SWC 160 Cone Review/Set up

As of about 12 hours I don't have any skimmate, but I do see some "brown" at the top of all the bubbles. I will post photos when I get back from class.

 

ha ha....maybe the SWC guys need to offer a group buy on Depends - or perhaps send 1 free Depends along with the T shirt and skimmer when it ships.

I am enjoying all the enthusiasm

 

Not exactly sure why I would want to. One nice thing about needle wheels is the simplicity. Changing the depth of the skimmer, changes head pressure. The lower the skimmer, the less head pressure, the more air draw. So you ball park that where you want, then sort of fine tune with the water outlet to get the skimate you want.

Adjusting air would be like changing depth....however, I want all the air I can get. Most folks go on to mesh their impellers for more and what not. I even found that the silicone air tube I have on mine is thinner than what SWC uses. The outside is the same, but the inside is bigger. I picked up a couple of LPH just using my air hose. (does not make a lot of sense because the silencer and venturi tubing is the same)

Sorry... anyway.... point being is that I want as much air as I can get. It would only get real silly if you have your water outlet valve nearly closed. The ratio would be off.... too much air draw, not enough water throughput. Air is not everything...you do need to process water. So then you could change air draw... or LOWER the skimmer.

Hope that makes sense.

 

Right now the water outlet is about 1/4 open. I have noticed that the height of the micro bubbles changes periodically...sometimes higher and sometimes lower. What water level would you suggest to have the skimmer placed in? 7.5"?

 

The levels will change just with feeding and what not. Don't be too concerned. 1/4 is fine. Those wedges are not very linear. The gate on mine is about 1/3 open. I know I'm processing enough water.

Honestly, where you are at now is a good place to start. I like to start on the deep end. More air and water draw, wetter skimate. Your skimmer will continue to break in, and as it does... if you did nothing, the foam would go higher and over flow.... it will work better. So as it breaks in, you will be opening the out let some more. The only thing you are doing now is just running it and getting it all slimed up. After a week you can start to play with and fine tune it for what you think is better performance.

what size is your tank again?

 

Tank is a 75 w/ a 20L sump. I estimate the water volume to be about 85 gallons. Currently has 6 fish in it, 1 3" yellow tang, 2 purple firefish, 2 clowns, and a 6-line wrasse. I like to spot feed my corals often and tend to over feed sometimes. The has not been a skimmer on the tank for about a week. I expect there to be a lot of skimmate within a few days due to this.

I will eventually be going to some SPS, and tend to overstock my tanks. Hence the large skimmer.

 

if peeing your pants is cool then consider me miles davis 8).

 

Ya... all the air you can get. Set depth to determine skimmate. Somewhere in the middle... 7.5-8". Let her rip.

I've played a lot with stuff.... ran depths all over the place... found on most, right in the middle of manufacture recommendations to be good. Water depth has a huge effect on the pump. So think of depth changes as gross/large adjustments, and the outlet valve as fine adjustment.

You're good where you are at. Get those bubbles breaking half way up the neck and let it run. I love my skimmer and played with it a lot.... now it is just down right boring. Nothing to do but clean the cup once a week. There should be something else to play with.;D

 

I think I may be raising the skimmer...watery skimmate but it is skimming.

Does this look normal?



To me, the microbubbles seem to stop pretty low.

 

You are right they do stop pretty low. It is probably still breaking in, so it's skimming wet. I would give it some time before you decide to move it up or down.