BEST SKIMMER BRAND: Who get's your vote?

[fishybizzness]

Lifereef! Just started using mine and it's already skimming! Can't argue with a company that hasn't changed their product for decades! It just works! A big plus being able to use any pump brand too!

 

[mfinn]

My Reef Octo has been a pretty good skimmer for the last 5 years or so.
But if I had extra $ and needed a new one, my pick would be Royal Exclusiv

 

[sixty_reefer]

DIY best skimmer I’ve ever used. This is on my 60g with light bioload,7 days

 

[WallyB]

I have two Acient EUROREEF Skimmers.

Maybe not the most compact and still use KSP Venturi AC pumps.

But over 15 years old, and still running with the Odd Impeller Replacement.
Simple design....Time tested, reliable, easy to clean and skim very well.

I bought a newer DC variable Speed skimmer a few years ago. Pump Seized and it's in my scrap box.

 

[JCTReefer]

The reef octopus elite series is made to compete with the nyos and be a top end skimmer

Love the look of the Elite series. I wish they made something larger than the 220INT and 220SSS in this series.

 

[Todd1white]

Had the ASM & had a Reef Octopus, but I’m lovin my new ish Maxspect Aeraqua Duo. Quiet, easy to set and maintain and I control it with the ICV6 that I use for the gyres.

 

[Reef-Tank]

So far Royal Exclusive RD6 doing the best job for my tank pulling thick foam skimmate and super quiet in my sump. I can't even hear any noise from this Royal Exclusive RD6 skimmer except only the noise is vibrating from my Sicce return pump.

 

[Doostur]

I have always ran Reef Octopus skimmers. Always solid and proven. But their Elite series with the varios pump is on another level of greatness.

 

[gcrawford]

Lifereef! Problem is it won't fit under my tank.

 

[Baugher3715]

I’m running a simplicity skimmer for the first time on my Innovative Marine Ext 75 and it is doing a great job.

 

[BullyBee]

Did people vote based on what they already own or what they think is the best?

I have an EShopps but I Really want the Red Sea Reefer. So I voted Red Sea. I just can’t justify it for such a smaller tank.

 

[deleau]

1. Royal Exclusiv
2. Yes
3. Royal Exclusiv

RE (especially the RD pumps) are the premium unit on the market. RO makes great units (and some bad ones as well...looking at you SS models) as does Skimz and others, but none of them check all the boxes at the level of the Royal Exclusiv skimmers, but they are not cheap.

 

[Mark Novack]

I really like my Nyos. Its easy to get a good level.

 

[dtimerunner1]

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 run four different skimmers, Skimz, Simplicity, Reef Octopus and a Deltec.
As soon as I need to replace any parts or skimmer, they will be replaced with a Deltec, it has been the easiest skimmer to break in, use, and the most quiet of any skimmer that i have tried. The only drawback to them is the two smallest models do not include a drain port in the skimmer cup.

 

[dyno]

Maxspect Aeraqua Duo is super cool, love it. I think it’s the future or protein skimming!

 

[jda]

Thread looks like a popularity contest... How many people who voted have used more than one brand... or two?

Here is just a ASM with the Sedra pump with about two days in between. There is not a skimmer out that can do better outside of LifeReef or RD driven skimmer, but they advertise more and have more videos made about them:

 

[Big Boy]

I "upgraded" my Bubble Magus to a Royal Exclusiv 6 months ago. I'm not saying it isn't producing better looking foam, but it's WAY louder, a PITA to clean, already had to warranty it and some screws are still rusting. The BM also did the job (pulling everything from the water) just as well for 1/6 the price. So I'm never buying RE again.

I have a RE double cone 180 and 200. It is silent and cant even tell it's running(RD3 pump). Never seen any rusted hardware either,its titanium

 

[Bill Bolton]

Over the time I've kept reef aquariums, I have used everything from old Sea Clone, to Reef Octopus, Deltec .... you name it, I've tried it ... if it has been out in the last 8 years. My favorite by far is my standby.... ASM G2 through G4 skimmers, with a few cheap and easy mods to "fine tune" it to my system. At no point did even my G5 cost me more than $300, and with a couple of very simple modifications, they pull the darkest, funkiest crap out of my water consistently.

 

[maceto]

For my pico tank, the best option I found was ReefGlass. And I'm happy with the results.

 

[Young@Heart]

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

2. Are you happy with your current skimmer? Yes

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

Not Noisy. Easy to tune. Been working through 2+ years no issues. It is on my 180 and It has been through some power failures and variances - no problems.