SWC 160 cone club.. - Page 10

cet98 · 02/26/2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herozero

i am really impressed with how quiet this skimmer is (160c). maybe i'm a super sensitive nancy, but it is way quieter than a sicce IMO.

very true...

now let's hope these pumps last a long time and continue to be quiet

Quote:

Originally Posted by lechee12

do you guys run your skimmer with the air valve wide open or slightly closed? the instructions say to adjust it till you get the smallest bubbles possible , but they are so darn hard to judge

fully open

MrSandman · 02/26/2010, 05:51 PM

Ok, i can officially say that i'm now part of the club. Cruised by my LFS this afternoon and the owner made me an offer i couldn't refuse so i got it.

It's now up and running in about 10" of water in my sump

This thing is definitely smaller than my Reef Octopus which it replaced but i'm just hoping its a better performer. For one thing it's definitely quieter and easier to service since the entire thing can be disassembled.

If all goes well, i'll be putting up my Reef Octopus for sale in the very near future.

EliteReef · 02/26/2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLLwiLL

Got a little package of joy this afternoon (its the 120), cant wait to fire it up!!

~Will.

Nice to see you got it iLLwiLL!

Hope you like it!

C.J.

impur · 02/26/2010, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herozero

i am really impressed with how quiet this skimmer is (160c). maybe i'm a super sensitive nancy, but it is way quieter than a sicce IMO.

Same here, that was my first impression. Well besides the build quality. I always had a slight hum from my octopus but this thing is silent.

herozero · 02/26/2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impur

Same here, that was my first impression. Well besides the build quality. I always had a slight hum from my octopus but this thing is silent.

I think part of the good sound performance is the build quality. I can easily see how some sloppy manufacturing would cause a lot of unwanted vibration. The rubber feet and base construction are really spot on. Obviously time will tell about the pump noise but I'm very pleased so far.

bayarea49 · 02/26/2010, 08:20 PM

Finally got this bad boy in today! And this Mofo is silent! Well maybe since I
use to hearing my sicce pump(hella loud) everyday. It's breaking in and is in 10" of water. Did anyone get an extra impellar?

vbsaltydog · 02/26/2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herozero

i am really impressed with how quiet this skimmer is (160c). maybe i'm a super sensitive nancy, but it is way quieter than a sicce IMO.

Mine is quieter than the sicce 2500 but not by too much. They are both pretty quiet but the SWC 160 cone is almost silent.

westmoorenerd · 02/26/2010, 08:28 PM

Just got my 160 in the mail today...some of the fastest shipping I've seen from the mainland to Guam. The thing is built solid!

MrSandman · 02/26/2010, 08:44 PM

FWIW, i hooked mine up to the Kill-A-Watt and played around with the air intake. At all the way - (less air) it read 40W and all the way + (more air) it read 30W.

BlueStag · 02/26/2010, 10:50 PM

MrSandman where did you get your skimmer?

MrSandman · 02/26/2010, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueStag

MrSandman where did you get your skimmer?

Jim's Exotic Fish in El Segundo. He only has the 120. I bought his only 160.

DevilBoy · 02/26/2010, 11:48 PM

hmm im wondering if i should place mine in closer to 10" of water alot of people are using it in 10" mine is about 7.5"

vbsaltydog · 02/27/2010, 12:03 AM

Perhaps I am missing something but it why does the external water depth matter?

I understand that there is more pressure pushing water into the skimmer inlet and against the water outlet as the skimmer is placed deeper in the sump due to the water pressure being more at 10" than it is at 2" and if atmospheric pressure was the only force at play then adjusting the skimmer placement would be the way to tune the internal water height but since the pump regulates the input to the body and there is a stand pipe/gate valve to regulate the outlet flow, does this not replace the need to use the placement of the skimmer at specific depths for tuning the skimmer?

vbsaltydog · 02/27/2010, 12:08 AM

Perhaps it is the external water line IN RELATION to the internal water line that needs to be tweaked in order to find the "sweet spot". Since the only way for there to be normal atmospheric pressure in the body is if the water line is the same both externally and internally, by there being a specific ratio of internal to external pressures, say 12psi external and 10psi internal for example, this magic ratio is what forms the best bubble size/density/ascension rate vs. just the external water depth?

If this is the case, the skimmer depth might be ideal at 10" at sea level but 8" if you are in the mountains? Might it be better to get a barometer and find the perfect measurements in and out of the skimmer body and then use that to calibrate vs. guessing or saying anywhere from 6" to 10" ?

Come to think of it, since specific gravity is the weight of the water, it would also have an effect of the fluid pressure so even though the difference between SG 1.024 and SG 1.028 seems minor, it could mean a considerable difference when looking for the skimmer's "sweet spot".

The amount of air you are pulling is also a factor since the more air you pull, the less water that is in the skimmer internal water column and that means less pressure on the outlet and more rise toward the neck.

So many factors.

bayarea49 · 02/27/2010, 03:59 PM

Skimmer has already broken in =) 9 hours total. Does anyone kno if you can post pictures thru ur iPhone?

Rotknee · 02/27/2010, 05:03 PM

I'm surprised there is no talk of the SWC 180? Reef Filtration only had a few and based upon all of the positive things I heard about the 160 I am looking forward to playing with the 180...when it gets here and I get my tank set up.

herozero · 02/27/2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotknee

I'm surprised there is no talk of the SWC 180?

Sicce based. Also the price point pits it against a miniS or new sro cone. The 120 and 160 sit next to a lot of other skimmers in that price range and competes (so far) very well for the money.

badazztealcobra · 02/27/2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rotknee

I'm surprised there is no talk of the SWC 180? Reef Filtration only had a few and based upon all of the positive things I heard about the 160 I am looking forward to playing with the 180...when it gets here and I get my tank set up.

Because the thread is the SWC160 cone club and there weren't nearly as many 180's sold... Its a sicce based skimmer and based on all the dimensions should be a great performer.

herefishy2 · 02/28/2010, 01:12 PM

I just finished reading through this thread with interest...as I have been doing a lot of reading and skimmer comparisons over the last month. Since the lousy skimmer I had been running under my 45g frag tank started giving me nothing but trouble I knew I was in the market for a new one. As money does not grow on any trees in my yard it was a consideration in my decision. I have just ordered the SWC 120. I know it is not a 160, but it is its little brother! And it is in the family...And your right, Luke is quite a stand up guy. Very helpful.

vbsaltydog · 02/28/2010, 01:24 PM

If the 160 is any indicator of how the 120 performs then you are going to be very happy with your purchase. I have owned several high quality skimmers over the years and the 160 smokes them all in regard to build quality and performance.

kryptic4l · 02/28/2010, 02:02 PM

bought mine right from the source, should be here tommorow. Only complaint so far was they shipped it via ups over my original canada post.

I hate ups a) with post it would of been here by now. ups held it for 2 days for "ontime delivery"

b) ups drop ships at my front door. post holds it at there office when im not home, so its safe.

bayarea49 · 02/28/2010, 04:42 PM

Within the 9 hours. beast skimmer.

Merfin70 · 02/28/2010, 05:33 PM

No issue running in 9" of water? From what I've read seems OK but I wanted to do a check before I purchase.

vbsaltydog · 02/28/2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bayarea49

Within the 9 hours. beast skimmer.

You are skimming very wet. You may want to dial it back a bit so that the nog doesn't get over into the collection cup so quickly. My skimate is MUCH darker.

DevilBoy · 02/28/2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merfin70

No issue running in 9" of water? From what I've read seems OK but I wanted to do a check before I purchase.

i dont see an issue with 9" of water. i have mine in 7.5", but most people in this thread are running in 10" of water.

02/26/2010, 05:51 PM	#227
MrSandman Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: South Bay, So. Cal. Posts: 5,408 Blog Entries: 6	Ok, i can officially say that i'm now part of the club. Cruised by my LFS this afternoon and the owner made me an offer i couldn't refuse so i got it. It's now up and running in about 10" of water in my sump This thing is definitely smaller than my Reef Octopus which it replaced but i'm just hoping its a better performer. For one thing it's definitely quieter and easier to service since the entire thing can be disassembled. If all goes well, i'll be putting up my Reef Octopus for sale in the very near future. __________________ June 2001 Tank of the Month. Yes, i said 2001. Current Tank Info: 112G 36"x36"x20" Lee-mar rimless. Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2293182.

02/26/2010, 08:28 PM	#233
westmoorenerd USN Avionics Technician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FPO/AP Posts: 334	Just got my 160 in the mail today...some of the fastest shipping I've seen from the mainland to Guam. The thing is built solid! __________________ 540g 8'x3'x3', SRO-5000EXT, Neptune APEX, Koralia Magnums, Korallin C-1502 Calcium Reactor...Soon to be LED powered!

02/26/2010, 08:44 PM	#234
MrSandman Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: South Bay, So. Cal. Posts: 5,408 Blog Entries: 6	FWIW, i hooked mine up to the Kill-A-Watt and played around with the air intake. At all the way - (less air) it read 40W and all the way + (more air) it read 30W. __________________ June 2001 Tank of the Month. Yes, i said 2001. Current Tank Info: 112G 36"x36"x20" Lee-mar rimless. Build Thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2293182.

02/26/2010, 10:50 PM	#235
BlueStag Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 1,054	MrSandman where did you get your skimmer? __________________ Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts Current Tank Info: 180 Starphire, SWC 250A Cone skimmer, 14k 250MH, Tunze wavebox

02/26/2010, 11:48 PM	#237
DevilBoy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wooster, Ohio Posts: 1,724	hmm im wondering if i should place mine in closer to 10" of water alot of people are using it in 10" mine is about 7.5" __________________ Bare Bottom 90g AGA RR. 2 AI Sol Blue LED Fixtures, SWC 160 cone skimmer. 2 MP40W ES Vortech pumps, 1 MP10W ES Votech pump, Digital Aquatics Reefkeeper Elite, Tunze 1073 internal return pump. 30g custom acrylic sump with refugium. Current Tank Info: 90g AGA RR, custom 30g sump

02/26/2010, 08:20 PM	#231
bayarea49 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fairfield Ca Posts: 722	Finally got this bad boy in today! And this Mofo is silent! Well maybe since I use to hearing my sicce pump(hella loud) everyday. It's breaking in and is in 10" of water. Did anyone get an extra impellar?

02/27/2010, 12:03 AM	#238
vbsaltydog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Beach, FL. Posts: 603	Perhaps I am missing something but it why does the external water depth matter? I understand that there is more pressure pushing water into the skimmer inlet and against the water outlet as the skimmer is placed deeper in the sump due to the water pressure being more at 10" than it is at 2" and if atmospheric pressure was the only force at play then adjusting the skimmer placement would be the way to tune the internal water height but since the pump regulates the input to the body and there is a stand pipe/gate valve to regulate the outlet flow, does this not replace the need to use the placement of the skimmer at specific depths for tuning the skimmer?

02/27/2010, 12:08 AM	#239
vbsaltydog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Beach, FL. Posts: 603	Perhaps it is the external water line IN RELATION to the internal water line that needs to be tweaked in order to find the "sweet spot". Since the only way for there to be normal atmospheric pressure in the body is if the water line is the same both externally and internally, by there being a specific ratio of internal to external pressures, say 12psi external and 10psi internal for example, this magic ratio is what forms the best bubble size/density/ascension rate vs. just the external water depth? If this is the case, the skimmer depth might be ideal at 10" at sea level but 8" if you are in the mountains? Might it be better to get a barometer and find the perfect measurements in and out of the skimmer body and then use that to calibrate vs. guessing or saying anywhere from 6" to 10" ? Come to think of it, since specific gravity is the weight of the water, it would also have an effect of the fluid pressure so even though the difference between SG 1.024 and SG 1.028 seems minor, it could mean a considerable difference when looking for the skimmer's "sweet spot". The amount of air you are pulling is also a factor since the more air you pull, the less water that is in the skimmer internal water column and that means less pressure on the outlet and more rise toward the neck. So many factors. Last edited by vbsaltydog; 02/27/2010 at 12:37 AM.

02/27/2010, 03:59 PM	#240
bayarea49 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fairfield Ca Posts: 722	Skimmer has already broken in =) 9 hours total. Does anyone kno if you can post pictures thru ur iPhone?

02/27/2010, 05:03 PM	#241
Rotknee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 592 Blog Entries: 9	I'm surprised there is no talk of the SWC 180? Reef Filtration only had a few and based upon all of the positive things I heard about the 160 I am looking forward to playing with the 180...when it gets here and I get my tank set up.

02/28/2010, 01:12 PM	#244
herefishy2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: E. Central Florida Posts: 21	I just finished reading through this thread with interest...as I have been doing a lot of reading and skimmer comparisons over the last month. Since the lousy skimmer I had been running under my 45g frag tank started giving me nothing but trouble I knew I was in the market for a new one. As money does not grow on any trees in my yard it was a consideration in my decision. I have just ordered the SWC 120. I know it is not a 160, but it is its little brother! And it is in the family...And your right, Luke is quite a stand up guy. Very helpful.

02/28/2010, 01:24 PM	#245
vbsaltydog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Beach, FL. Posts: 603	If the 160 is any indicator of how the 120 performs then you are going to be very happy with your purchase. I have owned several high quality skimmers over the years and the 160 smokes them all in regard to build quality and performance.

02/28/2010, 02:02 PM	#246
kryptic4l Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 54	bought mine right from the source, should be here tommorow. Only complaint so far was they shipped it via ups over my original canada post. I hate ups a) with post it would of been here by now. ups held it for 2 days for "ontime delivery" b) ups drop ships at my front door. post holds it at there office when im not home, so its safe.

02/28/2010, 05:33 PM	#248
Merfin70 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 595 Blog Entries: 1	No issue running in 9" of water? From what I've read seems OK but I wanted to do a check before I purchase.