Protein Skimmer

Pradeep

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Messages
9
Reaction score
7
Location
Dublin, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am planning to buy a protein skimmer for my 55 gallon saltwater aquarium. Based on the many reviews, I found Tunze 9012 dc and BH-1000 Octopus with external pump as top choices. Can someone share their experience and help me guide which HOB protein skimmer is good for 55 gallon saltwater tank?

Regards
Pradeep
 

vetteguy53081

Well known Member and monster tank lover
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2013
Messages
90,847
Reaction score
200,115
Location
Wisconsin -
Rating - 100%
13   0   0
I am planning to buy a protein skimmer for my 55 gallon saltwater aquarium. Based on the many reviews, I found Tunze 9012 dc and BH-1000 Octopus with external pump as top choices. Can someone share their experience and help me guide which HOB protein skimmer is good for 55 gallon saltwater tank?

Regards
Pradeep
Reef octopus very reliable as is ice cap K2-100
 

monkeyCmonkeyDo

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 4, 2019
Messages
8,288
Reaction score
8,087
Location
Puyallup, Wa USA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Aquamaxx and esshops made a good.hang.on back skimmer awhile ago idk if they still do. Im sure they do. Reef octopulse makes the bh90. Classic 100. And the 1000 and 2000 models.
Surface skimmer would be good attachment.
D
 

polyppal

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 16, 2018
Messages
3,151
Reaction score
6,214
Location
Denver
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a 9012 and it works great. It is a little annoying manually adjusting the unit height to get it tuned in, but once you do its pretty ez and quiet. Id get the DC one with adjustable pump speed if I bought another.
 

dedragon

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
5,895
Reaction score
4,399
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
i think they may be fazing the icecap k2 out for the k3 protein skimmer now. Icecap literally stole the reef octopus design and added on a new dc pump so it seems pretty good. Tunze is also great, you just need to keep a very constant level
 

Lbrdsoxfan

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Messages
4,992
Reaction score
7,930
Location
Long Beach, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
i think they may be fazing the icecap k2 out for the k3 protein skimmer now. Icecap literally stole the reef octopus design and added on a new dc pump so it seems pretty good. Tunze is also great, you just need to keep a very constant level
I echo all the sentiments about the tunze. Touchy as can be about water level, but when dialed it, it's the best out there.
 

Lbrdsoxfan

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Messages
4,992
Reaction score
7,930
Location
Long Beach, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have a 9012 and it works great. It is a little annoying manually adjusting the unit height to get it tuned in, but once you do its pretty ez and quiet. Id get the DC one with adjustable pump speed if I bought another.
I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.
 

dedragon

5000 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
5,895
Reaction score
4,399
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.
yea you definitely need to have a sump baffle to keep that water level stable or use a really good ato like the tunze osmolator
 
OP
OP
P

Pradeep

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2022
Messages
9
Reaction score
7
Location
Dublin, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.
Thanks. Is Ice Cap k2-50 good enough for 55 gallons? Or should I go for some other model (any newer model)? Are you happy with Ice Cap k2-50 or planning to upgrade again?
 

Lbrdsoxfan

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 13, 2021
Messages
4,992
Reaction score
7,930
Location
Long Beach, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks. Is Ice Cap k2-50 good enough for 55 gallons? Or should I go for some other model (any newer model)? Are you happy with Ice Cap k2-50 or planning to upgrade again?
I was happy with it. I had a 50g display with a 15g sump. Total water volume was about 45g. It did a good job of yanking some nasty skimmate.
 

jmello8402

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 22, 2022
Messages
39
Reaction score
15
Location
Massachusetts
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Any opinions on the older Aqua C remora pro with a mag 3 pump? 10 years ago they seemed to have been the go to HOB skimmer… anybody out there still running one?
 

Idech

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 21, 2021
Messages
3,273
Reaction score
2,916
Location
Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have the Tunze 9012 DC and it’s doing a fine job and isn’t too noisy. The cup is easy to remove and clean.

I have 6 fish in my 75 gallons, so not a high bioload and I need to empty the cup maybe every 6 days.

If you want to see how to adjust it, I had a post about it with a picture, and Roger from Tunze helping me.
 

serecheneric

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 10, 2022
Messages
106
Reaction score
71
Location
Goose Creek
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Any opinions on the older Aqua C remora pro with a mag 3 pump? 10 years ago they seemed to have been the go to HOB skimmer… anybody out there still running one?
I'm still running one but doesn't fit quite right in my AIO back sections, still does its job but thinking about going another route with the aquamaxx 1.5
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

  • Ball valves.

    Votes: 50 48.5%
  • Gate valves.

    Votes: 57 55.3%
  • Check valves.

    Votes: 25 24.3%
  • None.

    Votes: 26 25.2%
  • Other.

    Votes: 9 8.7%

New Posts

Back
Top