Selecting your skimmer can be just as difficult figuring out how to set up a protein skimmer up. They come in all shapes and sizes and without seeing it in person it can be really difficult to tell the differences, especially in relation to different price points. The vertex alpha comes in at a higher price point and if it fits inside your tank budget it might very well be one of the best values out there if you are concerned about build quality and features. Setting up a cone skimmer like this is super simple, pretty much plug and play. Disclaimer