Skimmer Q&A Thread

It's time for me to purchase a skimmer for my newly setup aquarium. After weeks of reading about the various options, I've been able to rule out many skimmers, yet more (more expensive) options seem to just fall into their place.

My display tank is a 72 bowfront with a sump I built from a ~30 gallon aquarium that holds about 20.5 gallons when operating at 660 gph. I left a compartment for a skimmer that measures 11.75" x 8" with a depth of 12", as this weir set my 'fuge' water level which is the bulk of my sump capacity. I'll be placing the skimmer on a 'shelf', so any operating water level under 12" should be fine for me.

My initial choice was the new Reef Octopus 110SSS, though now I feel that's slightly undersized and options with a Sicce pump may prove to be a better long term investment.

At this time the new IceCap K2-160 is at the top of my list for the following reasons...

1. Gate valve water flow adjustment
2. Sicce PSK600
3. Better than average build construction
4. Simple

This has edged out the Vertex 130, CO-1 for me, mainly because reports of finicky adjustments on the Vertex and impeller caused pump death on the CO-1 'shark' motors. I also feel cleaning the fancy bubble cones could be a problem with the CO-1 as could be the collection cup design.

Now, I'm shopping from Canada, so we're already talking about ~$450 CAD which is alot more than the $290 CAD 110SSS I had in mind when building this system... For the same price I'm in Reef Octopus Regal 150 SSS territory, with a controllable DC pump and ability to add a neck cleaner, which I don't believe to be available for the K2 skimmers.

My main questions here... as this is my FIRST saltwater aquarium build.

1. For the money, can I buy a 'better' option than this IceCap K2-160?
2. Is it too large to produce skim in my 72 g aquarium
3. I work away from home a lot. I need a skimmer than can do it's thing with only the collection cup needing to be drained / cleaned over a 2 week period. I can't expect, nor to I feel comfortable with my girlfriend adjusting the skimmer while I'm on the road.
 
oranngetang said:
It's time for me to purchase a skimmer for my newly setup aquarium. After weeks of reading about the various options, I've been able to rule out many skimmers, yet more (more expensive) options seem to just fall into their place.

My display tank is a 72 bowfront with a sump I built from a ~30 gallon aquarium that holds about 20.5 gallons when operating at 660 gph. I left a compartment for a skimmer that measures 11.75" x 8" with a depth of 12", as this weir set my 'fuge' water level which is the bulk of my sump capacity. I'll be placing the skimmer on a 'shelf', so any operating water level under 12" should be fine for me.

My initial choice was the new Reef Octopus 110SSS, though now I feel that's slightly undersized and options with a Sicce pump may prove to be a better long term investment.

At this time the new IceCap K2-160 is at the top of my list for the following reasons...

1. Gate valve water flow adjustment
2. Sicce PSK600
3. Better than average build construction
4. Simple

This has edged out the Vertex 130, CO-1 for me, mainly because reports of finicky adjustments on the Vertex and impeller caused pump death on the CO-1 'shark' motors. I also feel cleaning the fancy bubble cones could be a problem with the CO-1 as could be the collection cup design.

Now, I'm shopping from Canada, so we're already talking about ~$450 CAD which is alot more than the $290 CAD 110SSS I had in mind when building this system... For the same price I'm in Reef Octopus Regal 150 SSS territory, with a controllable DC pump and ability to add a neck cleaner, which I don't believe to be available for the K2 skimmers.

My main questions here... as this is my FIRST saltwater aquarium build.

1. For the money, can I buy a 'better' option than this IceCap K2-160?
2. Is it too large to produce skim in my 72 g aquarium
3. I work away from home a lot. I need a skimmer than can do it's thing with only the collection cup needing to be drained / cleaned over a 2 week period. I can't expect, nor to I feel comfortable with my girlfriend adjusting the skimmer while I'm on the road.
Click to expand...


The CO-1 is one of the best small skimmers out there. I have not heard of any issues but a occasional start issue. They are pretty much standard sicce pumps. I have been using one for over a year on one of my frag tanks and it can not be beat for its size. I have had the occasional start issue after cleaning other than that it starts all the time.

I would say go with a rlss skimmer but right now they are hard to get but the they are coming.. Seems to be issues with customs right now because a lot of products are in short supply in the hobby and I keep hearing the same thing.

I do not know much about the icecap skimmers yet, I personally would like to try one or see one working or at least some good threads on them before recommending them.. I do think they look like a decent skimmer and well designed. They use a sicce pump so that would be good too... Personally I would try one over RO skimmers...

Stay away from vertex 130.
 
shred5 said:
The CO-1 is one of the best small skimmers out there. I have not heard of any issues but a occasional start issue. They are pretty much standard sicce pumps. I have been using one for over a year on one of my frag tanks and it can not be beat for its size. I have had the occasional start issue after cleaning other than that it starts all the time.

I would say go with a rlss skimmer but right now they are hard to get but the they are coming.. Seems to be issues with customs right now because a lot of products are in short supply in the hobby and I keep hearing the same thing.

I do not know much about the icecap skimmers yet, I personally would like to try one or see one working or at least some good threads on them before recommending them.. I do think they look like a decent skimmer and well designed. They use a sicce pump so that would be good too... Personally I would try one over RO skimmers...

Stay away from vertex 130.
Click to expand...

You havn't had issues with the skimmer cup at all? I've read a few reviews where people feel the sloped face in the collection cup inhibits dry skimming, and is unnecessarily difficult to clean, and that the feet vibrate on the sump bottom. Aside from that, the general consensus seems to be it's a fantastic skimmer in general that could use a conventional cup and silicone feet.

Not familiar with RLSS, looking that up now.
 
Despite being a Canadian company, it seems there are no distributors in Canada, that I can find... Looks like a Jecod pump in a Reef Octopus classic mimicked housing. Basically a Simplicity brand skimmer with a different label? I wonder if that's who makes them now?!
 
No real issues with the CO-1, The real only complaint is the cup is small and it can be hard to clean but small brushes fix that.. I have a Reef octopus waste collector hooked up to mine..

I think the slope in the cup is why it performs so well.

Another issue is it requires a deep sump...

Noise wise they are sicce pumps which are not loud pumps but they are not quiet either.

I think the icecaps look nice though and it might be a good choice.

RLSS is now imported by Coralvue, no idea where to get them in Canada. RLSS makes their own pumps and most other dc pumps are based of thier design. RLSS has been around long before simplicity and I have seen Simplicity and they do not compare.
 
Last edited:
oranngetang said:
Despite being a Canadian company, it seems there are no distributors in Canada, that I can find... Looks like a Jecod pump in a Reef Octopus classic mimicked housing. Basically a Simplicity brand skimmer with a different label? I wonder if that's who makes them now?!
Click to expand...
I have no problem dry skmiming with my CO1.
A good set of brushes make cleaning a breeze. No vibration with mine and I've had mine practically since they were released.
 
Thanks for the input guys, it sounds like the CO1 is certainly a good skimmer despite some minor annoyances. I may also plan on adding a waste collector at some point, so perhaps the cup wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.
 
oranngetang said:
Thanks for the input guys, it sounds like the CO1 is certainly a good skimmer despite some minor annoyances. I may also plan on adding a waste collector at some point, so perhaps the cup wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.
Click to expand...

One thing is make sure you have the water depth for it otherwise it makes a lot of water splashing noise.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2305001&highlight=aquamaxx

Pretty much everything you want to know about the skimmer is answered in that thread.
 
oranngetang said:
Thanks for the input guys, it sounds like the CO1 is certainly a good skimmer despite some minor annoyances. I may also plan on adding a waste collector at some point, so perhaps the cup wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.
Click to expand...

One thing is make sure you have the water depth for it otherwise it makes a lot of water splashing noise.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2305001&highlight=aquamaxx

Pretty much everything you want to know about the skimmer is answered in that thread.
 
I did have a pretty good read through that.

I know the answer is right under my nose, but whats the difference between a Syncra 1.5/2.0 etc vs a PSK 200/600 etc. Is it the same pump, one referring to having a pin wheel impeller and one as a return pump, or are they different products.

It looks like the majority of recommendations on the CO-1 review thread would push me to a CO-2 over the CO-1 for a ~92 gallon total capacity, sump included. The ~85 gallon mark seems to be the tipping point between zero idle time or a larger skimmer. The CO-2 will NOT fit in my sump, not even close.

The IceCap K2-160 has a PSK600 which they claim pulls 600 LPH of air vs 360 LPH from the CO-1, but don't they use the same pump?

By contrast, the CO-2 shows 720 LPH, which is probably way too oversized I'm thinking.

Would that 600 LPH and 6" body possibly be a better choice for my size of system? It's still cycling, not really any livestock yet, but I'd like to have something that can deal with a heavy bio-load if I get to that point.

I don't mind being a new product guinea pig. Will post a review thread if nobody else has started one should I end up with the IceCap.

Very curious about the PSK vs Syncra pump specs and whatnot, same pumps or not? Which is better?!
 
oranngetang said:
I did have a pretty good read through that.

I know the answer is right under my nose, but whats the difference between a Syncra 1.5/2.0 etc vs a PSK 200/600 etc. Is it the same pump, one referring to having a pin wheel impeller and one as a return pump, or are they different products.

It looks like the majority of recommendations on the CO-1 review thread would push me to a CO-2 over the CO-1 for a ~92 gallon total capacity, sump included. The ~85 gallon mark seems to be the tipping point between zero idle time or a larger skimmer. The CO-2 will NOT fit in my sump, not even close.

The IceCap K2-160 has a PSK600 which they claim pulls 600 LPH of air vs 360 LPH from the CO-1, but don't they use the same pump?

By contrast, the CO-2 shows 720 LPH, which is probably way too oversized I'm thinking.

Would that 600 LPH and 6" body possibly be a better choice for my size of system? It's still cycling, not really any livestock yet, but I'd like to have something that can deal with a heavy bio-load if I get to that point.

I don't mind being a new product guinea pig. Will post a review thread if nobody else has started one should I end up with the IceCap.

Very curious about the PSK vs Syncra pump specs and whatnot, same pumps or not? Which is better?!
Click to expand...


Yea you are on the border of what it can handle.. Lightly stocked yes heavily probably not.

I would not worry about just air... Air can make a skimmer more efficient but there are other things that make a skimmer efficient too.
I was drawing 900 lph with a 6" body on my 75 gallon and it was perfect but something like a Bubble King could do the job with less air because they are designed better.
 
I'm about to start assembling my 120 build and the last piece of equipment I need is the skimmer. The sump about 14in high, return pump is an eheim 1262. My bioload won't be that heavy, starting with just my pair of Ocellaris Clowns, Hoven's Wrasse and Lawmower Blenny. I'll probably add a couple more wrasses in a few months, but will keep stocking light over the lifetime of the tank.

I've looked all over the place as far as Brands go. Common suggestions for this size tank seem to be Reef Octopus 150 and Vertex Omega 150. I've also liked what I've seen of the Seaside Aquatics skimmers. I am on a bit of a budget, so skimmers 300 and less get bonus points. For that reason, the Vertex is hard to swallow, although I do have a lead on a used one.

Opinions? I'm not locked into any brand, feel free to suggest something completely different.
 
VoiceInTheDeser said:
I'm about to start assembling my 120 build and the last piece of equipment I need is the skimmer. The sump about 14in high, return pump is an eheim 1262. My bioload won't be that heavy, starting with just my pair of Ocellaris Clowns, Hoven's Wrasse and Lawmower Blenny. I'll probably add a couple more wrasses in a few months, but will keep stocking light over the lifetime of the tank.

I've looked all over the place as far as Brands go. Common suggestions for this size tank seem to be Reef Octopus 150 and Vertex Omega 150. I've also liked what I've seen of the Seaside Aquatics skimmers. I am on a bit of a budget, so skimmers 300 and less get bonus points. For that reason, the Vertex is hard to swallow, although I do have a lead on a used one.

Opinions? I'm not locked into any brand, feel free to suggest something completely different.
Click to expand...

You are going to have to go used or really cheaply built skimmer if you want a skimmer to efficiently skim a 120 for under 300.00
There is nothing wrong with used skimmers.
 
shred5 said:
You are going to have to go used or really cheaply built skimmer if you want a skimmer to efficiently skim a 120 for under 300.00
There is nothing wrong with used skimmers.
Click to expand...

Really? The Reef Octopus runs at $225, Seaside Aquatics for that size runs around $300. Are those not well built ones? I haven't bought a skimmer for anything close to this size, so I'm a bit out of my element.
 
VoiceInTheDeser said:
Really? The Reef Octopus runs at $225, Seaside Aquatics for that size runs around $300. Are those not well built ones? I haven't bought a skimmer for anything close to this size, so I'm a bit out of my element.
Click to expand...

Most skimmer ratings mean nothing and those skimmers would not handle your aquarium. In most cases you need to almost double the size skimmer unless you are running other nutrient reduction methods.

Jason has some recommendation that would fit your tank from that company.
 
jason2459 said:
Which Seaside aquatics skimmer are you looking at?

If going with SSA for a 120 the ES2 or ES7 would do great on that tank.

I've bought SSA skimmers through salty critters before and they were responsive to email questions I had. Just a place to check out.
http://www.saltycritter.com/protein-skimmer-index.htm
Click to expand...

Yeah, the ES7 was the one I had been looking at. Reviews of it seem pretty solid online, including a decent endorsement from Mojo on another forum.
 
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