SWC Skimmers Review, or Info?

[neogenix]

Hey Guys,

I've been looking at replacing my Octo skimmer for my new build which is significantly larger than my previous system, and as such I've been looking around, and I keep coming back to SWC skimmers. Does anyone have any major complaints about these? Or would there be any major reason not to get one? I'd be looking at their non-conical ones currently, although that may change depending on what you guys say

[autodave]

I just bought a used 160 cone,I am really happy with it,pretty much just broke in- it is pulling out some nice gunk.I really like how quiet it is.I have read alot of great reviews also

[HndMafia]

Get one with an askoll pump. My 300 had sicce pumps on it, they are trash! Modded skimmer body for askoll pump = life is good

[lalo809]

swc=good,quiet and easy to clean,i have a 160 cone and whenever the new 230 comes out im going to buy it i just upgrade to a 180g tank and the 160 is good up to 150g

i like when i clean my swc160 i see all that nasty stuff from my tank.

[pimp4cheddar]

I'm thinking about buying one...but I'm curious...I've noticed the cones are more expensive than the regular round bodies...but I read there isn't any advantage in the cone body.

I'm buying a 60 gallon cube and need a new skimmer...I'm thinking of buying the SWC 150 BMK...but SWC makes three different lines of skimmers: Cones, BMK's and Extremes.

I can't tell the difference between them...

[neogenix]

Originally Posted by pimp4cheddar

I'm thinking about buying one...but I'm curious...I've noticed the cones are more expensive than the regular round bodies...but I read there isn't any advantage in the cone body.

I'm buying a 60 gallon cube and need a new skimmer...I'm thinking of buying the SWC 150 BMK...but SWC makes three different lines of skimmers: Cones, BMK's and Extremes.

I can't tell the difference between them...

I've read online that the big difference is that there's less head pressure on the pump with a conical shaped skimmer, which allows it to push more water, and thus more air, making them significantly more efficient... If i understood what I was reading :P

Originally Posted by lalo809

swc=good,quiet and easy to clean,i have a 160 cone and whenever the new 230 comes out im going to buy it i just upgrade to a 180g tank and the 160 is good up to 150g

i like when i clean my swc160 i see all that nasty stuff from my tank.

Cool!! Thanks!!

Originally Posted by HndMafia

Get one with an askoll pump. My 300 had sicce pumps on it, they are trash! Modded skimmer body for askoll pump = life is good

Out of interest, why do you say the sicce pumps are trash? I know a lot of skimmers use them, and a lot of people swear by them...

Originally Posted by autodave

I just bought a used 160 cone,I am really happy with it,pretty much just broke in- it is pulling out some nice gunk.I really like how quiet it is.I have read alot of great reviews also

Thanks!! Any reviews you may have that are of use, feel free to send them along!!

[Mike de Leon]

I have a cone with two Sicce pumps. My main complain is the pumps are garbage! The other is inability to take apart for cleaning. You can only clean certain parts. When one pump gave me a hassle tried calling them just after a six months but did not have my receipt! It cost me close to 900 bucks for this unit, they gave me such a hard time! To this day I still have the defective pumps! SWC never helped me!

I would go with a reputable company if I were you.

I have my eyes set on a Vertex cone. The quality on Vertex units are unsurpassed in the industry. Pumps are low wattage too.

[adambirk]

i have an swc 250A running on my 150 sps tank and this thing is a beast. i ordered mine through reef filtration which is here in the states. luke was awsome to deal with and went out of his way to answer all questions that i had about the skimmers. real great company to deal with. if i ever upgrade it will be for another swc but a cone. and i would deffinently go through reef filtration again too.

also my swc is a set and forget skimmer. no constant tweeking. and the askoll pump is so unbeliveablely quiet. you can not even hear this beast running from more than a foot away.

[justisathomesea]

Im running a swc xtreme 200 on my 55 nd it has been an awesome skimmer, pulls out some crazy gunk, quiet, but I wouldnt go with the mesh wheel, its a pain to start sometimes, but I wouldnt trade this skimmer for anything else.

[Mike de Leon]

You will notice the quality (or lack thereof) of a Chinese built product from a mile away....

[pimp4cheddar]

Originally Posted by Mike de Leon

To this day I still have the defective pumps! SWC never helped me!

Ouch dude...sorry to hear this.

I currently have a Remora Hang-on Skimmer with a Maxi Jet 1200...and was hoping to use this to skim my 60 gallon cube...but I didn't think it was enough. If possible, I would love to save the money and keep the Remora...any thoughts?

If all else fails...I'll have to buy an SWC or Octopus skimmer ($$$).

[E.intheC]

I wouldn't keep the remora.. especially on a 60 cube. Take a look at the SRO int1000. That's the skimmer I'm probably going to order within the next month or two. It has a bubble blaster pump.

[neogenix]

There seems to be a few folks that have said they're not fans of the sicce pumps, but I can't seem to find anyone to say 'why' they're not fans of them ? I've got one on my current octo, and it's behaving perfectly... Ideas?

[hhaase]

I just had a 160 cone arrive today..... and it doesn't even have a sicce pump, and apparently neither do the 120's.

This is the third skimmer I'm trying on this tank, the previous two were both AquaC..... a Remora Pro and an EV-180. Never was happy with either one.

-Hans

[HndMafia]

Originally Posted by neogenix

There seems to be a few folks that have said they're not fans of the sicce pumps, but I can't seem to find anyone to say 'why' they're not fans of them ? I've got one on my current octo, and it's behaving perfectly... Ideas?

Sicce PSK2500 pumps on my swc 300 were noisy and hard to start, if they even bothered to try to start. New shafts, rubber end boots, different impellers never helped--sold them and bought an askoll 1500. Other than an occasional preventative maintenance cleaning, I don't have to touch the askoll.

[solitude127]

neogenix - what size tank where you planning this skimmer on?

[krak256]

i love my 160 cone. very quiet and i havent had any issues for the 9 months ive had it.

[ducatimikep]

Agreed....
Decent skimmers IF it has an Askoll.
The siccee pumps are junk.

[gldnegle76]

I've had my 160 cone (Atman 2500 Pump) for 8 months and it has preformed extremely well. Haven't cleaned it yet but it's still cranking out the skimmate...all this on a relatively smaller system (46 Bow and 20 gal sump).
It's relatively quiet as well.

[allsps40]

SWC and Octopus are the same company. I have a NW110 and it has an Octo pump and came in an Octo box but has SWC on the cup lid.

[rguyler]

Sicce pumps are actually very good pumps. They've taken a bad rap with SWC/MSX skimmers and a few others when they are modded with mesh wheels. Sicces with needle wheels are virtually trouble-free. When I bought my 300 it originally came with dual Sicces, and while I hated the mesh wheels, I was impressed with the quality and power of the pumps themselves. I modded my 300 with an Askoll running a needle wheel and never looked back. If you have a 160, you can run one of the third-party needle wheels and it will do very well. If you go bigger then you would be looking at a mesh wheel to pull more air and that's where you run into issues with the Sicce, so a change to a BM or better yet an Askoll (for a 250 or 300) will be in order. I've heard of people doing crazy stuff like putting an Askoll on a 200 or dual Askolls on a 300 or whatever but I don't know if this is a good thing or bad. You might want to head over to the MSX (same as SWC) skimmer owner thread for more info.

For the record, I really like my 300A but I think there are better options although I would have had to spend quite a bit more to get there. Good bang for the buck is my opinion on the MSX/SWC skimmers.

[Mike de Leon]

Originally Posted by HndMafia

Sicce PSK2500 pumps on my swc 300 were noisy and hard to start, if they even bothered to try to start. New shafts, rubber end boots, different impellers never helped--sold them and bought an askoll 1500. Other than an occasional preventative maintenance cleaning, I don't have to touch the askoll.

+1.

You need to find a reputable company to deal with so that if service is required they are there for you. We spend enough money in this industry. Last thing we need is a company who doesn't know a thing about customer service...

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by allsps40

SWC and Octopus are the same company. I have a NW110 and it has an Octo pump and came in an Octo box but has SWC on the cup lid.

same skimmers (not all and not all exactly alike. some are), NOT the same company though. Not by a long shot.

[Kenzy]

I have the SWC200 and love it. Its well built and easy to clean and adjust.

It has the sicce psk2500 on it and it is also easy to completely take a part and clean. The one thing that I did do, is when the mesh wheel needed to be replaced I went with Red Devil needle wheel and haven't looked back. Its quiet and starts just like its supposed to.

IMO this skimmer out performs most skimmers at twice the price.

For those that having problems with the sicce, I have to wonder if its less a problem with the pump and more a problem with the operator.? Judt my $.02

[tkeracer619]

Neogenix you should post some specs for your tank. What you plan to keep and how many gallons. Otherwise you will find people going back and forth about one brand vs another. A lot of times it is what they have. People don't like giving advice or recommend something they are not comfortable with. Give us some specs and then we can make suggestions on which skimmer brand and line you should go with.

Sicces have some start up issues. That is about it. A lot of the bad rap came from when people were trying to mesh mod the heck out of the pumps. Some have issues with pin wheels starting. Most have great success.

Mike if you don't have a receipt how is that the companies fault? They should warranty an item that has been sold for years without a receipt? Sicce powered skimmers have been out about 2.5 years longer then their warranty period.

I have sat the vertex and swc skimmers next to each other. The quality is not night and day as you would like to have others believe. The material is thicker and whatnot on the vertex but as far as manufacturing quality they are comparable. Honya has been mass producing skimmers for a while now for a couple companies and have gotten darn good at making them for less money. If you asked me 2 years ago I would have agreed but the current line of honya skimmers (SWC or Octopus) are very well constructed.

The askol on the SWC is one of the best skimmer pumps out right now. Very high quality. The bubble blaster on the octopus line is a close second. Only reason I say second is a few (not many) people complain about vibration or start up issues. As far as performance they are essentially the same.