Vertex Omega 150 bought used from OfferUp, fear I am duped again

[waterhorseoc]

Hello everyone, Its been 7 months now and I have been very frustrated trying to upgrade the AquaDream ten gallon sump and pump included in my 50 gallon set up as they are horrible with something larger and able to fit a protein skimmer for a seahorse tank. Due to the stand being metal with a width of only 13 inches and length of 30 most prefab and even DIY will not fit. My first mistake was to buy a INT150 by R.O. It was ridiculously too large and had to practically give it away. My search continued and ended up buying the only thing that would fit and that's a 20 High. the long was, well, too long.

Two weeks ago I bought a Vertex 150 off OfferUp and have been testing it and I cannot get it to make fine bubbles, they are large, after many hours, I realized that one of the two red poles, the one that does not turn, is completely missing. Its connected house leads to a broken red plastic piece where I can see the indention of the missing piece. Is this now useless? I know they are out of business but just can't believe this.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Nah you are good with the second broken tube, it was for Ozone I believe, are you testing it in salt water?
You have the pump backwards the red tube facing up goes into the skimmer body. Usually there is a silicone coupling if I can remember correctly. Can you show the impeller on the pump?

 

[waterhorseoc]

Nah you are good with the second broken tube, it was for Ozone I believe, are you testing it in salt water?
You have the pump backwards the red tube facing up goes into the skimmer body. Usually there is a silicone coupling if I can remember correctly. Can you show the impeller on the pump?

i actually disconnected it from power source and placed it back in sump i am building. I did not test in salt water and am not quite sure how to disassemble to even get to impeller. I can tell you the pump seems VERY strong and that there is a round piece that attaches to it as well as smaller one and they are both rather insecure yet stay in place. I would be more than happy to send pics, just not sure of what you want to see. also, thank you so much for taking time to answer me, you have no idea how much it is appreciated.

 

[disaster999]

It wont make fine bubbles in freshwater. Add some vinegar to the water and it should create smaller bubbles. It will only create those fine bubbles you see online in saltwater tho.

Post most pictures of your issue, it will greatly help those who are trying to help you

 

[Ironwill723]

Pump is backwards. Red pipe goes in skimmer. You are also missing the air silencer at the end of the silicone hose.

 

[Solo McReefer]

Pump is backwards. Red pipe goes in skimmer. You are also missing the air silencer at the end of the silicone hose.

Hehe

Yup

That's not going to make bubbles in salt or fresh water, I think

The red thing you're missing is the silencer. It's just a piece of black foam inside the red pipe with white top. Air goes through the foam to cut the noise it makes. Will not really affect the bubbles otherwise

And as Ironwill says, the pump is sucking from the protein skimmer that way

 

[Ironwill723]

Should look like this when setup correctly...

Omega 150 Protein Skimmer

*ALL SALES FINAL. NO WARRANTY SUPPORT.* Vertex Omega 150 Protein Skimmer is engineering and style as you would expect from Vertex at an attractive price point. Wine bottle body shape with solid construction,V-150 Skimmer pump, pinwheel impeller, custom volute and pumphead, titanium screws...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

 

[waterhorseoc]

i actually disconnected it from power source and placed it back in sump i am building. I did not test in salt water and am not quite sure how to disassemble to even get to impeller. I can tell you the pump seems VERY strong and that there is a round piece that attaches to it as well as smaller one and they are both rather insecure yet stay in place. I would be more than happy to send pics, just not sure of what you want to see. also, thank you so much for taking time to answer me, you have no idea how much it is appreciated.

It wont make fine bubbles in freshwater. Add some vinegar to the water and it should create smaller bubbles. It will only create those fine bubbles you see online in saltwater tho.

Post most pictures of your issue, it will greatly help those who are trying to help you

Thank you to everyone for your tips. That white round attachment that goes on to pump is very loose, practically falls off. I was hoping to run it in salt water today but am iffy on pump. I saw the impeller, nothing to comment on in fact, much better than I thought.

 

[Solo McReefer]

It only matters for noise

The black rubber feet go down

I wouldn't worry about the red pipe being loose, myself. If it bothers you

Get some silicone tubing that just fits into the hole, then put the red tube into the tube.

That's an older used pump
If you do run vinegar as suggested, make sure you take apart and completely rinse out that pump after

Even if you have a hairline crack in the epoxy on the impeller, it will rust that impeller magnet, destroying the pump

New impeller for that model are like 50 bucks

 

[waterhorseoc]

I don't know how to disassemble the pump should I just skip the vinegar?

 

[Solo McReefer]

See that white donut thing on the front

That twists off, either way. It's not threaded

Then there is a grey flange, that normally comes with that pump. That twists off counter clockwise, like

How did you see the impeller if you haven't disassembled the pump?

 

[waterhorseoc]

See that white donut thing on the front

That twists off, either way. It's not threaded

Then there is a grey flange, that normally comes with that pump. That twists off counter clockwise, like

How did you see the impeller if you haven't disassembled the pump?

I followed directions on how to check impeller. Unscrew then remove from plate and I was able to easily see it by the top becoming loose. Yes, I am very very familiar with the white donut thing, it barely stays attached and the grey falange stays on better but still not attached like i was expecting.
BTW, thank you so much

 

[Solo McReefer]

The grey flange part rotates under those 3 ears

 

[Solo McReefer]

Like I said

Replacement needlewheel impeller is like 50 bucks

Replacement pump with needle wheel impeller is like 120 30 bucks

You can put the bubble wheel impeller in the non PSK Sicces and it will work, if you have the right size pump to impeller

Vertex used both for their skimmer pumps

You don't even have to use a Sicce pump on your 150, because it's outside the skimmer

Good luck

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

There are locking flanges on the pump, the white cover will lock on them if lined up correctly, note which way the flanges slope up or down, Slopes up that is where you tighten it.

 

[FUNGI]

as above or also can use teflon tape to wrap around the pump side.......

just for your future reference:

https://media.cdn.bulkreefsupply.com/media/wysiwyg/PDFs/Omega%20150%20MANUA_ENGLISH_klein.pdf

 

[FUNGI]

I think the pump is a Sicce PSK200? If so....
New impellers are $20.00

Needlewheel Impeller for SE200 / SK200 Skimmer Pump - Sicce

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[Solo McReefer]

I think the pump is a Sicce PSK200? If so....
New impellers are $20.00

Needlewheel Impeller for SE200 / SK200 Skimmer Pump - Sicce

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Check the watts

I doubt it

But
You can mix and match impellers, I've done it. At least one combo sounded like a chainsaw. Some work, some don't

Pretty sure my 150 impeller is in my 180 pump right now. I bought a barely used Vertex 130 on Marketplace, just for the pump and impeller

 

[FUNGI]

Check the watts

I doubt it

But
You can mix and match impellers, I've done it. At least one combo sounded like a chainsaw. Some work, some don't

Pretty sure my 150 impeller is in my 180 pump right now. I bought a barely used Vertex 130 on Marketplace, just for the pump and impeller

whats the label on the pump say?