New MagTool DCSQ-90 Mini Skimmer - Unboxing (and compare to some of skimmers that I had used)

[Haacheew]

Hi,

A new toy, MagTool DCSQ-90 Mini Skimmer, has arrived and installed for a week. Can't wait to share my new found. This Magtool DCSQ-90 skimmer has different design (newer model?) from the MagTool Nano skimmer. The ease of use and other features - adjusting skimming level and cleaning the skimmer, make this DCSQ-90 a clear winner for in-sump nano skimmer category, especially for AIO (all-in-one) tank.

I have a Fiji Cube 32G AIO tank. It fits well into my tank's protein skimmer chamber (with a minor fix: a 3mm cutoff from the 2 plastic height adjusting crews).

DCSQ-90 is the best nano skimmer for AIO that I have owned and experienced. At less than $100, it's a no brainer Best Buy!

Main features that I like about:
- High efficiency - dense and tiny bubbles with long contact time between decomposed compound and oxygen mixed (before bubbles burst), etc..Thanks to the new bubble plate and new flow design. So much waste collected
- Using 1 (one) hand (even with 2 fingers) is enough to easily tune the water level (turning the tube chamber or collection cup to right/left). You have to turn it (the tube chamber or collection cup) yourself to appreciate the smoothness - (relative to the Cadlight PLS-50 Elite II or similar design).
- Parts are separable into pieces conveniently and they are large enough for easy cleaning (broad neck).
- Very quiet and efficient DC pump - max. 9w
- Good quality with bargain price tag

**There is a smaller DCSQ-70 that will fit WaterBox Cube 20 or similar size AIO tanks

new "bubble incubator/reactor plate" design (MagTool Nano does not have this)

Insert the tube chamber

Match up the chamber openings to the base openings. DC pump.

I like a bit snug and anti-slippery. So, I wrapped it few rounds with Teflon tape. (NOTE: nothing wrong with the original design; just personal preference)

Note: for draining purpose, I turned the drain outlet facing toward inside the tank. You can hide the outlet from view by turn it to other side.

I raise the skimmer high above, just so I can enjoy watching the foaming in action

Sorry, it wouldn't let me rotate to vertical view.
See how easily I used 1 hand to tune the water level. As you can see only a tiny amount of micro-bubble escaped into the display tank while I was testing and filming this. I am using the foam trapper in my tank's skimmer chamber.

End

 

[Ron Reefman]

Nice review. I have need for 1... maybe even 2 of these. I have a 3 month old 40g breeder with a Fuji insert and I'm just setting up a DIY 40g cube with a custom made Tenecor insert. I have a Tunze intank skimmer and it works OK, but this one looks much better. The bubble control on the Tunze is'nt very good. A tiny adjustment makes a HUGE difference.

 

[Haacheew]

Correction: I am not using the foam bubble trapper in Fiji Cube skimmer chamber. No need.

Some of skimmers that I have used in the course of my reefing life. ETSS, EuroReef, Reef Concepts Aerofoamer were few of the high-end protien skimmers back then. The invention and application of the needle wheel protein fractionation revolutionize the protein skimming technology. Skimmer size becomes a lot more compact, requires a lot less power consumption (that co-relates to noise, vibration,etc.), ease of use (installation, maintenance, etc..) and, utmost important, collects waste at high efficiency.

ETSS ReefDevil and it's waste collector, odor filter system (my first skimmer, 20 years+ ago)

Euro Reef; Reef Concepts Aerofoamer (20 years ago)

AquaMaxx HoB 1.5; NF-1Nano; Cadlight PLS-50 Elite II

=================
End

 

[Haacheew]

Sorry, it wouldn't let me rotate to vertical view. (Don't get your neck stiffened or injured, please. )
Pay attention to the amount of micro-bubble escaping into display tank if you are planning to do that. Too bad I didn't use the foam bubble trapper while filming. It doesn't look nice in display tank anyway.

 

[vjl501tech]

Will this fit on the regular rimmed tanks which also has the lip. rim and lip is about an inch or so. just wondering. Thank you.

 

[Haacheew]

I think it's designed for rimless tank. See photos. Hope they help.

 

[Txoutlaw]

Thanks for the info.ive been looking into buying this skimmer for my 40B but wanted to see what others thought.

 

[Haacheew]

So far, this is the best nano skimmer for all-in-one tank that I've ever used. Period!

 

[Morpheus77]

Hi,

A new toy, MagTool DCSQ-90 Mini Skimmer, has arrived and installed for a week. Can't wait to share my new found. This Magtool DCSQ-90 skimmer has different design (newer model?) from the MagTool Nano skimmer. The ease of use and other features - adjusting skimming level and cleaning the skimmer, make this DCSQ-90 a clear winner for in-sump nano skimmer category, especially for AIO (all-in-one) tank.

I have a Fiji Cube 32G AIO tank. It fits well into my tank's protein skimmer chamber (with a minor fix: a 3mm cutoff from the 2 plastic height adjusting crews).

DCSQ-90 is the best nano skimmer for AIO that I have owned and experienced. At less than $100, it's a no brainer Best Buy!

Main features that I like about:
- High efficiency - dense and tiny bubbles with long contact time between decomposed compound and oxygen mixed (before bubbles burst), etc..Thanks to the new bubble plate and new flow design. So much waste collected
- Using 1 (one) hand (even with 2 fingers) is enough to easily tune the water level (turning the tube chamber or collection cup to right/left). You have to turn it (the tube chamber or collection cup) yourself to appreciate the smoothness - (relative to the Cadlight PLS-50 Elite II or similar design).
- Parts are separable into pieces conveniently and they are large enough for easy cleaning (broad neck).
- Very quiet and efficient DC pump - max. 9w
- Good quality with bargain price tag

**There is a smaller DCSQ-70 that will fit WaterBox Cube 20 or similar size AIO tanks

new "bubble incubator/reactor plate" design (MagTool Nano does not have this)

Insert the tube chamber

Match up the chamber openings to the base openings. DC pump.

I like a bit snug and anti-slippery. So, I wrapped it few rounds with Teflon tape. (NOTE: nothing wrong with the original design; just personal preference)

Note: for draining purpose, I turned the drain outlet facing toward inside the tank. You can hide the outlet from view by turn it to other side.

I raise the skimmer high above, just so I can enjoy watching the foaming in action

Sorry, it wouldn't let me rotate to vertical view.
See how easily I used 1 hand to tune the water level. As you can see only a tiny amount of micro-bubble escaped into the display tank while I was testing and filming this. I am using the foam trapper in my tank's skimmer chamber.

End

So you took the black foams of the skimmer? Is this a personal thing, or does it help with efficiency? Also I see your water level is just shy of the collection cup, wonder if that's my problem. How long did this take to break in?

 

[Haacheew]

The foam ring is a bubble trapper of that I have no use since I put the skimmer it my tank protein skimmer chamber. Under normal circumstances, the micro bubble can not escape into the display tank. You can use it when you see micro bubble escape to your display tank. I don't think the foam ring help with efficiency. Break-in time took less than a day for me (I have a 4-year matured tank). This is the best and easiest to use nano skimmer so far. Get no doubts about it!

Refer to and follow Eat Sleep and Reef's Skimmer Tuning 101, best skimmer tuning tutorial in general.

This is my current skimmer setting.