Decided on swc 160 or did I? - Page 2

Myka · #11 10-31-2011, 05:20 AM

I have a SWC 120 cone and a SWC 180 cone. The 120 has the Atman pump and the 180 has the Sicce pump. I replaced the Sicce impeller with a Red Devil and don't have any issues with it. I ran the skimmer for 4 months (it's not on a tank right now) and the 180 has been running for a few months). Both are good skimmers, but the pumps aren't known for their quality by any means. The Skimz skimmers would be a step up from the SWC, but using the same design (which I really like). Part of me wishes I would have bought Skimz instead, but I haven't had any issues with my SWC's...

I don't know any dealers in BC, but sending an email to SWC would probably get you a list of suppliers in BC. Ordering direct is always an option too.

philg3 · #12 10-31-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebae again

Check with Oceanic Corals in Aldergrove , B.C.

+1 for oceanic corals

I picked one of these up a month ago no issues bubbling like crazy.

lastlight · #13 10-31-2011, 05:29 PM

I have a reg 160 Xtreme also from Oceanic Corals. The pump has been pretty horrible. Besides the startup issues it also seems to have power modes as in sometimes when I can get it started the water level in the skimmer is correct... other times it's really low like the pump isn't running at full power.

When it's working it works really well.

beginnersluckpg · #14 11-01-2011, 03:41 AM

Thanks for all your response and all the pms as well. I am going to continue to research for a bit so chime in if you wish. At the present moment the vertex looks like it might be the winner, good buddy recommends and well he hasn't steered me wrong and he brought up a great point. The pump being in the skimmer? Not sure if that's a good idea at all the more I think about it

fishytime · #15 11-01-2011, 03:53 AM

These skimmers seem to skim very well but the pumps have always been the shortcoming of them....seems like the best thing to do with these skimmers is buy a replacement pump right off the get go.....the problem Laurie had was, her cone was two or three years old and SWC changed something with the way the pumps mounted to the volute or changed the volute itself.....she had a heck of a time trying to find the right askoll pump to mate up with.....finally ended up lucking out and found a PJs pets that was blowing out some old laguna pond pumps that had the askoll block with the proper mounting configuration...

Myka · #16 11-01-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beginnersluckpg

The pump being in the skimmer? Not sure if that's a good idea at all the more I think about it

That's one of my reasons for buying! I LOVE the pump being inside the skimmer. The inlet to the skimmer is still accessible from the outside of the skimmer, so it's not a big deal. The pump is easy to get out too...the bottom of the skimmer screws off so you clean the skimmer and pump.

The restart issues that Brett (lastlight) is talking about is why I upgraded the impeller on the Sicce. From reviews I read, the Red Devil seems to completely solve the restart issues. I never ran mine without the Red Devil, so I can't compare, but mine doesn't have any restart issues. The power fade is something else entirely though...that doesn't sound good!

The Vertex are good skimmers, I like the cone design better though, and I don't think I will buy another cylinder shaped skimmer again. The cone appears to be more efficient to me.

I ran a EuroReef RS-180 on my tank before I bought the SWC 180 cone. The skimmers are very similar in specs and the SWC skims the pants off the EuroReef. Plus, the SWC is dead silent and the EuroReef is very loud. EuroReef is still quite a respected skimmer, and was industry standard for a long time.