SWC 160 protein skimmer, are you serious?...

[Dseg]

So I purchased the SWC 160 protein skimmer for my 75 gallon tank + 30 gallon sump. I have it set up so that my skimmer turns off with everything at the same during my feed time on my apex.

So when the feed time ends, everything is suppose to back on. So the next day (before I turned everything off for feeding again) I realized my skimmer was not on. I unplugged it, plugged it back in, I plugged it into a straight outlet (maybe it was my E8 on my apex), nothing... I then realized the pump was vibrating just not pulling water/making bubbles.

I did some research and found other people have had the same problem. The solution: I have to unplug the airline and blow in it really hard... every....time.....

Now, why is there a $275 skimmer that you have to blow in the airline every time you turn it off and want to turn it back on? That is pretty ridiculous. Has anyone found an actual solution to this?

Under my tank is where my sump is located and is a very tight squeeze for everything. There is no way I am going to be able to blow in the tiny airline in the back of my sump every time I turn it off and want to turn it back on.

[nikon187]

why are you turning the skimmer off in the first place.. the foam head is going to crash either way if feeding frozen foods.

[stanlalee]

Have had mine for a year and a half, two pumps and have NEVER had to blow air in the airline to get it to start. That is generally a sign of excessive or sloppy mesh You could try tidying it up or doing some VERY slight trimming. These pumps do not like to be started and stopped like that (they start and stop fine with a regular water wheel but not with the hybrid mesh/needlewheel). While mine has no trouble starting you can tell by the initial racket before it kicks in its not a skimmer you want to me turning on and off unnecessarily (this pretty much applies to most skimmers with mesh and mesh hybrid wheels). You probably shouldn't have bought a skimmer with mesh (even hybrid) if you planned on turning it on and off 365+ times a year. Mesh pumps have always had the potential for start up issues.

[barjam]

I wouldn't run a mesh wheel again for that reason. I converted my 160 to a red devil pin wheel years ago and it starts every time.

Also turning your stuff off via a timer is a terrible idea. All it takes is a little calcium buildup and a few hours of running "bound up" and you have just fried your pump.

[Chris Lakies]

Dont turn the skimmer off...

[Circleofdocs]

I agree. I onlynturn my skimmer off when cleaning or WC... So 1-2x month

[Dseg]

Thanks for your response.

I have to turn my skimmer off because I have to turn my pumps off during feeding (once a day) and definitely for water changes (once a week). If I turn my pump off and leave the skimmer on - then the water level rises in my sump (including my skimmer chamber) and my skimmer starts to overflow excessively because of the increased water level. When I bought the skimmer they should say that it can not be turned off... The skimmer is only off for 4 minutes, max...

[westreef]

I only turn my skimmer off once every few months during my complete skimmer disassemble and clean up. During water changes I just dial the foam head down. I have the skimmer for 11 months, no issue at all.

[spieszak]

Can you just keep a constant source of air running into it? (ie, a air pump that doesn't shut off with your pumps?)

[pgammon]

I had a Reef Octopus 160 that would do the same thing, I also switched to the red demon pinwheel, no more start-up issues.

[mfinn]

Originally Posted by Dseg

Thanks for your response.

I have to turn my skimmer off because I have to turn my pumps off during feeding (once a day) and definitely for water changes (once a week). If I turn my pump off and leave the skimmer on - then the water level rises in my sump (including my skimmer chamber) and my skimmer starts to overflow excessively because of the increased water level. When I bought the skimmer they should say that it can not be turned off... The skimmer is only off for 4 minutes, max...

The constant turning off and back on everyday is going to shorten the life of the impeller and the pump, even for 4 minutes.

I don't turn anything off during feeding time except my internal powerheads and they are on a controller that has a 8 minute feed mode.

[wildman926]

Originally Posted by Dseg

Thanks for your response.

I have to turn my skimmer off because I have to turn my pumps off during feeding (once a day) and definitely for water changes (once a week). If I turn my pump off and leave the skimmer on - then the water level rises in my sump (including my skimmer chamber) and my skimmer starts to overflow excessively because of the increased water level. When I bought the skimmer they should say that it can not be turned off... The skimmer is only off for 4 minutes, max...

Just adjust the skimmer down and keep note of where it was, instead of turning it off.

[DarrinSimon]

I dont turn mine off unless there is a problem. When I feed Rods food it definitely knocks the foam head down, I just use that as a chance to empty and clean the cup while it's running.

[Amoore311]

This skimmer pump has been known to have start up problems since SWC skimmers came onto the market 3-4 years ago.

I grabbed the red demon pinwheels, and the Marine Solutions Upgrade Reducers and all is fine with my Sicce PSK2500's.

You can also toss a Bubbleblaster 3000 on your skimmer as a replacement pump and it will also be fine, but that cost is significantly more than the price a new impeller is going to cost you.

If you are ordering the pinwheels, do yourself a favor and order a couple carbon fiber impeller shafts as well. The stock metal ones work fine, but they will eventually fail.... they are a very cheap part to have on hand if you end up ever breaking a shaft. Better to buy now just in case, and not have to deal with your skimmer being down for days waiting for a stupid $3 impeller shaft lol.

[allsps40]

Yeah pretty much all mesh wheels have a strat up problem. When I mesh modded my NW110 the pump would not want to start sometimes and I had to blown in the line, not very hard though. My new skimmer has a pinwheel and it starts up every time. There is also no need to have the skimmer turn off when feeding. I only turn mine off when it comes out of the sump for cleaning.

[Runfrumu]

LOL! I love the answers of "don't turn it off." What kind of answer is that? What if his power goes out?

Would the answer still be the same if he had a new car that wouldn't crank when it was cut off, or a tv that wouldn't turn back on?

When you buy a product, you expect it to work, no half way work.

[redneckgearhead]

Yea, but I don't think it was designed to be turned off and on, on a daily basis. Cars and TV's are designed to be turned off and on a lot.

[JT3069]

Has anyone had a problem with over flowing
any time i change a filter sock it over flows
and if i dont clean every 3 days it will over flow even when collection cup is not full or even half way

[d0ughb0y]

Originally Posted by Runfrumu

LOL! I love the answers of "don't turn it off." What kind of answer is that? What if his power goes out?

Would the answer still be the same if he had a new car that wouldn't crank when it was cut off, or a tv that wouldn't turn back on?

When you buy a product, you expect it to work, no half way work.

Exactly. I mean saying you should not turn off the skimmer is just ridonkulus.

Originally Posted by Dseg

Thanks for your response.

I have to turn my skimmer off because I have to turn my pumps off during feeding (once a day) and definitely for water changes (once a week). If I turn my pump off and leave the skimmer on - then the water level rises in my sump (including my skimmer chamber) and my skimmer starts to overflow excessively because of the increased water level. When I bought the skimmer they should say that it can not be turned off... The skimmer is only off for 4 minutes, max...

this is a common mistake in setting up a sump.

A properly setup sump will not overflow the skimmer if the return pump is off.
Check to make sure that when you turn off the return pump, the water level in the return section only rises to the same level as the skimmer section, therefore will not cause your skimmer to overflow. If it is currently rising the water level when return pump is off, you either need to reduce the flow of your return pump, or lower the water level some more in your return section. You can attach an elbow to the input of your return pump so it sucks water at a lower level, then you can lower the ATO top off switch some more..

[Dseg]

Well I emailed SWC and there response was:
"Please contact us Tuesday-Friday noon-6pm CST. Thanks."

So I figured I will give them a call after work and see what they say about this issue. I'll post their response...

[derek4real]

I don't think the pumps are designed to be turned on off on a regular basis. I had the purple ATB Needlewheel and had restart issues. In my experience the factory impeller does not have any start up issues.

[d0ughb0y]

its not whether you are supposed to turn it on or off all the time, the issue is it got an air lock when turned on. One of the reviews in one of the online seller's site (actually the first review) says it was brand new out of the box and it would not start, and he called SWC and they told him it is a known problem with swc 160 and all he needs to do is blow into the airline everytime he turns on the skimmer. we'll see what swc tells the OP.

[ksc]

My SWC 160 fails to start just about everytime. Get a piece of airline hose about 24". Stick it in the output nipple and blow. It is what it is....(the pump is junk)

[d0ughb0y]

its the impeller that is the problem and not the pump. I am certain of that.
you can go buy a new pump and use the old impeller and you will still see the problem.
the atman pump is fine, its the swc impeller that is junk.

[HowieB]

Same problem on my SWC160. I talked to SWC and they said it was an air lock also. So I've learned to blow in the hose to start the pump back up. Now I never shut the skimmer off. Maybe once every couple of months to clean the neck. When I empty the cup I just leave it running.