Just Got My SWC 160, Have Questions

JW3571 · 01/28/2011, 09:47 PM

I just got my SWC 160 today. Looking at it I have a few questions. First, it came with some tubing in the collection cup. Is this just in case you wanted to drain the collection cup somewhere else? The tower that houses the water adjustment valve, water outlet, etc is loose and you can move it up and down. Is this normal? Is it just made to sit in the bottom of it or is supposed to screw in? Also, my sump has 10 1/2 inches of water in it which i'm afraid is a little too much. I need to make a stand. Where do i get this eggrate that everyone uses. Home Depot? If so, what section?

Merfin70 · 01/28/2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW3571

I just got my SWC 160 today. Looking at it I have a few questions. First, it came with some tubing in the collection cup. Is this just in case you wanted to drain the collection cup somewhere else? The tower that houses the water adjustment valve, water outlet, etc is loose and you can move it up and down. Is this normal? Is it just made to sit in the bottom of it or is supposed to screw in? Also, my sump has 10 1/2 inches of water in it which i'm afraid is a little too much. I need to make a stand. Where do i get this eggrate that everyone uses. Home Depot? If so, what section?

Yep the extra tubing could be used for draining if you wanted to. The tower can move up and down for cleaning I assume. Mine is pretty snug but I don't thing being loose is an issue. 10 1/2 might be a smidge high. Egg crate can be found in Home Depot in the lighting section with the drop ceiling lighting. Good luck.

smokey30 · 01/28/2011, 11:20 PM

I keep mine around 8ish inches and it does a great job..The "issues" that you found are normal no need to fix anything the extra tube is for the drain hole on the bottom of the collection cup. I think they recommend the water height to be 8-9 inches if I remember correctly. Just curious what pump yours has? I modified mine to take a sicce psk-2500 and am using the red devil needle wheel and it has turned this into a monster skimmer.

joshbd · 03/04/2011, 02:37 PM

The atman 2500 on my SWC 160 refuses to start without assistance anymore, so I've been thinking about upgrading to the Sicce psk-2500 as well. However, was the modification difficult or did the new pump fit right in? Did you need to buy additional pieces, like a new venturi, or did you just need to buy the Sicce pump?

Thanks!

Merfin70 · 03/05/2011, 07:54 AM

Hmmmm I didn't know you could easily swap out pumps on this skimmer. If you find a post or info on the process, I'd be interested to red it.

Midnightsun · 03/05/2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbd

The atman 2500 on my SWC 160 refuses to start without assistance anymore, so I've been thinking about upgrading to the Sicce psk-2500 as well. However, was the modification difficult or did the new pump fit right in? Did you need to buy additional pieces, like a new venturi, or did you just need to buy the Sicce pump?

Thanks!

My LFS uses nothing but SWC skimmers in several tanks. He recommended against them IF they have the sicce pump as they are problematic according to him. They burn out and have reverse rotation start up problems, again according to him. The Atman is supposed to be reliable so I do not see why anyone would want to swap. My 160 has been great and produces very well but then again it has only been in operation for a few months.

Chris27 · 03/05/2011, 08:57 AM

Are you sure that the tubing in the collection cup isn't for the venturi on the pump?

kellerexpress · 03/05/2011, 10:13 PM

I just got my 160 set up a couple days ago, how long do these take to break in before they start producing skim?

bigmatt · 03/06/2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey30

I keep mine around 8ish inches and it does a great job..The "issues" that you found are normal no need to fix anything the extra tube is for the drain hole on the bottom of the collection cup. I think they recommend the water height to be 8-9 inches if I remember correctly. Just curious what pump yours has? I modified mine to take a sicce psk-2500 and am using the red devil needle wheel and it has turned this into a monster skimmer.

How did you modify your skimmer? any pics

Jeff · 03/06/2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellerexpress

I just got my 160 set up a couple days ago, how long do these take to break in before they start producing skim?

Few days.

Dactylopterus · 04/02/2011, 09:58 PM

Can you show us please the sicce mod on your SWC skimmer?

Thanks

01/28/2011, 09:47 PM	#1
JW3571 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 198	Just Got My SWC 160, Have Questions I just got my SWC 160 today. Looking at it I have a few questions. First, it came with some tubing in the collection cup. Is this just in case you wanted to drain the collection cup somewhere else? The tower that houses the water adjustment valve, water outlet, etc is loose and you can move it up and down. Is this normal? Is it just made to sit in the bottom of it or is supposed to screw in? Also, my sump has 10 1/2 inches of water in it which i'm afraid is a little too much. I need to make a stand. Where do i get this eggrate that everyone uses. Home Depot? If so, what section?

03/05/2011, 07:54 AM	#5
Merfin70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 595 Blog Entries: 1	Hmmmm I didn't know you could easily swap out pumps on this skimmer. If you find a post or info on the process, I'd be interested to red it. __________________ George Current Tank: Jan 2010, Custom Cadlights 65g Starfire Shallow Rimless (36"x24"x17") with 24g Sump, ATI Sunpower 6x39w, Aquamaxx ConeS CO 1, Vortech MP40 + MP10, Return Eheim 1260

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01/28/2011, 11:20 PM	#3
smokey30 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 171	I keep mine around 8ish inches and it does a great job..The "issues" that you found are normal no need to fix anything the extra tube is for the drain hole on the bottom of the collection cup. I think they recommend the water height to be 8-9 inches if I remember correctly. Just curious what pump yours has? I modified mine to take a sicce psk-2500 and am using the red devil needle wheel and it has turned this into a monster skimmer.

03/04/2011, 02:37 PM	#4
joshbd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 7	The atman 2500 on my SWC 160 refuses to start without assistance anymore, so I've been thinking about upgrading to the Sicce psk-2500 as well. However, was the modification difficult or did the new pump fit right in? Did you need to buy additional pieces, like a new venturi, or did you just need to buy the Sicce pump? Thanks!

03/05/2011, 08:57 AM	#7
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Are you sure that the tubing in the collection cup isn't for the venturi on the pump?

03/05/2011, 10:13 PM	#8
kellerexpress Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 504	I just got my 160 set up a couple days ago, how long do these take to break in before they start producing skim?

04/02/2011, 09:58 PM	#11
Dactylopterus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 231	Can you show us please the sicce mod on your SWC skimmer? Thanks