SWC Customer Service

[rebelson]

Horrible customer service IMO. I purchased a 160 cone skimmer in November and everything was fine in the beginning. Fast forward 2 months and the problems begin. No skim is being produced and when I turn the skimmer off it's a pain to get it running again. I literally have to lift the ENTIRE skimmer out of my sump, drain it and put it back in and hope that it works. I wrote a lengthy email to SWC explaining the problems I've been having and received a "call this number" as a response.

The service rep asked basic questions such as tank size, inhabitants, feeding schedule etc. I feed once a day and a small amount at that. His solution to me not seeing any skim in the collection cup was "feed more". Are you kidding me? This is the response of a popular saltwater company? I have messed with the water level, adjusted the air flow, cleaned the entire skimmer last week with vinegar and still nothing. Nothing is clogged and my water level is at a constant 8 1/2 inches. I have the water level in the skimmer set to the neck area/where it meets the collection cup. It fizzes (like soda) but doesn't produce any larger bubbles....any skim is stuck to the neck of the collection cup - nothing over flows in to the cup.

I am seriously considering an upgrade to a RELIABLE skimmer. This piece of garbage is a $275.00 paper weight.

 

[rookie07]

They are known for that, and they have been sued by big companies for patent infringment...they dont care.
This is te same guy who tried to steal Paul Baldassano's design for the eventual Majano Wand....they just make cheap knockoffs of other company products.

I will never buy anything from them!

 

[rebelson]

They are known for that, and they have been sued by big companies for patent infringment...they dont care.
This is te same guy who tried to steal Paul Baldassano's design for the eventual Majano Wand....they just make cheap knockoffs of other company products.

I will never buy anything from them!

Thanks for the information. I'll never buy anything from them again.

 

[duke62]

get a vertex.i just had a problem where i had a small amount of current going through the tank and the guy is sending me a new pump.he didnt even ask me to send him back the broken one i suggested it

 

[rebelson]

Thanks, Duke. That was going to be my next question - which skimmer would you recommend.

 

[wonderballz]

Interesting. I defi would have not gone with SWC if I saw these types of replies. When I researched my SWC160, The reviews seemed pretty good. Mine skims fine though. Hmm....Should I upgrade to a vertex?

BTW Rebelson, What'd you think of the Big 4? I was on the rail and got on the big screen a couple of times during all nightmare long.

 

[INNEED]

and to guess i was going to go with a SWC skimmer for my new set up grrrr.

 

[rebelson]

Interesting. I defi would have not gone with SWC if I saw these types of replies. When I researched my SWC160, The reviews seemed pretty good. Mine skims fine though. Hmm....Should I upgrade to a vertex?

BTW Rebelson, What'd you think of the Big 4? I was on the rail and got on the big screen a couple of times during all nightmare long.

I'm going tp upgrade to something better. This is why I'm never buying a SWC product ever again!

Awesome show! Sucks that Hanneman wasn't there but I enjoyed it.

 

[rambler67]

That sucks. i am happy i didnt get one i was really thing about it. just got a reef octpuss my self.

 

[rebelson]

That sucks. i am happy i didnt get one i was really thing about it. just got a reef octpuss my self.

I'm probably going with a reef octopus as well.

 

[rookie07]

I'm probably going with a reef octopus as well.

That is who SWC copied....and sued by.

 

[KurtL]

wait is SWC saltwater critters?

 

[NYreefNoob]

rebel what size tank is the skimmer on ? skimmer size does make a differance in how consistantly it performs, and there's over 50% of the companies cloning other brands or just adding their name to it

 

[rebelson]

wait is SWC saltwater critters?

No. SWC is Salt Water Connection.

Saltwater Critters should school the minions at SWC on proper customer service!

 

[rebelson]

rebel what size tank is the skimmer on ? skimmer size does make a differance in how consistantly it performs, and there's over 50% of the companies cloning other brands or just adding their name to it

75 Gallon.

 

[NYreefNoob]

what you looking to spend and what size space do you have to fit the skimmer ? height width and length

 

[rambler67]

No. SWC is Salt Water Connection.

Saltwater Critters should school the minions at SWC on proper customer service!

agreed.

 

[rebelson]

what you looking to spend and what size space do you have to fit the skimmer ? height width and length

Height should be no more than 22 inches. Width is a maximum 8 and length about 6. Don't want to take up too much sump space with the skimmer. It was another reason I purchased the SWC 160, the foot print wasn't gigantic. $300.00 max.

 

[NYreefNoob]

http://www.pacificeastaquaculture.com/Warner-Marine-MF-161-Skimmer-Prodview.html

a little more then you want to spend but a beast, or buy a vertex in100 and add the new sicce psk1000 to it and it is a monster

 

[rebelson]

Thanks for the link and suggestions!