best protein skimmers 2015

[lexzbuddy]

I am building an acrylic aquarium and sump and was hoping to get the best protein skimmer I can. Mixed reef with live rock, coral (SPS and LPS) and fish too.

There is a plethora to choose from out there, I'm looking for practical experience and opinions for in sump units.

Tank size 1.2m x 0.6m x 0.6m
Sump 1m x 0.45m x 0.5m

These are the ones I am looking at, any thoughts or advice welcome.

Deltec SC 1351 Internal Protein Skimmer
Deltec SC 1456 Internal Protein Skimmer
Vertex Omega 150 Internal Protein Skimmer
Nyos Quantum 120 Protein Skimmer
Bubble Magus Curve 7 Protein Skimmer
Korallen Zucht Revolution Protein Skimmer - Small

 

[Reefstarter2]

Take a look at Skimz as well or Sro model skimmers

 

[mypepper]

I've been using the Nyos Quantum 160 Protein Skimmer since it was released in the USA and this skimmer is the best on the market. The Nyos skimmer is very easy to setup / fine tune and the skim-mate is nice a dark green and smells like a poop factory.

I'm also running the Aqualund Bio Pellet reactor, which the reactor output directly flows into the Nyos intake. My skim-mate truly smells like a sewer treatment plant.

There are many fine skimmers on the market, but I choose the Nyos brand, due to their build quality and reliability.

Good luck with your search for a skimmer,
Randy

 

[biecacka]

I think "best" is very vague.....many will say that their current skimmer is the best and I'm not saying it is or isn't, I am saying a lot of factors are involved. There are the venturi skimmers like lifereef, MTC/MRC, and becket skimmers which remove more crud then most can imagine but CAN require a large pump and in some cases more maintenance then needlewheel skimmers. They move a ton more water and typically have less breakable parts and the pumps are typically cheaper.
Needlewheel skimmers are more energy efficient usually, more compact and can be less finicky. There are many variables in which is the best though, build quality of the skimmer is important, and the pump on these skimmers are really important. There seems to be a quasi general consensus that the red dragon pump is second to none, as is the workmanship of the Bubble King they come with. So from that point they are "the best", but not everyone has 1000$ or more for the skimmer. Reef Octopus are everywhere and have a loyal following in the forums and many swear by them too.
There are literally hundreds to choose from and in this competitive market, most do about the same thing. Remove around 30% of DOC's from our tank. They all do that, or very close to it. From there it comes down to personal wants and abilities. Ease of tuning and maintenance, abundance of spare parts if needed, customer support, and cost. This is a very difficult decision to make and I am possibly in the hunt for a new skimmer too so I feel your headache.
Good luck and let us know what you choose

corey

 

[lexzbuddy]

Ya, I'm with you on the whole "best" being vague.

Easy to setup is definitely top of the list. Easy to maintain and reliable are up there too.

I would prefer not to spend crazy money but I think cutting corners on a skimmer is a huge mistake. I'm quite happy to spend £500 on a skimmer if I know it will work well for several years to come.

I'll have a look at all the suggestions people have, even the most expensive ones as I seriously want to minimise problems.

Thanks for all the interest and comments, I hope there are a few more to come.

 

[ifarmer]

Bubbleking

 

[Marinus]

The best protein skimmer is the one you currently use. Ignorance is bliss when you can't afford the latest technology.

 

[Perth_reefer]

I never hear Reef Life Support Systems mentioned in lists of skimmers. I bought a DB10i a year ago and it is bar far the best skimmer I've ever owned, I'm can't say it's the best out there because I haven't owned every skimmer out there!
It is whisper quiet though, pulls heaps of skimmate and because the pump is fully controlled by a control panel it's really easy to set up, worth taking a look at.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDQ38U5yvts

 

[Settings]

The best? Cheto and micro algae has been the best for my aquarium. Since I sold my Aquamax my sps corals have never looked better.

 

[lexzbuddy]

Wow, MRC skimmers look fantastic. The recirculation system with proper needle valves looks great. Thanks for the heads up on those, I live in the UK so we don't seem to be able to get all the great stuff as America.

MR-2R Recirculating Protein Skimmer £450

http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=19230&cat=1352&page=1

 

[Perth_reefer]

The best? Cheto and micro algae has been the best for my aquarium. Since I sold my Aquamax my sps corals have never looked better.

Sounds like your water was too clean before, I have a good skimmer so I can feed heavily, it's a bit of a balancing act, you want low level nitrates/phosphates in your system but not too low.

 

[Settings]

Sounds like your water was too clean before, I have a good skimmer so I can feed heavily, it's a bit of a balancing act, you want low level nitrates/phosphates in your system but not too low.

Maybe I am starving my fish. I've always wondered why they start jumping out of the water as I hover food over the water line.

Actually I had an Aquamaxx Cones co-1 on a 65 gallon. The tank had two tangs and two clowns. I feed 2-3 times a day. I also had the Cheto and red dragon algae. My sps corals just never seemed to pop. After removing the skimmer, it appears the coral are extending more and the color has changed ever so slightly but the change is visible.

 

[pola0502ds]

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I would just ask here. I am looking at the Vertex 180 or the Nyos 160.

Any input on which one to get? I am leaning towards the Nyos because I know it will fit in my sump with no problems. The Vertex would be a tight fit but I would be willing to deal with it if it is worth it.

I have a 72 gallon tank that I am planning to upgrade in the future so thats why I am going for the large skimmer.

Any comments?

 

[Kies1]

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I would just ask here. I am looking at the Vertex 180 or the Nyos 160.

Any input on which one to get? I am leaning towards the Nyos because I know it will fit in my sump with no problems. The Vertex would be a tight fit but I would be willing to deal with it if it is worth it.

I have a 72 gallon tank that I am planning to upgrade in the future so thats why I am going for the large skimmer.

Any comments?

Would not put the 180i on anything less than a heavily stocked 90 gallon.

 

[Dimple]

Instead of starting a new thread I figured I would just ask here. I am looking at the Vertex 180 or the Nyos 160.

Any input on which one to get? I am leaning towards the Nyos because I know it will fit in my sump with no problems. The Vertex would be a tight fit but I would be willing to deal with it if it is worth it.

I have a 72 gallon tank that I am planning to upgrade in the future so thats why I am going for the large skimmer.

Any comments?

Hope this info I provide can assist you in choosing, my tank is a 320 litre with an 80 litre sump, I only use 1 cup of Rowaphos & 1 cup of Rowa carbon which are both changed monthly and nothing else fr nutrient export, I started with some algae and a little cyano but everything went away in 2 months flat. I purchased the Nyos 160 back in April last year and have been running it since. It took me roughly 3 weeks to correctly learn how to control the skimmers output but once mastered it was very easy and accurate. When I travel now for 1 - 2 weeks, I would set the skim to very dry and the out put would be literately black, all other times I set it to quite wet skimm and it comes out in a green tea colour. I've previously owned a RO Classic INT500 & BM Curve 7 and I can honestly say it not only out performed them two, it never over filled once or went crazy.

 

[Itz_Koolio]

I know this question is irrelevant to this topic, but how do I post a new thread? new here and I have some questions

 

[DDon]

I know this question is irrelevant to this topic, but how do I post a new thread? new here and I have some questions

Select the appropriate forum, such as Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment. In the upper left you will see a button for new thread. Just click it and off you go.

 

[scrapz]

The best skimmer is the one that is adequately sized to the amount of livestock in your tank, not what it's rated for.

 

[d2mini]

30+ years later and its still hard to beat a LifeReef.

 

[JohnnyHildo]

i've personally never bought a skimmer and was thinking of starting off with a aquamaxx coneS 2 for my standard 120. being it's a new set up i really don't have a bio-load to work off of. do i just hope for the best?