wedgepipe is compared to mine?

my wedge pipe is almost closed also

[spoofer]

I can't upload pictures for some reason, but mine is closer to the closed position as well.

[mojo~]

how open or closed depends on the water depth the skimmer is being run at. But at 7 inches where mine ran best is was closer to the close position.

[EvMiBo]

Originally posted by mojo~
how open or closed depends on the water depth the skimmer is being run at. But at 7 inches where mine ran best is was closer to the close position.

Cool, same setup as mine (7 inch baffles) and closer to closed .

Originally posted by d.french
evan

it will pick up once you start adding coral and cleanup crew, but you need to buy some cured live rock to add on top of that dry rock cause you need the bacteria from live rock to seed the dry rock. If not it will take longer to build up a good biological filter. Find a couple of local reefers in your area and get a small cup of sand from a couple of them so you can add some live sand that already has bacteria and critters and buy atleast a few pieces of live rock from lfs. This will help cycle and get the good bacteria growing quickly and remember don't add fish to quick i would add one fish every 6 to 8 weeks, or somewhere in that time period after testing water parameters cause this is were most new reefers mess up they think like freshwater and add fish quick than you will be in worst algae outbreak you ever seen and in first year you will be ready to quit.

Once you get some live rock and snails and crabs, and eventually fish your skimmer will come alive again it just don't have anything to skim out right now.

Thanks for the response d.french. I took out the little shrimpy the other day (got some ammonia readings). So I'm going to try and get 10-15 lbs of cured LR locally (fist size pieces so I can put a few in the fuge) soon along with the sand idea. I imagine I'll wait a few weeks or so after that for the CUC, and then test accordingly for future livestock.

[jck9]

what does everyone think of the new "2nd gen" vertex skimmers with the lower bubble plate? think it is going to make a difference? havent seen a pic yet but am wondering what gains it would have. i guess the pump will be mounted sideways for a straight shot into the skimmer.
john

[ernordstrom]

Originally posted by jck9
what does everyone think of the new "2nd gen" vertex skimmers with the lower bubble plate? think it is going to make a difference? havent seen a pic yet but am wondering what gains it would have. i guess the pump will be mounted sideways for a straight shot into the skimmer.
john

Haven't seen what yet or even heard about them but dangit I hate it when I go out and buy soemthing new and then after I get it they make improvements and have a new model for sale...

[jck9]

thats my issue as well. they wont even do any exchanges either. it only the body that is different.

[ecoreefer]

I dont think its that big of an issue. Any gains will be very negligible IMO.

[jck9]

i dont think it will be that big of a gain either but then why did they change it?

[ecoreefer]

Not sure exactly when; but thats probably the reason for the sale not too long ago.

[ernordstrom]

I thought this skimmer had only been on the market for a short period of time...less than SIX MONTHS or so.

Anyways, I am very pleased with my upgrade to the IN100 and at $160.00 shipped I think it was the best upgrade for my tank ever. I have been using the Prodibio products too on my tank and the skimmate is super dark and nasty. You know what is funny, the skimmate after 2 days filled 3/4 of the collection cup up, I didn't empty just cleaned the inside of the column every day and just watched the stuff accumulate. I smelled it today BEFORE I dumped it in the toliet and almost puked...it smelled like my Newborn babies poopy diapers. I won't me sniff checking my skimmate anymore but I am glad that my tank inhabitants now have nice clean non poopy water to live in.

[oldreefer76]

Originally posted by ernordstrom
I thought this skimmer had only been on the market for a short period of time...less than SIX MONTHS or so.

Anyways, I am very pleased with my upgrade to the IN100 and at $160.00 shipped I think it was the best upgrade for my tank ever. I have been using the Prodibio products too on my tank and the skimmate is super dark and nasty. You know what is funny, the skimmate after 2 days filled 3/4 of the collection cup up, I didn't empty just cleaned the inside of the column every day and just watched the stuff accumulate. I smelled it today BEFORE I dumped it in the toliet and almost puked...it smelled like my Newborn babies poopy diapers. I won't me sniff checking my skimmate anymore but I am glad that my tank inhabitants now have nice clean non poopy water to live in.

I have had many skimmers over the years including a high end PM1- Bullet and have never gotten a gag reflex until I emptied my IN-100 cup and my god gag gag and gag and the tank has like no bio load is just cycling and it needs emptied in the AM, can't wait to see what it pulls with a bio load and how bad I gag then

[ecoreefer]

Sounds like you guys are enjoying this skimmer!

[frenchie]

octopus skimmers change there design probally twice a year if not more, i'm happy with mine.

[just dave]

Originally posted by ecoreefer
Sounds like you guys are enjoying this skimmer!

I put a IN-180 in service shortly after they first came out and I'm amazed at would it pulls out. It is even more impressive considering it's cost.

[jck9]

i am happy as can be with mine as well but i guess i have a problem with leaving well enough alone. lol. with that being said i have an idea i wanted to throw out there. i have an in 180and i want some input from you guys about turning this thing into a recirc skimmer. i am thinkig about using a whole saw slightly bigger than the bubble plate and cutting a whole in the bottom and taking the bubble plate out. making a new bubbleplate and attaching it to a new bottom and then attaching that to the bottom of the skimer body. have the recirc pump outlet enter the bottom (like a msx 160) and the recirc pump intake come out of the original input on the skimmer body. and to feed the skimmer i would "t" off of the recirc pump intake and attach a small feed pump (like the new hurricone and orca external skimers). hope this makes sense. it sounds good in my head but wanted some others input. not sure i want to do his or not cause it is skimming the crap out of my tank. litterally. lol. thanks
john

[williec]

I did what you plan on doing except I used a 5in. hole saw dead center of bottem plate And made it cut a hole perfectly around the bubble tube and pulled it right out.Then took a 8 in.round 1/8in plex and placed a bead of silicone on plex and glued it on tight .But you will be able to remove if you need to.When I get parts in I will turn it into a recir.skimmer which is very easy to do.Without the bubble plate the reaction tube fills up much more with form and is much more stable.Willie

[jck9]

i am going to make a new bubbleplate to put back in. a little shorter. was the output tube glued to the bubble plate chamber? post some pics of it. thanks williec
john

[williec]

No, pipe is not glued,If you match up the right pump you will not need a bubble plate.That's why Delte , H&S and Euro Reef decided not to use them on recir. skimmer's.But if you decide to use it just cut down the one you take out and remount it on the round plate it was on,and glue on to center of new 8in.bottem plate and slide it right in. I can't take pic's because it's back in sump and working much better.Willie

[jck9]

i wouldnt be able to use the original bubble plate because it has a whole in the side of it. i want to have the recirc pump enter the bottom of the bubble plate.