SWC 1A Cone skimmer review
- Thread starter BlueStag
- Start date
Scott here is your full cup photo, 5 days worth of smelly nog for you, thats how long it took to fill to the top. A little over 64 oz, cause the container I drain in to is 96 oz.
I raised the level that I was running the skimmer, and is probably where I will run it most often. With the gunk foam line forming on the inside of the neck at about 2 inches below the top of the neck. I am still getting dark green skimmate, large and small particles of solid substance inside, stinky foul smell that causes a gag reflex, enough to make any SWC 1A owner proud. The wedge pipe is closed almost exactly at the halfway.
I will probably be setting up the drain soon, to much skimmate is being produced and it will be easier to manage.
MK I'll try to post one soon. I think the footprint is 14" x 18"
I raised the level that I was running the skimmer, and is probably where I will run it most often. With the gunk foam line forming on the inside of the neck at about 2 inches below the top of the neck. I am still getting dark green skimmate, large and small particles of solid substance inside, stinky foul smell that causes a gag reflex, enough to make any SWC 1A owner proud. The wedge pipe is closed almost exactly at the halfway.
I will probably be setting up the drain soon, to much skimmate is being produced and it will be easier to manage.
MK I'll try to post one soon. I think the footprint is 14" x 18"
Last edited:
Charlie Davidson
New member
I am not sure I could find a place to store that nog! it has to be hazardous waste! 
(My cup has to be empted every 2 days, 3rd day blows out the top holes.)
Last edited:
Charlie Davidson
New member
Blue, I am glad of that fact :lol:
I just check my camera, Batteries need charge. I will post nog pic on Cat1 thread tomorrow..
I just check my camera, Batteries need charge. I will post nog pic on Cat1 thread tomorrow..
SWC 1A
SWC 1A
I just found mine at the front door on Wednesday. I installed it Thursday, but have an interesting problem. With the wedge pipe wide-open I am overflowing the bubbles right into the cup.
It builds a nice 2-3" head of foam and slowly works it into the cup. Once that layer is in the cup the bubbles continue to climb the neck until it is a straight parade over the edge. The cup fills in 15min. I also have MASSIVE amounts of micro bubbles leaving the skimmer, not a huge issue as the sump is baffled.
I'm running it on a 270gal In-wall display, 55gal refugium, and 65gal sump (1/2 full). The skimmer sits in 8" of water. The system has been running for a long time, previous skimmer was a Octo Extreme 350 (too loud for the living room/library).
Any thoughts? Too many dissolved organics and it's playing catch up??
SWC 1A
I just found mine at the front door on Wednesday. I installed it Thursday, but have an interesting problem. With the wedge pipe wide-open I am overflowing the bubbles right into the cup.
It builds a nice 2-3" head of foam and slowly works it into the cup. Once that layer is in the cup the bubbles continue to climb the neck until it is a straight parade over the edge. The cup fills in 15min. I also have MASSIVE amounts of micro bubbles leaving the skimmer, not a huge issue as the sump is baffled.
I'm running it on a 270gal In-wall display, 55gal refugium, and 65gal sump (1/2 full). The skimmer sits in 8" of water. The system has been running for a long time, previous skimmer was a Octo Extreme 350 (too loud for the living room/library).
Any thoughts? Too many dissolved organics and it's playing catch up??
This skimmer will work with 26" of height clearance.
My friend just got rid of his Bubble King 400 for one of these 250 1A cones, after seeing mine. He also had issues with the foam climbing to fast over the cup when it was brand new. It lasted for about 24 hours, and may be due to the skimmer being brand new and maybe residual oils from manufacturing. He pinched the air intake on the hose for about 24 hours, limiting the air intake. He slowly opened it up, and it was fine on the second day. It never hurts to do a light vinegar and r/o water bath when a skimmer is brand new.
My friend just got rid of his Bubble King 400 for one of these 250 1A cones, after seeing mine. He also had issues with the foam climbing to fast over the cup when it was brand new. It lasted for about 24 hours, and may be due to the skimmer being brand new and maybe residual oils from manufacturing. He pinched the air intake on the hose for about 24 hours, limiting the air intake. He slowly opened it up, and it was fine on the second day. It never hurts to do a light vinegar and r/o water bath when a skimmer is brand new.
Thanks for the follow-up... I've choked the airline down just enough to get a foam head. I'll run it like this for a few days and see what happens. I'm due for a water change too so we'll see how this all plays out.
I am VERY impressed with the size and density of the bubbles. Overall the skimmer is a great purchase.
I am VERY impressed with the size and density of the bubbles. Overall the skimmer is a great purchase.
mike&kel
New member
SWC compared to an ATB large?
SWC compared to an ATB large?
Ok guys how does this skimmer compare to an "ATB Large"? Anyone tried them both? or is the SWC just a cheaper version of the big orange volcano? Thanks for any imput. My aquarium is a 380g including sump. I want to have room to expand later on to 450 tank.
SWC compared to an ATB large?
Ok guys how does this skimmer compare to an "ATB Large"? Anyone tried them both? or is the SWC just a cheaper version of the big orange volcano? Thanks for any imput. My aquarium is a 380g including sump. I want to have room to expand later on to 450 tank.
redhanded77
New member
thanks for the reviews. i am on the borderline with ordering one of these skimmers. i have a 255g system with a HIGE bioload and i am currently using a msx200. i need to upgrade asap, but i want to spend 1k wisely. if my msx200 is producing nasty skimmate, i can only imagine what this would produce.
Mike the 250A probably matches up best with the ATB Large. I haven't done much research, but the airpull looks similar at 2200+ LPH. The price though is not so similar. $2000 plus dollars for the ATB and only $900 for the SWC. $$$ wise not really in the same category, the SWC is much more affordable. Performance would be similar, based on airdraw and body design. The base of the ATB also looks wider by a couple of inches. I would start another thread under the lighting, filtration column, specifically with this question if you want a better answer. Since this is a skimmer review thread and people that might be in the know, might miss this thread. For what its worth, there is nothing cheap about this skimmer, it skims very RICH. Right now the 250A seems to be the best working cone for the money. There are other really nice cones as well. The ATB is one of them.
Redhanded this will be an upgrade over the MSX200. Noticable improvement.
Redhanded this will be an upgrade over the MSX200. Noticable improvement.
Similar threads
