New Protein Skimmers

[E.intheC]

Since I've had the Midi and it's been setup as an all in one (long story..) for the past few years, I feel I'm out of the loop when talking about new skimmers on the market. This will be for a 90 gallon tank with 30 gallon sump.

I've read about Skimz, IceCap (odd they're coming back after years out of the aquarium scene, but they have Sicce pumps which is a plus), Aquamaxx, Reef Octopus has a few new lines, Vertex Omega (I had the smallest model but never set it up due to tank changes), ATB has a new Nano model out (with a Jecod pump, which is kind of crazy for an ATB skimmer)...

What else is out there? What new skimmer are you using, and what do you think? Anything I should stay away from?

I prefer QUIET operating, best bang for the buck, solid performing skimmers, and I tend to stay away from cheap knock off motor blocks.

 

[zsuman101]

if you want quiet, go with tunze or nyos , as quiet as i thought the tunze was, the nyos is really dead silent. i have the 9410 tunze on a 135 cube with a 50 gal. sump. this skimmer is an under the radar, underated workhorse, its easy to tune, easy to clean and as i said very very quiet. i bielieve its rated up to 100 gals. but imo it will handle much more reef than that. the nyos 120 is, well its dead silent in my living room reef, very nice skimmer. and its great looking, unfortunately its expensive..... like that matters lol. good luck..... zsu

 

[JUNBUG361]

Simplicity skimmers quantum skimmers

 

[rtparty]

The ATB Nano looks promising. I'd also look at the Reef Dynamics skimmers from Aquarium Source.

 

[E.intheC]

Reef Dynamics look good. The cheap knock off pump on the ATB is a strange choice though

 

[E.intheC]

The Ice Cap skimmers look promising. They're more expensive than the Reef Dynamics though. I had a few Euro Reef and Vertex Euro Reef knock off skimmers in the past so I know their design works well. That looks like the front runner right now

 

[tlc]

it may be better to be out of the loop. I bought into all the hype about needle wheel this, and cone skimmer that. I bought one and after a month of it breaking in I replaced it with a lifereef skimmer I bought used over 15 years ago. in 2 days it produced more skimmate then my fancy shmanzy skimmer. the only thing I did change on the lifereef was I put a dc pump on it

 

[zsuman101]

Btw, knock offs Wont be quiet

 

[wildman926]

I'd also look at the Reef Dynamics skimmers from Aquarium Source.

This is what I did

Reef Dynamics look good.

I use the INS-80 on my 90g, 30g sump. It is a workhorse.

 

[rtparty]

This is what I did



I use the INS-80 on my 90g, 30g sump. It is a workhorse.

What water depth do you run it at? I built a stand for mine and measured incorrectly. Instructions call for 6.5" and I'm at 6". The bubbles exiting the outlet are unacceptable IMO. I'm not sure how .5" will change this but I'll lower the stand when I get the chance. Until then it is doing a good job skimming however.

 

[hkgar]

Two best skimmers available are MTC and LifeReef

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2519839

 

[goreef170]

two best skimmers available are mtc and lifereef

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2519839

+1

 

[reeftivo]

What water depth do you run it at? I built a stand for mine and measured incorrectly. Instructions call for 6.5" and I'm at 6". The bubbles exiting the outlet are unacceptable IMO. I'm not sure how .5" will change this but I'll lower the stand when I get the chance. Until then it is doing a good job skimming however.

run it at 7 inches and you'll get better performance. Just trim down that diffuser stand a notch or two.

mine at 7
View attachment 368199

 

[rtparty]

run it at 7 inches and you'll get better performance. Just trim down that diffuser stand a notch or two.

mine at 7
View attachment 368199

I'm hoping to trim it down tomorrow or Friday at the latest. It's pulling skim. It's just the huge bubbles exiting the outlet and causing salt spray all over my sump that's annoying so far.

Awesome skimmer though and easy to tune

 

[Joe Kelley]

What would you say your total water volume is? Heavy fish load? Is this the DC version? Good luck to the OP and great topic.

if you want quiet, go with tunze or nyos , as quiet as i thought the tunze was, the nyos is really dead silent. i have the 9410 tunze on a 135 cube with a 50 gal. sump. this skimmer is an under the radar, underated workhorse, its easy to tune, easy to clean and as i said very very quiet. i bielieve its rated up to 100 gals. but imo it will handle much more reef than that. the nyos 120 is, well its dead silent in my living room reef, very nice skimmer. and its great looking, unfortunately its expensive..... like that matters lol. good luck..... zsu

 

[wildman926]

What water depth do you run it at? I built a stand for mine and measured incorrectly. Instructions call for 6.5" and I'm at 6". The bubbles exiting the outlet are unacceptable IMO. I'm not sure how .5" will change this but I'll lower the stand when I get the chance. Until then it is doing a good job skimming however.

I have mine at 8", been as high as 9.5". They supply a filter sock for the bubbles. I decided to put a 45* elbow and use a overflow sponge. It is not an issue for me.

 

[rtparty]

I have mine at 8", been as high as 9.5". They supply a filter sock for the bubbles. I decided to put a 45* elbow and use a overflow sponge. It is not an issue for me.

Is the sock included with the skimmer or available after? I didn't get a sock with mine.