"Best" Replacement Pump for SWC 250

[overexposed]

I recently acquired a used SWC 250 for dirt cheap (this guy here: http://www.swcskimmers.com/product5.html). I had read lots of bad things about the PSK-2500 pumps before purchasing, but waved them off thinking "how bad can they really be??" Due to the price I got this thing for, I took the plunge regardless of the pump warnings. You can't get a skimmer body this big (10 inch diameter, 6 inch neck!) anywhere else for the break I got. Worth it, even if I had to replace the pumps. Anyways I put this beast together last week and fired it up for the first time, and I have to say that these pumps are absolutely the worst pumps I have had to deal with to date. They completely lived up to all the bad hype!

The pumps won't start up unless they are sitting at a particular angle, the volute cover doesn't seal tight and leaks air bubbles, the air nipples are busted off, etc etc. So I've decided that I am going to replace/upgrade the pumps, and have narrowed myself down to 3 options - none of which involve using PSK-2500s:
-Single SWC/Askoll 1500 Skimmer Pump, cap off remaining bulkhead on skimmer
http://www.saltwaterconnection.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=209

-Single Bubble Blaster HY-5000 , cap off remaining bulkhead on skimmer
http://www.goreef.com/Bubble-Blaster-HY-5000-Pump.html

-Dual PSK-1000s from Avast Marine - supposedly plug and play
http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/product/SICCE-PSK1000


The cost difference between these three options is negligible to me, my main concerns are performance, reliability and longevity. I'm posting this here with hopes to receive feedback from people who have personally used each of these pumps, preferable with a similarly sized skimmer. I've read several threads here that asked similar questions, but they were all several years old, and all of them ended in ****ing contests over brand preference. Now that these "new-fangled" BB pumps have been in use for 5 years or so, I am eager to hear updated opinions. Please try to use reason rather than emotions in your recommendations, and help me choose a pump!

 

[tkeracer619]

The swc askoll seems tocreate smaller bubbles but i would go that oute over tge twin pumps any say. Askoll 1500 would be my primary choice since motor blocks can be had cheap. I've seen a few of the bb pumps need replacement parts while my swc askoll has had zero issues. I've even run it dry accidentally a few times and it came back to life.

 

[azjohnny]

The swc askoll seems tocreate smaller bubbles but i would go that oute over tge twin pumps any say. Askoll 1500 would be my primary choice since motor blocks can be had cheap. I've seen a few of the bb pumps need replacement parts while my swc askoll has had zero issues. I've even run it dry accidentally a few times and it came back to life.

+1 go with the Askoll. I have had a SRO 5000 skimmer and I feel the pump draws too much air

 

[overexposed]

Thanks for the input guys. I was already leaning towards the Askoll and I think your input solidifies that choice. Would still appreciate hearing from users of the other pumps though.

The swc askoll seems tocreate smaller bubbles but i would go that oute over tge twin pumps any say. Askoll 1500 would be my primary choice since motor blocks can be had cheap. I've seen a few of the bb pumps need replacement parts while my swc askoll has had zero issues. I've even run it dry accidentally a few times and it came back to life.

Smaller bubbles are a good thing

+1 go with the Askoll. I have had a SRO 5000 skimmer and I feel the pump draws too much air

You had the Askoll on your SRO? I thought they normally come with the bubble blasters?

 

[Stackemdeep]

I run the Askoll 1500 on my SWC230 (came new with unit) and would not consider changing. It is an excellent pump. Pulls 65 scfh and the twins only pull 32-37 on that 250. BK uses the Askoll 1500 with their own impeller and calls it a Red Dragon I believe. Good Luck!

 

[slief]

Smaller bubbles are a good thing

In your case, they are a very good thing because you are going to have a very tough time keeping a good consistent solid foam head with it's 6" neck. I know you're not going to want to hear this but it's way too big for your system and bio load and I would be very surprised if that skimmer will run well on a 90g display. Because of it's wide diameter neck, you will most likely have to run it very wet & right at the edge to get it to produce well and as a result it will be very sensitive to overflows. Especially with your rather light bioload. Now once you get your 200G display and add a bunch more fish, that will be a different story and in that case, this skimmer would be much better suited.

And yes, your best choice hands down would be the Askoll based pump as they are extremely reliable and with produce very fine bubbles.

 

[overexposed]

In your case, they are a very good thing because you are going to have a very tough time keeping a good consistent solid foam head with it's 6" neck. I know you're not going to want to hear this but it's way too big for your system and bio load and I would be very surprised if that skimmer will run well on a 90g display. Because of it's wide diameter neck, you will most likely have to run it very wet & right at the edge to get it to produce well and as a result it will be very sensitive to overflows. Especially with your rather light bioload. Now if you find that 250G-300G tank you are after, that would be a different story and in that case, this skimmer would be much better suited.

And yes, your best choice would be the Askoll based pump as they are extremely reliable and with the correct volute/impeller they produce very fine bubbles. You could get the SWC one or the ATB Air Star. both would be good choices for that skimmer.

Should have mentioned that this is going to be on my new build, which will be a 250 gal system.

Ordered a custom 205 gallon 72x30x24 tank that will be an in-wall display - once I am done renovating my basement. Right now it is just sitting strangely out in the middle of the basement, dry, waiting for the project to progress.

 

[slief]

Should have mentioned that this is going to be on my new build, which will be a 250 gal system.

Ordered a custom 205 gallon 72x30x24 tank that will be an in-wall display - once I am done renovating my basement. Right now it is just sitting strangely out in the middle of the basement, dry, waiting for the project to progress.

Yea, I just edited my previous post. I searched your threads to get a better idea of your tank and plans. I saw that you purchased a 200G display. That sounds like a great footprint too! I'm sure you will be stoked and given that new tank size, I think this skimmer will be much better suited. If you can design your sump sump such that you can adjust the water level in very small increments, that would be really helpful in tuning the skimmer. My sump level is controlled via float switches and I've found that even as little as an 1/8" of adjustment can make a surprising difference in the skimmers performance. I use a stand for my skimmer to get it in the ball park and then adjusted my float switches up or down to fine tune it from there. Then I just use the wedge pipe to adjust from wet to dry.

 

[overexposed]

I adjust my sump level with float switches as well. This skimmer should work pretty good, right off the bat when I got it running in a vinegar bath it produced great foam. And the previous owner was running it on a similar sized system. The pumps are just incredibly annoying to deal with, especially because they simply hang off the side of the skimmer.

 

[overexposed]

Pulled the trigger on the Askoll

 

[DopeCantWin]

I had my pump/impeller fail. I tried getting a new pump, didn't work with the old impeller. I assume the impeller was broken. I ended up having to get "Royal Exclusiv Mini Bubble King 200 VS09 Rotor for pump 1500 metal shaft" from Aquarium Specialty and a new pump http://www.amazon.com/Laguna-Water-Garden-Waterfall-PT8240-PT344/dp/B00F5420TU. I ordered the pump from unbeatable, came out a little cheaper than from Amazon somehow. It's been working well for about 16 hours so far. Ping me if you'd like an update.

 

[overexposed]

I ended up having to cancel the order on the Askoll because the company never delivered, and I went with a Bubble Blaster 5000. It took some funny plumbing work to get it hooked up properly, but it works like a champ.

Been using it for three months now.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I ended up having to cancel the order on the Askoll because the company never delivered, and I went with a Bubble Blaster 5000. It took some funny plumbing work to get it hooked up properly, but it works like a champ.

Been using it for three months now.

Your way was most definitely cheaper. I like mine as well though. If it wasn't for the noise by the air suction, I think that pump is dead silent.