Octopus XP 2000 vs. Vertex Alpha 170

Which one would you get and why?

Royal Exclusiv Alpha 170 Cone Protein Skimmer - AquaCave

Super Reef Octopus XP 2000 In-Sump Cone Protein Skimmer by CoralVue* - AquaCave

 

If we are talking about which skimmer and not worried about money, I like the Vertex. However, it is nearly twice the price.

 

Sorry, should have been more clear. Which skimmer would you choose, budget $700 and under.

 

I do like the Vertex then, I have been looking at getting one for my 150

 

Add the I-Tech in the mix too. Either the 100 or 200. After researching more it seems as if the Vertex may be a bit overpriced for what you get, and looking at skimmate pics the I-Tech and XP 2000 both seem to produce more, darker skimmate, more reliably.

 

There is really no way to determine skimmer performance by skimmate. I mean side by side in a very controlled test with exact same conditions maybe (still not very acurate).... but pics of skimmate is about as useful to determining performance as what colors the skimmers come in.

As far as the Vertex....very promising, but less than stellar reviews. Very good materials, but the neck is thought to be too big for that 170. The only way to remedy that is to run the skimmer in deeper water and skim wetter to get the skimmate out of the neck.

The XP-2000 looks to be a very good value with a good pump. The pump was not "detuned" to match the body, seems the directions just tell you to run the skimmer in 6" of water to put more back pressure on the pump and limit output. That will give you a very dry skim.

If the 170 is what you are willing to pay, then you can easily pay the same price and get an ATB 840 v. 1.5. The skimmer that set the bar for cones and balance. The K2 is in the same range and is very well balanced as well.

You have also said you were going to go bigger.... didn't you say a 180??? I would not run a 170 or a 2000 on a 180. You are more in line with a K2, or a ATB 10.5 v. 1.5. Even MSX would be a good one to look at.

If you really wanted me to choose I would go with the 2000 only because I would rather be able to go deeper instead of having no range on the 170 and have to run wet.

 

I suspect it will be some time before I upgrade. I don't want to go big in an apartment, and I'm not buying a house in TN. I'm fine with that, I'll let it grow out with corals and when it's packed I'll have more to transfer later
So I suspect I will be with my 75 for some time and need something appropriately sized. I would rather run wet than dry. I've read many good things about I-Tech's, several locals have them and rave about them. So I think I'm down between an I-Tech and the 2000. Seems like tatted4ever is liking his so now I will wait to hear back from John on the I-Tech, and also look at the ATB you recommended and do some research on it.

I just spent the last week in Vegas really operating with no skimmer. I had the bullet 1 dialed in, it had been skimming well, collection cup had nasty crud in it, as well as waste container (filled full with brown liquid over 2 weeks - I was stoked). I cleaned the skimmer, cup, emptied waste container, etc. It foamed back up nicely. No settings changed, water level identical, air the same, etc. Again - I was stoked. Thought I had the settings nailed down. A week later, I come back, and the waste container was dry, and there was foam touching the lid of the cup, but no skimmate outside the neck and riser - cup was even dry. Fish had been getting fed daily, and I know they didn't stop pooping over a week. I'm done, I'm out, I need a new skimmer. Last straw. This skimmer requires an act of congress to keep it running.

 

Dude... that suck.

Ya cool for the upgrade. Thought it was sooner rather than later, but I would certainly wait for a move if one is in the near future. I want a 150g, but I might move in the next 3-5 years so I can wait a bit at least for this one to fill up. For me I can keep a lot of my stuff.... but if you are not going to, then buy what fits and buy more later.

Regardless of where the I-tech comes from... it does appear to be well balanced. I won't say it's a copy, because there are many changes and evolutions that happen. But it was pretty much a copy of the 840 in the beginning, so it starts from a good foundation. I forget you like them and of the ones you are considering, I would definitely not rule the I-tech out.

I have no doubt Vertex will get their cones dialed in and they are sweet skimmers. I looked at them too. BK cones... are you kidding me! The bad thing is that that price point opens a whole can of worms. Basically everything is within that range. Hell, a BK Mini 160 could be had to close for that (slightly used) and it would be awesome on a 75g.

 

ZachB... it would be ignorant for me to persuade you to choose the XP over any other cone.... Im not a skimmer guru and cant give you hard evidence why the XP is a better skimmer than the others. or vice versa.

I will tell you that I am very pleased for what it has done for me. Prroducing nice dark scummy skimmate for me. At the end of the day thats what counts

 

I'm no Guru... I just play one on the internet.

I just read a lot of reviews. I have not changed my opinion from one thread to another. Still really like the 2000 and think what Octopus is doing will dominate the market very soon. It is much easier to compensate for too big of a pump than it is to compensate for too big of a neck.

And while I think the pump on the 2000 is too big for the body..... the body is still big enough to easily handle a 90g. So it should perform well on a 90-120g. It is just that with an air draw of 50 scfh... that puts it in the same league of much bigger skimmers rated for much bigger tanks. The body on the 2000 is not big enough (IMO) to handle "up to 250g" tanks like Octo claims.