Who has a SWC 160 Cone or Skimz Kone SK181?

[Myka]

Can anyone explain the large cost difference between these two skimmers that seem to be fairly comparable? Anyone have any comparison reviews? It sounds like the Skimz pump is a better pump, but $225 difference...? Hmmm...

This skimmer would be replacing the EuroReef RS-180 that is currently employed on my ~100 gallon reef. The ER performs well, but is very noisy and likes to overflow.

Skimz Kone SK181
Skimmer pump: 1 Skimz ES2000 needlewheel
Power consumption: 12W
Air intake: 540 l/h
Rated: 50-200 gallons
Price: $500 (I think??)

SWC 160 Cone
Skimmer pump: Atman 2500
Power consumption: 27W
Air intake: 650 l/h
Rated: 100-150 gallons
Price: $275

I would prefer the SWC 180 Cone, but it has a Sicce pump on it which I refuse to buy. Anyone know of a replacement pump for the SWC 180 Cone?

[Skimmerking]

Mindy i will chime in here for a little help.

Cone 160 excellent little skimmer built like a Tank.


The sicci pump 2500 POS pump IME. i have owned 4 of them all POS.

The Skimz skimmer after what i have seen with Doug's Its a POS the 161 not built very good. If you want to know the truth about skimmer's hey ask me i will tell you striaght up.

for you the cone 160 is a good skimmer i heard that jayson is running another pump on the 180 now. I emailed him asking him to throw on the bubble blaster pump to the 180 cone now you have a beast.

[dreef]

SWC 160 Cone for me mindy..doesn't break the bank and i've had mine for almost a year.I'm still amazed on how much crap this little work horse pulls out.And against there suggestion only took it apart twice and cleaned the pump,hasn't skipped a beat

[Myka]

Thanks for the info guys! dreef, what other skimmers are you familiar with?

Originally Posted by asmodeus

i heard that jayson is running another pump on the 180 now. I emailed him asking him to throw on the bubble blaster pump to the 180 cone now you have a beast.

Ya Jayson told me "they" are trying a new pump out, but wouldn't tell me which one. He did say it would be quite awhile before they decide on a new pump. So I don't think I can wait. Maybe I should just go with the SWC then, I'm really happy with the one I already have.

[dreef]

dreef, what other skimmers are you familiar with?

Its shroom Mindy ..you know me I ran a euro 135 RS before,like you said noisy.What my euro use to pull out in a week,i can get with the cone in 3 days.LUV it,and quiet and a joy to tear apart and clean.

[Myka]

Hahaha, oops forgot you're "shroom"! Why you gotta be all confusing like that? Thanks for the info!

[shootingstar]

For what it's worth I was in exactly the same boat as you. Wanted the 180 but bought the 160 just to get the atman pump.

Have owned it for 5 month's, the atman quit for the third time this past weekend and is now in a box on it's way bag to winter-peg.

Not overly impressed with the atman and at this point can't imagine how the sicce could have been worse.