SWC 160 cone club..

[cet98]

FWIW, the word on the street is that the prices for both the SWC120 & 160 cones will be increasing $25 after March 15th...
So if your on the bubble about picking up either of these beauties, I would suggest you do so now...

unless, of course, you don't mind spending more money

 

[cpittmx]

Ordered my SWC 160 on Friday it arrived yesterday (Monday). I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but I'm impressed with the fast shipping from the guys at reef filtration.

 

[herozero]

Agreed that there are costs beyond the materials and build but to be fair, lets use the ATI Bubble Master 160 that is a well respected skimmer and I have owned one so I speak from direct knowledge.

It has a single sicce PSK 2500 pump that I can buy online retail for 100.00 so lets say they bought in bulk if they are smart so their cost would be ~60.00.

There was about enough acrylic that I could buy for ~50.00 so again, lets assume they know how to run a business and their acrylic cost was ~30.00

That gives them a total cost of ~90.00 for materials.

Then lets assume that someone had to weld the components together at a rate of 10 skimmers per hour which is very conservative considering the build quality that I witnessed.

It is manual labor that requires no special skills so lets figure 10.00/hr.

That is ~1.00 per skimmer for labor costs.

They are in for a total of ~91.00 and the skimmer retails for $499.00

This is a 400% markup! and a profit of ~400.00 per sale!

That is a profit of almost a half million dollars for every thousand skimmers sold and I'm sure they sold several thousand of these skimmers worldwide AND this is their cheapest skimmer. They could have sold it for ~250.00 per skimmer and more than covered materials/labor/R&D and still boast a sweet profit margin.

Just to reiterate my point. The SWC is priced fairly and this is a welcome change for me as a skimmer consumer.

400% is pretty standard in a lot of industries. And the rest is just simple economics. The market sets a demand for the skimmer at different price points. And the ATI price works, you bought one! If their product was so simple anyone could make one (sorry, not every garage has a 300 degree heat producing instrument), then everyone would make their own. Eshopps kind of started the economy cone market, then BM came in with a lower price and better pump, and now SWC IMO claims the prize for design and build quality. Businesses exist to make a profit off of a product or service, if their units don't sell, they can cut prices to move units or make cuts on their production side. But if they sell at $400, why on earth would you charge $250?

Ok, i'm done being OT.

 

[WestTxReefer]

http://www.swcskimmers.com/Cone-Xtreme-Skimmers.htm direct link to SWC, yes the prices are going up.

 

[cet98]

Ok, i'm done being OT.

I think that is a great decision and hopefully one that we can all agree on :thumbsup:

while everyone here certainly has a right to their opinions on any topic, it will likely be in everyone's best interest to keep this thread "on topic" and continue learn from each others experiences regarding our new found "toy"

 

[herozero]

http://www.swcskimmers.com/Cone-Xtreme-Skimmers.htm direct link to SWC, yes the prices are going up.

Not sure what the confusion is regarding SWC moving. This site is just an online retailer for SWC skimmers. SWC is still based out of canada and they have a few distributors here in the states, which include reeffiltration and this swc site.

 

[cet98]

Not sure what the confusion is regarding SWC moving. This site is just an online retailer for SWC skimmers. SWC is still based out of canada and they have a few distributors here in the states, which include reeffiltration and this swc site.

I'm pretty sure WestTxReefer was referring to and confirming my earlier post regarding the unfortunate upcoming price increase...

edit: I see your point hero...he did mention "direct link to SWC" which is incorrect as you stated...sorry

 

[planejane]

I just placed my order with Luke. I have a question : I will be building the sump soon and have zero experience with sumps. How high should I make the Baffles ? The sump tank is 17" tall. And, is a 12" X 12" space adequate for the skimmer chamber? Thanks.

 

[cet98]

12" x 12" area is fine...be sure you have at least 21" (more is better) in height clearance in order to take the op off...

on a new sump build, would recommend your baffles be a min 8" & max 10" high...assuming you have plenty of height in your sump area to allow for using a skimmer stand if you so desire

 

[planejane]

12" x 12" area is fine...be sure you have at least 21" (more is better) in height clearance in order to take the op off...

on a new sump build, would recommend your baffles be a min 8" & max 10" high...assuming you have plenty of height in your sump area to allow for using a skimmer stand if you so desire

TY Cet. No problem with the stand height, it's 40" tall with about 34" head room.

 

[smokey30]

Starting a 50 gallon with 20 gallon sump would the 120 be enough or should I go 160?

 

[jacksonpt]

For those of you who have been running these for a while now (especially the 160), how has the impeller/mesh wheel been for you? Any clogging or other issues? Also, how loud are these things?

 

[Russter]

TY Cet. No problem with the stand height, it's 40" tall with about 34" head room.

I would make the baffles at least 10". It is easier to raise the skimmer on a platform if needed (if you have the head room under the stand) than it is to cut down baffles after they have been installed.
My baffles are 12" tall and I have my skimmer on a little eggcrate stand although I am thinking about lowering it so that it is sitting in about 10 inches (I think that was the concensus wasn't it?) Mine is sitting in about 7" and pulls good gunk out.

 

[Russter]

For those of you who have been running these for a while now (especially the 160), how has the impeller/mesh wheel been for you? Any clogging or other issues? Also, how loud are these things?

Skimmer is REALLY quiet. To the point that I can't tell if it is on with the cabinet doors closed. My Mag18 is louder. No clogging issues yet and always starts back up after turning off for feeding every other day.

 

[vbsaltydog]

Starting a 50 gallon with 20 gallon sump would the 120 be enough or should I go 160?

I have a 54g with a 20g sump and the 160 is perfect for it. It pulls out nasty skimate.

 

[troyvang]

Looks like I will be joining the club too. Just placed an order on reeffiltration. I've been hearing good reviews. This thread has helped me out on picking a good quality skimmer at a good price for my newly setup 75 gallon tank with 20 gallon long sump skimmer. Can't wait to get it. Hoping I can get it soon.

 

[cet98]

I would make the baffles at least 10". It is easier to raise the skimmer on a platform if needed (if you have the head room under the stand) than it is to cut down baffles after they have been installed.
My baffles are 12" tall and I have my skimmer on a little eggcrate stand although I am thinking about lowering it so that it is sitting in about 10 inches (I think that was the concensus wasn't it?) Mine is sitting in about 7" and pulls good gunk out.

OK, please... lets me careful here...
IMO I think 10"H should be the max. depth on a 17" high sump....when properly designing a sump you must really keep in mind that the sump has more than one purpose...
If, in the event, the return pump is turned off, your sump must be able to hold all of the "back siphon" water from your DT as well as the water that is normally running through it....

I also think that when designing a quiet sump, it is best to not have a large "drop off" of water from one section to another...

Again, IMO, no one has reported running this skimmer at more than 10" (most are running between 7.5" to 10") and in the event the skimmer is to be replaced, the majority of skimmers I have seen out there run at an average water depth of 9"....so 10" max should be more than you'll need here...

BTW, FWIW, you can "extend" the height of your baffles (if for some reason you need to) by installing a simple glass canopy backstrip, available at most LFS... they're very cheap and work great if needed...

cheers
C

 

[cet98]

Starting a 50 gallon with 20 gallon sump would the 120 be enough or should I go 160?

actually, presuming that you are using a 20G tank as your sump and therefore you will not have 20 gallons, I think you will be served well by either skimmer...

However, if you think that you may be carrying a fairly heavy bio-load or may upgrade shortly to a larger tank, then the 160 would be a wise choice...

 

[smokey30]

Just ordered the 160.....now I cant wait to get this tank up and running

 

[cet98]

Looks like I will be joining the club too. Just placed an order on reeffiltration. I've been hearing good reviews. This thread has helped me out on picking a good quality skimmer at a good price for my newly setup 75 gallon tank with 20 gallon long sump skimmer. Can't wait to get it. Hoping I can get it soon.

congrats, a perfect sized system for the 160

BTW, if by "new" tank you mean brand new...be sure to refrain from installing this (or any) skimmer until after you run through your cycle...(although it will be very hard to do so :lol: )