Vertex Aquaristik Vertex Omega 180 i User manual

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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Vertex™Omega 180 iProtein Skimmer
Thank you for your purchase of the Vertex™Omega 180 iprotein skimmer. Please be sure to read and follow this
brief guide to ensure proper install and operation of your device.
In the box:
I) Omega 180 i Skimmer assembled with Syncra V-180
1- Body
2- Custom Sicce Syncra V-180
3- Venturi, Intake Nozzle and Pump-Head
4- Silicone Air-line Tubing
5- PE Ozone Tubing
6- Pump to Venturi Coupler
II) 10mm Drain Outlet coupler
III) Sicce™Syncra Owner’s Manual
IV) Omega 180 Owner’s manual
Important Safety Warnings:
This is an electrical device operated in close proximity to water be cautious, follow instructions and use
common sense.
Do not touch the plug or the electrical outlets with wet hands. Always dry your hands first.
Omega 180 i and its Pump are solid heavy objects, impact can cause bodily harm, loss of life and/ or
damage to property.
Do not attempt to Service the unit while in operation or connected to Electricity.
Unless you are qualified; service only by authorized professionals.
Do not attempt to alter the product. Do not attempt to alter the Motor-Block or the Impeller Assembly.
Do not touch the impeller and/ or attempt to turn the Impeller when the unit is connected to power.
Ensure the product is free of defect and properly assembled before connecting to power.
Drip-Loop is required where the power cable is connected to the outlet.
Do not carry, lift or hold the pump or the skimmer by its cable.
Always think safety first! If you are unsure as how to operate this product; consult with a professional
or contact us directly.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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Install and operate:
1- Remove your skimmer and its components from the box and inspect for any possible defects. If there are
any concerns please contact your dealer within 48 hours of receiving your skimmer, refrain from installing
the unit, keep all original packaging as well as proof of purchase.
Any damages to the unit during transport are not covered under warranty and must be claimed with
the forwarder at the time of receiving the product.
2- After proper inspection, clean the unit with a damp cloth using RO water to ensure removal of any oils
and/ or chemicals used during the manufacturing process.
3- Remove the Collection Cup from the skimmer. Do not lose the O-Ring housed in the bayonet.
4- Connect the Clear Silicone Air-Tubing to its dedicated 10mm Air-Intake nipple on the Venturi.
5- Connect the other end of the Clear Silicone Air-Tubing to its dedicated 10mm nipple on the silencer.
6- Connect the red PE Ozone-Tubing to its dedicated Ozone- Intake nipple on the Riser-Tube holder. If no
Ozone is injected; leave the Ozone-port cap on.
7- Connect the other end of the red PE Ozone-Tubing to its dedicated Ozone- Intake nipple on the Venturi.
8- Plan placing your skimmer in the sump. For stable performance; the skimmer must be placed in a sump
compartment that does not fluctuate in water-level. Leave the nozzle fully closed for the break-in period.
Be sure to place your skimmer in a sump compartment that is free of debris, gravel, sand, shells and/or
other small objects. These Objects can possibly enter the pump, clog the needle-wheel and impede
functionality or damage your skimmer pump. Do not place the pump near a calcium or carbonate effluent
discharge. This does include but not limits to any calcium reactor, kalkwasser reactor and/ or dosing
pumps dosing such chemicals.
9- Place both pump intake and Skimmer output at a minimum distance of 6cm / ~2” away from any surfaces
to prevent any disruption in operation.
10-Do not place the skimmer where it will be exposed to a lot of air turbulence such as drain from display
tank. A large influx of air bubbles can cause the pump to cavitate and seize.
11-Place the skimmer in the sump carefully, do not lift the skimmer by the Riser-Tube holder.
12-Ensure there is enough length of wire to have a drip-loop.
13-When electrical devices are operated in close proximity of water, drip-loops become more so important
due to the possibility of splashing, moisture creep…DO NOT IGNORE THIS WARNING! As always your
safety is our number one concern.
14-Turn the unit on and close the riser-pipe. Allow the foam to cascade over the neck into the sump.
15-We recommend a period of 24 hours of running the skimmer in this fashion. This will reduce the overall
break-in period.
16-After 24 hours turn the skimmer off.
17-Open the riser-tube 100% and screw the collection cup back on.
18-Turn the skimmer on. Do not touch electrical outlets with wet hands. Dry your hands completely before
handling electrical cords and/ or devices.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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19-Allow the water to go through the skimmer with riser-tube at 100% open for another hour or possibly
longer.
20-After some time has passed adjust the skimmer using the Riser-tube.
21-A Titanium Screw is threaded into the riser-tube holder connected to the skimmer neck. Using this screw
you can maintain the riser-tube’s setting. Tightening this screw will aid in preventing the possibility of
changing the skimmer’s setting accidently by touching the skimmer and/or the rise-tube.
22-Refrain from constantly changing the skimmer’s setting; allow 30 minutes to an hour before you attempt
to readjust the setting.
Warning: To avoid damage to property, livestock and/ or personal injury please follow all these
instruction and/or consult with a professional. Vertex Aquaristik™ will not be held liable for any damages
the misuse and/ or improper installation of this product may cause.
Important points:
Break-in period can vary dependent of your system’s chemistry, feeding regiment…, in most cases
period of one to 2 weeks is required to have the skimmer fully break in and perform optimally.
Do not open the nozzle for the first 2 weeks or until the skimmer is fully broken in.
Omega 180 i skimmers can operate in water levels from 18 to 24 cm / ~7” to ~9.5” however they are
best suited for sump levels of 19 to 22 cm / ~7.5” to ~8”. Many factors can affect the optimal water
levels such as bio-load…
To adjust the skimmer at the best setting suited for your system; simply turn the riser tube to change
the height of the foam-water mix and foam line in the skimmer body.
If the skimmer is placed in higher water level, the riser-tube can be opened more and vice versa.
The higher the water/foam break-level in the skimmer’s body the more water will be taken out along
with DOC (Dissolved Organic solids). This is referred to as “Wet skimming” and opposite of that as
“Dry Skimming”. To skim more dry simply open the riser-tube more and vice versa.
Adjustable Venturi Nozzle is only used for final fine-tuning of the skimmer for use in different sump
water levels. Simply start opening at a half revolution, observe the water level and Air-draw. Allow
the skimmer to settle for a minimum of 1 hour before attempting to further alter setting.
It is possible to observe fine micro-bubbles exiting the skimmer during the break-in period. This is
normal, do not be concerned. This will subside once the skimmer is fully broken in.
This product has been cleaned after production. However it is still recommend cleaning the skimmer
before putting in operation. Run a small amount of Carbon in your filter to remove any possible oils
used during the manufacturing process.
The onboard skimmer drain-outlet can be utilized to empty the skimmer cup and/ or direct the
skimmate into a waste-collector or drain. Remove the drain cap and use the small 10mm pipe
supplied as a coupler between the drain-outlet tube and the tube carrying the skimmate to your
collection station or drain. Before taking advantage of this feature; ensure the carrier tube utilized
grips around the small coupler and there is no possibility of leakage.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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Vertex™screws are fabricated from high quality grade-2 Titanium. While they possess a very high
corrosion resistance index they can be damaged due to the softness of this alloy. Fasten gently to
avoid damaging the screws and/ or the PVC threading. Damaged threading or screws, if deemed to
be caused by using excessive force, improper alignment and/ or negligence will not be covered under
warranty.
Many parameters can possibly affect skimmer’s performance. These include but not limit to: use of
chemical additives, extremely rich and oily foods, underwater adhesive and/ or epoxies. If this occurs;
run a small amount or carbon in your filter or perform a water change. Some of the possible effects
that can be observed due to the factors noted are:
A) Collapse of foam-head
B) Exit of Micro-bubbles from skimmer
C) Over-flowing
D) Different color skimmate
When handling the pump for service; be cautious to not damage any components such as pump-
head, shaft or bearings. Damages occurred due to negligence will not be covered under warranty.
Maintenance:
Your Omega 180 i skimmer can be fully disassembled for thorough maintenance. A flathead screw driver is
required to perform this task. In order to disassemble your skimmer simply follow these steps:
1- Unplug the skimmer; never touch electrical outlets with wet hand. Do not attempt to service or
disassemble an electrical device when connected to electricity and/ or in operation.
2- Remove the skimmer from sump, drain the collection cup and skimmer body.
3- Remove the collection cup.
4- Unplug the air and ozone lines from the Venturi.
5- Gently twist the Venturi out of the red pipe attaching it to the pump. Do not apply force to the Ozone
and/ or Air Intake nipple as they can break under excessive force.
6- Using a flat head screw driver remove all the screws from the skimmer base.
7- Gently remove the skimmer body from the base.
8- Unscrew the Titanium screw holding the bubble plate down to the base of the chamber.
9- Carefully remove the threaded PVC nut that connects the Bubble chamber to the pump.
10-Be careful not to break the inner rod inside the Bubble-Chamber.
11-Remove the Bubble-Chamber gently.
12-Turn the skimmer base upside down and remove the screws connecting the pump to the base.
13-The square silicone sheet between the Pump and base acts as a dampener, save this piece for reassembly.
14-Silencer can also be disassembled for cleaning. Simply remove the top screw connecting the silencer Lid
to the red pipe. Remove the silencer Cap. Be cautious when attempting to reassemble the silencer as
turning the inner tubes against each other can possibly result in breaking them off base.
Your skimmer is now fully disassembled and can be fully cleaned before putting back in operation.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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**Important points:
Before assembling the skimmer and putting back in operation; it is imperative to follow the steps below:
1- Place the Silicone dampener between the pump and the base. Ensure the holes are properly aligned.
2- Screw the pump in place, do not over-tighten!
3- The pump cable must be placed into its dedicated slot on the base. Attempting to screw the base back
on with the cable out of place can possibly:
A) Damage the skimmer base and/ or Body’s bottom Ring
B) Pierce the cable Jacket which can result in electrical shock, bodily harm or death
Warning: Ensure following the above steps. Take your time and check the assembly to ensure the Cable-
Jacket is not pierced. If you are unsure as to how perform this task please contact a professional or Vertex
Aquaristik™directly. As always your safety is our number one concern. Vertex Aquaristik™ will not be
held liable for any damages the misuse and/ or improper installation of this unit may cause.
4- Place the outer-ring section of the bubble plate that does not house any holes (solid section) directly
above the skimmer output-Tee. This will further reduce the possibility of any bubbles exiting the
skimmer. To accomplish this, align the bubble chamber with the base. Place the body over the pump and
to find the right position for the bubble chamber within the skimmer body.
5- Once the Chamber is in the right position and you are satisfied that the bubble chamber is correctly and
properly installed, screw the PVC Nut onto the pump output! Be careful as this can throw the bubble
chamber out of place.
6- Place the body over the base one more time to assure that the bubble chamber and the pump input are
in the right place for final assembly.
7- Place the body over the base and align the screw holes. Using a flat screw driver, screw the base back on
the body.
Disassembling your pump for decalcification, removing any possible debris from pump-head and/ or any other
service can be achieved following these steps below:
1- Remove the pump from the skimmer following the instructions in this guide.
2- Turn the pump-head gently observing the back of the pump-head. When holder slots from the pump-
block are visible you can then remove the pump-head. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FORCE THE PUMPHEAD OFF
FROM THE MOTORBLOCK! This will damage the pump-head and render it unusable.
3- Gently remove the bearing plate from the motor block.
4- Hold the shaft using a dry cloth and remove it from the motor block.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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Caution: The magnets used in this product are extremely powerful. Ensure that your fingers are not placed
in between the impeller and the pump block. Jumping magnet can pose a pinch hazard. Further to that
allowing the Impeller assembly to jump into the Motor-Block can damage the shaft. Insert the Impeller
into the Motor-Block gently and assure it is in the right position.
The pump is now fully disassembled and can be cleaned using clean water or a VERY mild solution of Acetic Acid
(Household white vinegar). Ultimately for thorough cleaning; the pump could be run in this solution overnight.
Using strong Acidic mediums or household cleaning solutions can possibly damage your pump casing, internal
parts and/ or skimmer. If an acidic solution is used; it is imperative to clean all parts with Luke warm water before
assembling and putting the unit back in operation. For any further maintenance of the Sicce motor block simply
refer to the Sicce™manual supplied.
**Important points:
Before reassembling the pump; ensure the inner motor-block’s bearing inside the pump as well as the bearing
on the bearing-plate are properly seated.
Further to all the instruction above on how to disassemble the skimmer body and pump the following
maintenances are recommended to be performed from time to time:
Apply a small amount of food-grade silicone lubrication to Omega’s Bayonet O-ring
Apply a small amount of food-grade silicone lubrication to the Bayonet’s Screw-side
Clean the Air-line Silicone Tubing
Clean the Venturi Air-line and Ozone-Line nipples
Clean the Silencer foam from salt-creep and ensure inner silencer compartment is dry.

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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Trouble Shooting and Solutions:
Diagnosis
Possible Cause
Solution
Over-flow upon Adjustment
Clogged Impeller
Clean the Needle-Wheel
Clogged Venturi
Clean the Venturi with water
Skimmer Overflows
Use of Epoxy or water conditioners
Run Carbon / Perform a water-change
Clogged Venturi / Silencer
Clean Venturi and/ or Silencer
Blocked Out-put
Remove the impediment
Excessively high water level
Adjust to proper water level
New Skimmer Syndrome
Allow 2 weeks for breaking in
Skimmer Does not collect Skimmate
Oily foods and/ or additives
Allow time for the condition to subside
Broken Impeller Pins
Replace Impeller, correct placing
Over-sized skimmer
Replace with adequate size skimmer
New Tank Syndrome
Lack of enough Bio-load
Shallow water
Refer to skimmer placement / page 2
Higher than Normal noise level
Clogged Silencer or Venturi
Clean the respected part thoroughly
Out-put Clogged
Examine the Out-put
Improperly Seated bearings
Readjust bearings position
Micro-Bubble production
Water level fluctuation
Maintain Constant water level
Use of Epoxy or water conditioners
Run Carbon / Perform a water-change
Clogged Venturi
Examine and clean Venturi
Skimmer body discoloration
Exposure to UV and/ or Ozone
Expected / Nonperformance affecting
Exposure to light
Remove lighting source
Pump not working
Over-Calcified pump
Service the pump
Seized bearings or Motor-Block
Contact your dealer for Service
Warranty, Service and Conditions:
Vertex™Omega Skimmers carry a two-year limited manufacturer warranty. Parts and/ or components damaged
due to misuse, improper installation or normal wear & tear will not be covered under warranty. Vertex
Aquaristik™deserves the right to warranty products based upon inspection. If any damages occurred were
deemed to be caused due to any of the following reasons (but not limited to), they will not be covered under
warranty:
Excessive Calcification
Improper assembly
Custom modifications
Using parts and components other than
supplied by Vertex and/ or utilized in the
original design
Running the pump dry
Improper electrical voltage and/ or
frequency
Cutting the pump cable to use other plug
types
Procedures other than noted in this guide.
Physical damage or what caused by negligence

Vertex™Omega 180 i/ Instruction Manual © Vertex Aquaristik ™GmbH, Deutschland 2014
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All warranty related issues should be handled at the point of purchase location by trained staff. Please contact
your dealer for warranty and/ or any other service/ maintenance the unit might require.
Pay attention to all the warnings and pointers noted in this guide and use common sense. To avoid damage to
property, livestock and/ or personal injury please follow all these instruction and/or consult with a professional.
Vertex Aquaristik™ will not be held liable for any damages the misuse, modifications and/ or improper
installation of this unit may cause.
For additional information regarding this and/ or any other Vertex Aquaristik™products, please either consult
with your dealer or any of the following resources:
Website: www.vertexaquaristik.com
E-mail: [e-mail]
By Phone:
Global: [phone]
Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm UTC
Americas: [phone]
Monday-Friday / 9am to 5pm PST
By Mail:
Vertex Aquaristik GmbH
#19A Max-Planck Street
Cologne, Germany, 50858