SWC Xtreme 160 has arrived!
 

I just got my SWC Xtreme 160!

Packaging of the skimmer was good all parts arrived w/o damage.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031691329416322"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xhtE-rII/AAAAAAAAAYc/bzRIJAcXDsE/s400/IMG_2471.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031704214318226"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xidE-rJI/AAAAAAAAAYk/0umPAQL7DEE/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031717099220130"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xjNE-rKI/AAAAAAAAAYs/a_ZNgmJJEIY/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" /></a>

A few shots of the skimmer before assembly.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031734279089330"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xkNE-rLI/AAAAAAAAAY0/fO7jyBptQVo/s400/IMG_2474.JPG" /></a>

A little less mesh on the threadwheel than I was expecting. It's also not very even at all. Good thing I have extra mesh laying around to clean it up a bit after break in.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031760048893138"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xltE-rNI/AAAAAAAAAZE/lD8ZHEPosxw/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" /></a>

The venturi hole is larger than I expected and a little rougher than I had hoped. The venturi is loose and and be removed as needed. I may end up gluing it eventually, but for now it's just pushed in tight by hand.
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152034620497112338"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jokerjp/R3-0MNE-rRI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/j32q5dHBZVw/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" /></a>

The intake contains a flow restricter that fits up against the venturi. It's the center piece pictured below.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031768638827746"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xmNE-rOI/AAAAAAAAAZM/iJAfHOwHXEk/s400/IMG_2485.JPG" /></a>

The bubble action shot!

The one instant flaw I saw with the thickness of the included airline tubing. It is simply too thin walled to not kink constantly. It was discarded and replaced with some extra tubing I had laying around. See kink below:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031781523729650"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xm9E-rPI/AAAAAAAAAZU/kFQUeujMro8/s400/IMG_2487.JPG" /></a>

After a quick vinegar wipe down it was off to the break in tub. I dumped my last cup of skimmate into the tub so the skimmer has plenty of nasty stuff to work with.

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152031798703598850"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jokerjp/R3-xn9E-rQI/AAAAAAAAAZc/wBVyDmjr_P0/s400/IMG_2489.JPG" /></a>

As soon as the pump has run for 24 hours I'll post air readings and kill-a-watt numbers along with my initial impressions. It's too early to tell exactly how well this baby will skim, but I'm hopeful it will be a nice performer especially for the price.

cool gratzz. looks like a great skimmer.. whre did you buy it? is it made in winnipeg manatoba canada?

What are the initial air readings?

thats great.
hows the noise level? footprint? man cant wait!!

thanks for the pics! So in comparison to other skimmers you have used how would you rate it? construction? materials I know you mentioned some flaws but it certainly looks like it is working good but time will tell

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526696#post11526696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33 [/i]
[B]What are the initial air readings? [/B][/QUOTE]

The initial air readings are all over the place. The meter just bounces up and down, I believe this is due to either the uneven mesh wheel or part of the break in process. I'm hesitant to post any hard numbers until the pump has run at least 24 hours. Probably needs more like a week of breaking before I'd be comfortable that any numbers are accurate and sustainable.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526686#post11526686 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BigBadBlenny [/i]
[B]cool gratzz. looks like a great skimmer.. whre did you buy it? is it made in winnipeg manatoba canada? [/B][/QUOTE]

The skimmer was purchased from Marine Solutions Inc. I honestly don't know where it was manufactured.

[url]http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/catalog/index.php[/url]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526700#post11526700 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nycsicktank [/i]
[B]thats great.
hows the noise level? footprint? man cant wait!! [/B][/QUOTE]

Right now the pump is noisy. But I've used this exact same pump in the past and it's been silent. I have no reason to think noise will be a problem long term. The skimmer did come with a nice little silencer, but I won't be using that as my skimmer line is always run to outside air.

The footprint is

Height - 21 1/2" - I'd say 22" min to get the collection cup off
Width - 7"
Length- 9" - the base is square @ 7" x 7", but the standpipe take up another inch and a a half or so.

The skimmer is currently running in 8" of water. I tried in 9" first but that was a little deep to control the height of the water in the skimmer neck.

A couple more action pics

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152040307033812274"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/jokerjp/R3-5XNE-rTI/AAAAAAAAAaM/17NYIy8Y-Gg/s400/IMG_2500.JPG" /></a>

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152040319918714178"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jokerjp/R3-5X9E-rUI/AAAAAAAAAaU/fwJfddgueU8/s400/IMG_2502.JPG" /></a>

wow....looks good so far.....so the pump is diy modded before its shipped out......did you remeshed the wheel before start up or left it as-in for now?

Sooo this is a "mesh wheel" pump? Idk sounds iffy to me. How often am I going to have to replace the mesh? Is this the way to go or is a Needle wheel better? I hope mine gets here soon

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526712#post11526712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangafish [/i]
[B]thanks for the pics! So in comparison to other skimmers you have used how would you rate it? construction? materials I know you mentioned some flaws but it certainly looks like it is working good but time will tell [/B][/QUOTE]

I feel the construction is strong enough. I know some people get hung up on the thickness of the acrylic, but I never have. The welds and joints look strong and clean. The collection cup fits very nicely in the body of the skimmer, and the pump connection is snug.

The acrylic appears to be 3mm

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152047793161809250"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/jokerjp/R3_AK9E-rWI/AAAAAAAAAak/nfiyFcpWg7U/s400/IMG_2507.JPG" /></a>

As far as comparisons go it's WAAAYYY to early to compare it to other skimmers. I'd need at least a month of continuous use to be able to draw a comparison.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526887#post11526887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltydragon [/i]
[B]wow....looks good so far.....so the pump is diy modded before its shipped out......did you remeshed the wheel before start up or left it as-in for now? [/B][/QUOTE]

It does appear that the mods are completed by Marine Solutions Inc before the product is shipped out. I did not alter the amount of mesh on the pump for now. I figure I should at least let the pump break in before I even think about modifying the "as shipped" configuration.

Looks like alot of bubbles are escaping.
My sicce's since day one had no variances in air so something must be up. Could be that mesh, Could be the airline needs to be restricted a bit. Try a airvalve on it

is this the mesh type you use for mesh mod?
[url]http://www.seattlefabrics.com/Dive%20Mesh.jpg[/url]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11526964#post11526964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin [/i]
[B]Looks like alot of bubbles are escaping.
My sicce's since day one had no variances in air so something must be up. Could be that mesh, Could be the airline needs to be restricted a bit. Try a airvalve on it [/B][/QUOTE]

I agree and I've had the same experience as you with previous Sicce pumps. I'm fairly certain that the problem is the uneven mesh shown in the pic above, I tried restricting the air intake in the past and found that when the mesh was right it wasn't necessary for me. I'm going to let it run for a few hours and swap in my "spare" impeller with 2 layers of mesh trimmed evenly and see what happens. When I've got that up and running I'll post new pics.

it should be enkamat...

this guy on ebay sells small sheets of it...its enough to do a few skimmers..

[url]http://cgi.ebay.com/Enkamat-P4-for-needlewheel-mods-FREE-SHIPPING_W0QQitemZ320203232365QQihZ011QQcategoryZ46313QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Tagging along for this one.

Hmm, I am not so sure I like the whole DIY mod thing...The quality of the skimmer looks great, but the mesh wheel and the DIY drilling for the venturi...IDK I want that on my skimmer.

Depends on how great this thing performs. Keep us updated.

joker thanks for being honest and posting up what you found. I'll be tagging along on this one since I NEED a good skimmer and was just about to go with the regular Octopus NW 150, but saw the "xtreme" and the INT-PS150 or something.

Please do keep us updated!

OK so I decided to take air readings on the existing threadwheel. The meter was really bouncing around so I shot a quick video.

Since Picasa doesn't let me link vid's you'll have to click the link to see it.
[url=http://picasaweb.google.com/jokerjp/SWC160/photo#5152093551743380914]LINK[/URL]

i think i would rebuild the threadwheel?