Atman vs Sicce psk - which one? skimmer help

Dseg · 06/25/2011, 01:27 PM

I am thinking about getting a
http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=149
or
http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=116
But want to know what the $100 difference is, is it worth it?
(It's the SWC 160 vs 180)
I was also thinking bubble magus but do not know which one to get. Any help is appreciated.

chilwil84 · 06/25/2011, 01:57 PM

what size tank and what are your stocking plans? if coral what kind?

Dseg · 06/25/2011, 02:28 PM

its a 75gallon with a 37 gallon sump. heavy load of fish and sps

chilwil84 · 06/25/2011, 02:51 PM

i would go for the 180 with the sicce with heavy fish and sps a more powerfull skimmer is always better. even if you upgraded to a 125 with the same fish that were okay in your 75 it would still be a good skimmer for the tank.

Dseg · 06/25/2011, 03:40 PM

I heard the sicce pumps have a directional problem or something. Do they still have this problem

chilwil84 · 06/25/2011, 03:48 PM

not real sure the 2 i have never had the problem. many companies make different volute for the pumps so that may help. i dont shut mine down often or have many power outages so having the pump run the impellar backwards on startup hasnt been a problem for me, but doesnt mean others havnt had the problem. i do know you are better off going with a pinwheel style impellar over a meshwheel with the sicce pumps to help with startup issues.

Dseg · 06/25/2011, 03:58 PM

It would just help or eliminate the start up problem? becuase the 180 has a sicce pump and a pinwheel.
http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=149
does that mean the problem is solved with this skimmer?

chilwil84 · 06/25/2011, 07:41 PM

with the pinwheel you should be fine. i had some startup issues with mine after a couple years of use so i got a red demon or red devil impellar and top which proved to be to much for my c&c160 (same as the octo 160). i put my old pinwheel on the new impeller and it has been perfect for the last 18+ months.

sneaton · 06/30/2011, 06:06 PM

the 160 is what you should get....i have a 75g with the 160 and it can handle 125g heavy stocked....you can get a custom mesh sandwich impeller and it will push 900lph (same as the 180)instead of the stock 700lph..not to mention that some swc distributors wont carry the 180 due to issues (returns) with the pump....the 160 with custom impeller is better than the 180 and its 100 bones cheaper...the distributor that i purchased mine from has a heavy stocked 200 gallon system and chooses to run the 160 with custom impeller over any other swc skimmer...he tried the 230 and it didnt pull as much....not to mention if anything goes wrong with the pump its only 50$ to replace

moondoggy4 · 06/30/2011, 08:07 PM

I would not want a Sicce pump under a skimmer PITA when you have restart issues.

06/25/2011, 01:27 PM	#1
Dseg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 354	Atman vs Sicce psk - which one? skimmer help I am thinking about getting a http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=149 or http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=116 But want to know what the $100 difference is, is it worth it? (It's the SWC 160 vs 180) I was also thinking bubble magus but do not know which one to get. Any help is appreciated.

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06/25/2011, 01:57 PM	#2
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	what size tank and what are your stocking plans? if coral what kind?

06/25/2011, 02:28 PM	#3
Dseg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 354	its a 75gallon with a 37 gallon sump. heavy load of fish and sps

06/25/2011, 02:51 PM	#4
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	i would go for the 180 with the sicce with heavy fish and sps a more powerfull skimmer is always better. even if you upgraded to a 125 with the same fish that were okay in your 75 it would still be a good skimmer for the tank.

06/25/2011, 03:40 PM	#5
Dseg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 354	I heard the sicce pumps have a directional problem or something. Do they still have this problem

06/25/2011, 03:48 PM	#6
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	not real sure the 2 i have never had the problem. many companies make different volute for the pumps so that may help. i dont shut mine down often or have many power outages so having the pump run the impellar backwards on startup hasnt been a problem for me, but doesnt mean others havnt had the problem. i do know you are better off going with a pinwheel style impellar over a meshwheel with the sicce pumps to help with startup issues.

06/25/2011, 03:58 PM	#7
Dseg Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 354	It would just help or eliminate the start up problem? becuase the 180 has a sicce pump and a pinwheel. http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/i...roducts_id=149 does that mean the problem is solved with this skimmer?

06/25/2011, 07:41 PM	#8
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	with the pinwheel you should be fine. i had some startup issues with mine after a couple years of use so i got a red demon or red devil impellar and top which proved to be to much for my c&c160 (same as the octo 160). i put my old pinwheel on the new impeller and it has been perfect for the last 18+ months.

06/30/2011, 06:06 PM	#9
sneaton Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: indianapolis Posts: 742	the 160 is what you should get....i have a 75g with the 160 and it can handle 125g heavy stocked....you can get a custom mesh sandwich impeller and it will push 900lph (same as the 180)instead of the stock 700lph..not to mention that some swc distributors wont carry the 180 due to issues (returns) with the pump....the 160 with custom impeller is better than the 180 and its 100 bones cheaper...the distributor that i purchased mine from has a heavy stocked 200 gallon system and chooses to run the 160 with custom impeller over any other swc skimmer...he tried the 230 and it didnt pull as much....not to mention if anything goes wrong with the pump its only 50$ to replace

06/30/2011, 08:07 PM	#10
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I would not want a Sicce pump under a skimmer PITA when you have restart issues.