Sleepingtiger
Premium Member
This all started when i just decided that I should take better care of my reef. One of the things i hate the most is cleaning the skimmer. When i was at my most diligent, i would clean the skimmer maybe twice a week then would go weeks before cleaning it again. So it would barely produce any skimmate. Any skimmate that it produces is thick and nasty. Even though my parameters are good, i felt the skimmer just isn't working at capacity. I have recently added several fish and feed them about 3-5 cubes of PE mysis a day. So something must be done.
I have been wanting to get the Swabbie for awhile now, just could never justify the cost because i was lazy to clean the skimmer myself. Now, fast forward 2 years and 2 babies, i can justify the Swabbie. I ordered the swabbie kit on Thursday and received it on the following Tuesday. It wasn't until the next day was i able to install the Swabbie. The instructions for install is online. The instructions consist of pictures and thats it. It was that simple. However, i think i am little mechanically and electrically inclined, so it might be a little difficult for those who isn't. I didn't call their support, but I have heard good things about it. The packaged also came with a hand written note addressed to me saying thanks. Even thought it isn't a big deal and only takes seconds, but it shows that i am just not just another number. Little things like this makes me want to spend more money there.
After install, I setup the Swabbie on my ReefAngel to run every 4hours for 2 minutes. I would stare at it multiple times a day hoping to see something magical. Nothing special. All is see is the skimmer running. The following day, i did see some skimmate on the neck, and some skimmate in the collection cup. I don't have skimmate reservoir, just the collection cup (its quite big for a collection cup). I was tempted to take it out and readjust the wiper blade, but i held back and wanted to see the unit run a full week before making any adjustments. 2 days later, the wiper definitely needed an adjustment because their was skimmate on one side of the neck of the skimmer. Still, i held back and wanted to run it a few more days. I would say only about 30% of the neck is dirty.
5 days later, the collection cup is almost full. I can barely even see the neck of the skimmer because of all the skimmate in the collection cup. This will be the first time my skimmer has worked this good. I have produced more skimmate in 5 days than what i have in months. Looking at it, you probably think its a waste of money. Give it a few days and you will see results. Give it a few months, and it will be worth every penny. My only regret is why I didn't get this sooner. With the amount of skimmate I am producing, I might have to buy Davey Jones locker. For those who spend $400 on a skimmer, but too lazy to do regular maintenance, spend the $100 and get this.
I have been wanting to get the Swabbie for awhile now, just could never justify the cost because i was lazy to clean the skimmer myself. Now, fast forward 2 years and 2 babies, i can justify the Swabbie. I ordered the swabbie kit on Thursday and received it on the following Tuesday. It wasn't until the next day was i able to install the Swabbie. The instructions for install is online. The instructions consist of pictures and thats it. It was that simple. However, i think i am little mechanically and electrically inclined, so it might be a little difficult for those who isn't. I didn't call their support, but I have heard good things about it. The packaged also came with a hand written note addressed to me saying thanks. Even thought it isn't a big deal and only takes seconds, but it shows that i am just not just another number. Little things like this makes me want to spend more money there.
After install, I setup the Swabbie on my ReefAngel to run every 4hours for 2 minutes. I would stare at it multiple times a day hoping to see something magical. Nothing special. All is see is the skimmer running. The following day, i did see some skimmate on the neck, and some skimmate in the collection cup. I don't have skimmate reservoir, just the collection cup (its quite big for a collection cup). I was tempted to take it out and readjust the wiper blade, but i held back and wanted to see the unit run a full week before making any adjustments. 2 days later, the wiper definitely needed an adjustment because their was skimmate on one side of the neck of the skimmer. Still, i held back and wanted to run it a few more days. I would say only about 30% of the neck is dirty.
5 days later, the collection cup is almost full. I can barely even see the neck of the skimmer because of all the skimmate in the collection cup. This will be the first time my skimmer has worked this good. I have produced more skimmate in 5 days than what i have in months. Looking at it, you probably think its a waste of money. Give it a few days and you will see results. Give it a few months, and it will be worth every penny. My only regret is why I didn't get this sooner. With the amount of skimmate I am producing, I might have to buy Davey Jones locker. For those who spend $400 on a skimmer, but too lazy to do regular maintenance, spend the $100 and get this.