Vertex Alpha 170 for a 120g SPS dominated mixed party

[jedimaster1138]

When I upgraded from a 50g to a 120g long, I brought over my Reef Octopus NWB110. It's fine for tanks up to around 100, according to the mfr, but more like 75g in reality. So I'm looking to upgrade. Also, I feed pretty heavy and plan on adding more fish...so...there's that. I keep clams as well, currently a small blue squamosa, 5+ inch maxima and plan on adding another along with a growing collection of SPS.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm really looking for first hand opinions about the Vertex Alpha 170. It looks like a beast and the manufacturer rates it up to 200g. That seems like a good amount of over sizing off hand. There's also the new Vertex Omega 150, which seems like a good unit as well, but I'm worried I'm going to be right at the upper end of it's effectiveness.

The other option seems to be the SRO2000, but the Vertex's seem like a step up in quality, and I'm willing to spend a little more for effectiveness and most importantly (to the wife) - quiet-ness. I know the Red Dragon pump in the Alpha is dead silent.

So if anyone with the Alpha can comment on how they like it, how it is to dial in, noise, nastyness of the skimmate, etc

Of course if anyone with a 120g or something similar sized (ps, 40g - ish sump) would like to recomend another beast of a skimmer, I'm listening.

Thanks in advance good MR folk!

:squid:

 

[NYreefNoob]

the 170 is one if not the best skimmer i owned, also look into the atb 840 v2 tough choice between the two skimmers, vertex def more solid built and more tuning to dial in

 

[fishman1069]

I just got the vertex omega 150. I haven't setup myvtank yet but it's built really nice and has a sicce pump. I'm hoping it does a decent job on my 125 w/55 gal sump

 

[jedimaster1138]

I like the idea that the Alpha has multiple dial in methods. That's a plus. And the beast of a pump. I'm very tempted right now. The Omega 150 is really tempting too, but I feel like a year from now I might say "I wish I had more horsepower". I could also wait for the Omega 200, but the 2 negatives with that are, like the 150, it will use the Sicce pump, which while an excellent pump, still isn't a Red Dragon. And it might be another 6 months before it comes out...so...yeah.

 

[Widdy]

Had the AC170 on my 75g and it was a monster of a skimmer. Unfortunately I went with a much smaller sump (post-Sandy rebuild) which the AC170 didn't fit. The Red Dragon pump is fantastic, low power draw and near silent. Maintenance on them is a hassle, but after a few times I've gotten the handle of dis-assembly and re-assembly, even in the dark - ok slightly exaggerated.

I had to contact Proline Aquatics (Canada) for support on the AC170. The RD pump was pulsing intermittently. After several attempts of them helping me over the phone, they had me send the RD1500 pump for them to assess. Turns out it was an error on my part. They sent the pump back to me and a few freebies (Vertex Grounding Probe and a few Zeovit products) to offset the cost of shipping I had to foot to send the pump their way. FYI, they do have a receiving department on the US side in Washington State, so the cost of shipping was very reasonable. Very very good customer service.

 

[Dace]

The vertex is a good skimmer, But the Atb 840 v2 is easier to dial in.