|
06/10/2010, 02:53 PM | #1 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 795
|
Cool New Skimmer Cleaner
I travel a lot and my wife hates cleaning the skimmer. I never thought I would find a self-cleaning skimmer head on anything less than a high-end Deltec.
Fortunately I came across this new device from AVAST Marine Works (formerly Grey Seas Aquatics). It is called a Swabbie and they make it to fit just about any skimmer. Your existing skimmer cup just drops into a CNC channel that is either a standard size or specified by you. Once you get your skimmer cup on, you just loosen this little screw on the wiper and adjust it to fit snugly up against the inside neck of your skimmer. If you have a cone skimmer, you can just tilt it to match. Once you tighten it up, you are good to go... Here it is in action... Here it is after a few days dealing with the nasty skimmate I get from NP pellets and vodka dosing. The inside of the neck is perfectly clean. All the gunk is in the cup. I drain everything down into an external waste container with a float switch installed. It stops the skimmer and sends me an email before I get an overflow. I think this is my first reef purchase that actually make my wife happy. |
06/10/2010, 03:01 PM | #2 |
Moved On
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Socal
Posts: 2,315
|
That's seriously rad! And the brand name is quite piratey, an added bonus!
|
06/10/2010, 11:18 PM | #3 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: menifee So cal
Posts: 11,042
|
Nice, it should fit my I-Tech 200 skimmer, since they make a similar skimmer.
|
06/11/2010, 08:38 AM | #4 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 282
|
I have one on my swc xtreme 160 cone skimmer, love it so far.
|
06/11/2010, 10:32 AM | #5 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Monterey County
Posts: 6,442
|
How long is the blade?
__________________
This space for rent... Current Tank Info: 36x36x16 A.G.E. tank. Lighting: ATI Straton. Circulation: 2x Vortech MP40wQd's. Skimmer: Red Sea 300. Controller: Neptune Apex. Doser: Neptune Dos. |
06/11/2010, 12:14 PM | #6 |
Proud user of IO Salt!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 9,136
|
That's pretty cool and about 1/10 of the price of some of the other ones I've seen.
__________________
Mike <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ <*)))>{ ReefKeeping.com TOTM Nov 2012 Socalireefs Featured Reef Oct 2011 Current Tank Info: 60*30*20, 8x54 ATI Powermodule, ReefBrite XHO, ATB Elegance 200, Aquamaxx CTech CaRx, Ecotech Vortechs, Apex Controls, WM Ecobak powered. RedSea Reefer 170, MP10, Apex Jr, Ecotech Radion XR15, Aquamaxx WS-1 |
06/11/2010, 05:06 PM | #7 |
Moved On
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Glen Allen
Posts: 518
|
Do you have a link? This would help me tremendously!!
|
06/11/2010, 09:31 PM | #8 |
SCRK member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 1,444
|
can you post of pic of yours? TIA
__________________
Ed "Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying" "Were discussing man,...you have your wrong opinion i have my right one. Its called communication." Mac Inger Current Tank Info: working on establishing a 32 Gal. Nano-Cube |
06/11/2010, 09:34 PM | #9 |
SCRK member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Whittier, CA
Posts: 1,444
|
__________________
Ed "Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying" "Were discussing man,...you have your wrong opinion i have my right one. Its called communication." Mac Inger Current Tank Info: working on establishing a 32 Gal. Nano-Cube |
06/11/2010, 10:53 PM | #10 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 648
|
Where does all the gunk go?? Does it fall back into the main body of the skimmer and out the outlet?
|
06/11/2010, 11:05 PM | #11 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: council bluffs iowa
Posts: 1,530
|
i would think that would hinder the performance of the skimmer, i could be wrong, all the sharp edges would braek the surface tension on alot of bubbles........
__________________
120g custom acrylic, dart return, dart closed loop, 2-evo-1400's, RKE, xtreme 200, 80g sump/fuge, 240lbs rock, ssb, 2-250w mh, 2x54 t5, ato Current Tank Info: 120gallon 2-darts, 2-evo 1400's...piles of flow.. RKE with an easy button |
06/11/2010, 11:06 PM | #12 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Auburn, AL
Posts: 158
|
I would think that the squeegee runs often enough that no "gunk" builds up, only a light coating of stuff that will remain on the foam because it's not dense enough to sink.
A member of my local club ordered one and should have a good objective review coming up soon.
__________________
Ask me where to get reasonably priced 1/4" clear netting for DIY screen tops! Current Tank Info: 90g Reef, 120 Rimless Starfire in the works |
06/12/2010, 06:44 AM | #13 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 795
|
The silicone blade gets a little gunk on it at the top. The rest just falls off into the bubble column. I run it 4 times/day so you never really get big chunks of stuff. It is just wiping off a thin film,
It works best when skimming a little wet (which I prefer anyway). I have not noticed any change at all on skimmer performance. I was concerned it would interfere with the head of bubbles, but that has not been the case. |
06/12/2010, 08:16 AM | #14 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 122
|
Does the blade reach the top of the neck because height on the blade doesn't look like it's adjustable?
|
06/12/2010, 08:11 PM | #15 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 795
|
The blade extends a about 1/4" above the top of the neck on my skimmer. It has about and 1 and 1/2" of extra reach on the bottom end.
|
06/12/2010, 11:19 PM | #17 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,017
|
Looking forward to some objective reviews.
|
06/15/2010, 02:46 PM | #18 | |
Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: ATL. GA.
Posts: 393
|
Quote:
__________________
6yrs in hobby and still learning everyday! 90 Gallon SPS Dominate Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon AGA-RR with 40 gallon sump |
|
06/15/2010, 03:24 PM | #19 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 795
|
I missed the question on the height. It increases the total height of the skimmer about 2 inches.
The unit is still working real well for me though I can't tell if I have any skimmer production because I am playing with NP pellets and vodka at the same time. |
06/15/2010, 05:15 PM | #20 | |
Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Georgia
Posts: 956
|
Quote:
__________________
It's dark as the inside of a cow out here! - Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 120 MRC acrylic Tank (love it). Constellation T5s Mixed Reef |
|
06/15/2010, 05:17 PM | #21 |
Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LI N.Y.
Posts: 765
|
They have a demo cone skimmer for sale for $250.
Make em an offer with the swabbie and it looks like you would have a nice setup. http://www.avastmarine.com/ssc/do/pr...mmers/GS1-2010 |
Thread Tools | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
DIY cooling fans for water temp | gte539f | Do It Yourself | 3 | 04/26/2010 06:43 PM |
Cleaner Shrimp | krazedkazoo | Tampa Bay Reef Club | 6 | 03/20/2010 08:29 PM |
cooling via skimmer air intake? | pong | New to the Hobby | 13 | 03/09/2009 08:52 PM |
COOL DIY Skimmer! | ostrow | Chicagoland Marine Aquarium Society (CMAS) | 3 | 11/30/2007 07:28 PM |
Cool GEO skimmer | cward | Central Ohio Reef Aquarists (CORA) | 21 | 06/19/2006 03:15 PM |