SC 150 skimmer review pics

[allsps40]

This is a review on my new SC 150 cone protein skimmer. It will be replacing my Octopus/SWC NW110 skimmer. I bought it off Ebay at a great deal. It is a BM NAC7 clone and uses an Atman 2000 pump.
Ebay image

The shipping was very fast ordered on sunday received it today. It was packaged well with plenty of foam. Upon first inspection I was very impressed with the build quality, a 9.5 out of 10. It does have a few unrefined areas that the NAC7 does not have. Like no silencer, few ruff edges where the acrylic was machined and no skim drain. A few differences from the NAC7 and the SC 150 are the SC 150 is 18" tall and the NAC7 is 20" they have nearly the same foot print and the SC 150 has a smaller collection cup. The skimmer came with no instructions but anyone that has used a skimmer can figure it out. So after unpacking the skimmer I gave it a very hot water bath, I had no vinegar on hand to give it a vinegar bath. After a good 10 minute rinse running in a bucket I took the skimmer apart to check it out a little better. The bottom of the skimmer comes part by removing 4 plastic screws, very simple. The pump as said is an Atman 2000 with a ceramic shaft and pinwheel impeller. After reassembling the skimmer I removed my NW110 and made room for the SC 150. Plugged it in and it fired right up no problem, my NW110 always and a problem starting. The skimmer body quickly filled with very fine bubbles and after setting the water level to a good break in I watched for about 5-10 minutes. With the output wide open on 1 the skimmer was starting to make a foam head! I left it for about 30 min and when I can back there was some skim on the cup neck and still a foam head. So far I am very impressed with this skimmer and it was under $100! Now some pics.

 

[allsps40]

Good by NW110

Hello cone

start up

after only 10 min of running

The skimmer is very quite even without a silencer but you can see it pulls in a lot of air. With the silencer from my NW110 is is nearly dead quiet. Over all rating so far on this skimmer is a 9.8 out of ten and is not getting a to due to the little things like no instructions and unrefined areas but nothing at all to complain about.More will come as the skimmer breaks in.

 

[KMP]

cool - if you decided you wanted a silencer, this should work:

http://www.swcskimmers.com/Xtreme-160-accessories.htm

 

[allsps40]

Cool thanks. I just put the one off the NW110 on the SC 150, works great.

 

[KMP]

Thanks Pal - all I needed to do was spend more money

I just bought one for $95 w/free shipping. Figured at that price - why not give it a whirl.

 

[KMP]

OK - so now that I'm over my impulse buy - I looked the pump up. $40 for a replacement pump if needed. It uses the Atman2000 (450lph) v. the Atman1100 pump (300lph) used in a SWC 120. The footprint is larger than that of a SWC 120; however, given your CD reference I'm thinking the SC is taking into account the venturi and adjustment tube and the SWC is not. When it comes in, I'll do a comparison on the size.

 

[allsps40]

Can you post the link for the pump? It would be good to have another in that just in case moment. I think you will be very happy with this skimmer, I am. Yeah the free shipping was really nice. This skimmer is easily equal to a $300 name brand.

 

[KMP]

Here you go.

http://socaltropicalfishoutlet.com/...p-1269.html?osCsid=4ps1cpm27cqs2ptmc0st0td9h1

They have replacement impellers too:

http://socaltropicalfishoutlet.com/...p-1051.html?osCsid=2q35p4mlp6sk6tb93umojut5h0

 

[PokerReefer]

Great write up. I find it funny though that this a knock off OF a knock off.:spin2:

 

[allsps40]

Cool thanks.

 

[moondoggy4]

Nice, looking forward to more photos and a video.

 

[JustinM]

Nice, looking forward to more photos and a video.

Me too, I'd like to see what kind of gunk it can pull out. Keep us updated.

 

[allsps40]

I will be updating this thread and I hope that the others who have bought the same skimmer will contribute to the thread when they get theirs. I will do a quick video today. Still not skim in the cup, now the skimmer is acting like a new skimmer. What a teaser to see foam right after start up. I can tell this is going to be a great skimmer. I have it in 9" of water and it has no problem pulling in air. I think 8-10" is and ideal depth for this skimmer. It pulls in tons of air. I need to get a dyre (spelling??) I think it is to measure the air intake. The output is putting out some micro bubbles but I expect this to settle down once the skimmer breaks in and none are making it to the main tank. It is very nice be able to adjust the skimmer without getting my hands wet. I have noticed that so far feeding and putting my hands in the tank dont seem to effect the skimmer. My other skimmers I have had all lost the foam head if I fed or was in the tank. So far everything is very promising about this skimmer.

 

[allsps40]

Video.

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks for the video.

 

[WTyson]

let me know how it works

 

[allsps40]

Will do. Still breaking in, it may take a few days.

 

[mojo~]

its actually smaller than the BM nac 7. Its not as small as the nac 3 sseries but it is still smaller than the Nac7 . I Have had one of these for about a month now. A little noisey but not bad.

 

[mojo~]

pic of mine

Honestly, for the money... its hard to beat. When looking for a skimmer for my 50g cube I was looking at the nac 3 swc 120 tunze , nac 7 ect.. basically the nac 3 just didnt move enough water for my liking and the nac 7 and swc 160 had too large of a neck for my load. So this fell right in place. And at about $100 shipped it was really hard for me not to try it out.

Not a bk, or atb. But for $100 its a good choice. My lid doesnt fit really well on mine but I can sand it down to get it to fit better. Just havent as its not that deep.

 

[allsps40]

Yep that is the one. Sounds like you like it. Mine is really quiet even without a silencer. My lid fits fine. Do you have any skim pics after in had broken in? Thank you for you contribution to the thread. Mine is starting to break in already.