Using running tap water can be pretty useless depending on your condensor's capabilities and the vapour temperature of whatever you are distilling/refluxing. SWIM has a 34/35 dual coil condensor, 24cm effective length, 44cm overall length with a surface area of 900cm2. So it is not small or inefficient by any means, and running a large (7L) distillation with tap water running for 2 days can make a significant contribution to your water bill, if applicable. Plus it aint exactly environmentally friendly.
SWIM also tried a recirculating ice-water setup. Purchase the largest esky/ice-chest you can. (preferably with a tap) 100L is great. Fill with ice (say 4x5kg bags and a little water to start. Purchase the largest submersible fountain pump from the hardware. They can be a bit pricey, but well worth it for the "head" they produce. They also have good filters on them and won't suck up ice particles. (SWIM has tried many other pumps and they don't last long, the thought of using an aquarium pump sounds like a joke but I suppose it could work for smaller setups, as long as you keep the bucket up high. Submerse pump to bottom of ice and go for it. This setup can run for about 4-5hours, then tap off a 3/4 of water and put another 4 bags of ice in.
SWIM is currently sick of this setup and has purchased a 150L chest freezer, (sealed, stainless steel inside) place pump in the bottom. 3/4 fill with water, turn on, and you have recirculating ice-water indefinately. Turn off and on as required, or setup an electronic timer to do so, or setup a thermostat to do so, or set the factory thermostat to it's lowest setting and it should be fine.
No matter what glass setup you have, SWIM would still go with the latter setups for its capacity and reliability.
Intelligence is not the recall of knowledge, but the ability to use it. (Rainman was a retard)