BEST SKIMMER BRAND: Who get's your vote?

[OwduaNM]

Let's talk protein skimmers today and put it to a vote!

1. What brand skimmer are you running on your saltwater reef aquarium?

2. Are you happy with your current skimmer?

3. If you could choose any skimmer what brand would you choose?


VOTE on your favorite brand and if I forgot a good one let me know!

I know most of this community likely has a Sump, but it would be nice to share the same type of polls for AIO equipment for those of us at the entry level of the hobby.

 

[|Tom the Bomb|]

I know most of this community likely has a Sump, but it would be nice to share the same type of polls for AIO equipment for those of us at the entry level of the hobby.

You mean like HOB skimmers like Reef Octo and Aquamaxx or the MSK red sea skimmer for AIOs

 

[Karliefish]

Went from Reef Octopus to Nyos and now use a Deltec. Like the Deltec the best. Good build quality, easy to take apart to clean and easy to dial in.

Would you mind sharing what Deltec Model and did you go with AC or DC

 

[OwduaNM]

You mean like HOB skimmers like Reef Octo and Aquamaxx or the MSK red sea skimmer for AIOs

I’m too new to have any insight. I just have the Fluval PS1 in my AIO and it’s the only skimmer I’ve ever had.

 

[flyfisher2]

I've run Kent Marine, Reef Octopus, NYOS, Skimz, Aqua Max. The Kent Marine was rugged and did a great job. I'm sorry they aren't around anymore. The Skimz... it runs. LOL . Aqua Maxx is okay but the cup is a pain to clean and the body is light. The NYOS is pretty. If you have a beautiful sump that you display as much or more than your tank then the NYOS is a good match. I don't so I traded mine a few years ago. The Reef Octopus just works and as much as I'd like to knock it or have a reason to replace it I don't. That's my bottom line.

 

[kingdog22]

Bubble King has always worked great for me.
But I've had Eshopps, Reef Octopus and Skimz work good also.

 

[GillMeister]

I still run the same Kent Marine TE I've had for years. Works like a champ and I see no reason to switch it out. Too bad they stopped making them.

 

[Karliefish]

Bubble King: Premium price = Premium Sump

 

[Devaji]

I hear really good things about life reef. been around for decades not well known.
I dont own one but if I was in the market I would.
I have a cpl reef octo HOB and in sump there great. but the pump on the HOB fails to start after turning it off sometimes that is a real PITA.

 

[robbyg]

As asked before why no ASM on the list.
I tried one of the newer skimmers but went back to my ASM G3.
It's built like a tank and just pulls out a lot more stuff than the Cones type skimmer I tried.
I would put good money on an ASM G6 beating most skimmers on the market when used on a large tank. It's a beast.

 

[Don Lidtke]

I know most of this community likely has a Sump, but it would be nice to share the same type of polls for AIO equipment for those of us at the entry level of the hobby.

The Lifereef skimmers can be run externally which is how I run mine. I went externally because of the 36” height but a 24” version is available.

 

[Don Lidtke]

I am currently running an external 36” Lifereef skimmer and I am very pleased with its performance. I did a good amount of research before choosing this skimmer. I like the venture setup because it appears to be less problematic not having a pinwheel design.

This is my first reef tank and first skimmer so I have no other experience with other brands.

 

[stanlalee]

The answer is going to be best of what you've had lol. Value wise Aquamaxx is the best for me. It undercuts pretty much every brand that uses a reputable pump. Quiet, not finicky, a lot of features. It's not built like a tank but it's stationery in a sump. The design is poor man's NYOS quantum.
I had a SWC 160 cone which was a monster but the cheap pump was good for about a year. Had octopus which are ok but now overpriced (they use to be the budget knock off but have become popular and priced accordingly. The "classic" and "essence" lines are at least $50 overpriced IMO.
I believe skimmer performance is over emphasized in general. In the early days I had a seaclone and coralife's first "needlewheel" skimmer and they put out darker nastier and more skim than these supposedly superior skimmers simply because they weren't oversized for application like we all do now.

 

[Snoopdog]

Bigger is better right?

LOL, it is labeled.

 

[Rjramos]

A Top Fathom 110! Still running today, since 1995! 25 years in operation! Very similar to a Lifereef. Venturi air induced. This one is running on a 65 gal display. The system operates on 1 iwaki 3MDQX(1200 gph), for turnover circulation and skimmer. 1/2” pvc feeding skimmer is gated down. Simplicity at its best = dependability and longevity.

 

[sfin52]

LOL, it is labeled.

Fo sizzle

 

[Silent]

@Cudaman if it ain't broke dont fix it. Im skimming a dry right now with my Euro-reef.

 

[sfin52]

@Cudaman if it ain't broke dont fix it. Im skimming a dry right now with my Euro-reef.

Thats mud not skim

 

[Silent]

Thats mud not skim

Good for the garden, or pods.

 

[GillMeister]

@Cudaman if it ain't broke dont fix it. Im skimming a dry right now with my Euro-reef.

I'm throwing up a little right now.