I have hands on with both..... vertex seems to be built a little beefier but is noisy and large..... BM seems a little plasticy, but is quiet and has a nice small footprint..... the pumps on both have had issues......but one cant expect too much from a cheap skimmer
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260g mixed reef, 105g sump, water blaster 7000 return, Bubble King SM 300 skimmer, Aqua Controller Jr, 4 radions, 3 Tunze 6055s,1 tunze 6065, 2 Vortech MP40s, Vortech MP20, Tunze ATO, GHL SA2 doser, 2 TLF reactors (1 carbon, 1 rowa).
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=50034 . Tank Video here
http://www.vimeo.com/2304609 and here
http://www.vimeo.com/16591694