Xmetal's 40B Build

I ordered a Vertex Omega 130 from brs for $199 an it just arrived. The build quality is amazing. I never believedin the whole "see and feel the quality" when it came to skimmers until I opened up the brs package the box itself is heavy duty and will be saved to be used when moving heavy items. I mean this thing is beefy. The entire skimmer is built of thick acrylic and the everything fits together flawlessly. Unfortunately I don't have a sump to run this thing in, but I did test the pump and man is this thing quiet. I don't see myself ever buying a cheap skimmer again because of this purchase. I will post photos sometime today or tomorrow.

 

Big day today with pics to follow this week after I put on my background. I went ahead and drilled my 40b. Two returns and one drain. Oddly enough, after being in the hobby for years and working at a LFS, I never drilled a tank until today. It was definitely nerve racking, but after the first hole it was easy. I also modified my stand so I could get my skimmer in and out easily. Photos should be added this week.

 

you keep teasing about photos looking forward to the images!

 

I agree!!! Stop the teaseee

I was wondering what you were planning for the Overflow? I will be upgrading my 29g Biocube to a 40g breeder next week. I use a custom built overflow you can find on this website thanks to a few guys. I dont know where you can find it for sure but if you browse " 'Biocubes' Hightech Nano" I think he is using the same overflow I am.

I like it, but sometimes the flow slows down forcing me to suck one of the tubes and usually getting a mouthful of detritus filled saltwater(yummy)

I also run skimmerless which I will still be doing on the 40g since I will not be increasing my bioload, just giving the fish and coral more room to thrive and to decrease the intensity of my mp10, because inside a 29g biocube... an mp10 can be a blender.

But yea, I'd like to know your idears for the overflow :

EDIT: The credit for the overflow goes to 3reef user "Mobalized" for his "Mobalizes Custom Overflow Build"

 

Well, I am seriously late in getting these photos up.

 

How do you like the Vertex skimmer now that you've had it running for a little while? My LFS has the 150 in stock and it's build quality is beyond Reef Octo...very nice quality for a skimmer in the lower-tier pricing.

 

looking GGGRRReaattt! (tony the tiger) - I'm getting a little stir crazy in my house with the snow lol

 

The skimmer is extremely quiet and the build quality is amazing. The pump creates a large number of microbubbles as well. However, it is extremely finicky and has a very small collection cup. The cup isn't really a deal breaker because of the drain. The issue is with it being so finicky. There have been a few mornings where i find the skimmer overflowing. I turn the skimmer off then on and it stops overflowing. Idk what the problem is. I'm still hoping to find out what is setting the skimmer off, but at this point I am regretting my purchase a little bit.

 

Sorry to hear about the skimmer... sounds like an issue I had with my WM skimmer... do you have a bleed screw on the silencer? (edit - doesn't look like it in that pic) Mine was gunked with salt creep and starting flooding as yours is doing now.

Great job with the rock scape xmetal.

matt

 

I haven't even looked in to the issue being dirty parts since the skimmer is so new. I'll probablylook in to that today. You control tthe air and water intake with a white part of the venturi that screws in and and out.