Protein Skimmers Types??

O

Odyssey

New member
Needle Wheel, Venturi, Beckett, Downdraft, Spray Induction ……

The more I read about protein skimmers the more confused I’m getting!??!

Which type is your favorite and why?

Thanks
 
Needle wheel and cone shaped skimmer. It's very efficient and compact in size but yet allows for maximum in chamber time. Hope this helps. Also very easy to tune and to clean.
 
Price range makes a big difference when recommending a skimmer, although IMO higher priced skimmers don't necessarily produce better bubbles, but they may be easier to dial in and operate, etc. Protein skimmers have a much larger variation in their prices than they do in their ability to remove organics from aquarium water. I wouldn't get the cheapest nor would I get the most expensive. First narrow them down to the size and footprint that you need and those that will fit in your sump. The newer ones tend to claim that being conical shaped with bubble plates are must-haves. Of course, they should all have needle wheel impellers. Long story short, get one that suits your needs and has features you like. Don't worry if something else will make better or more bubbles. It's been documented that they're all pretty much the same at removing organics, except for the really cheap ones.
 
Mlreef and EricTheRed thanks for the info.

Who knew there was soooo many different ways to make bubbles?!!?

It seems like most people are using either a Needle Wheel or a Venturi type skimmer. Is one better then the other or are they about the same?

Is it OK put links to Reef Central in this forum?

Thanks
 
linking to other sites is generally frowned upon...

By venturi type I assume you're referring to one that has spray induction such as the Precision Marine ones? If i was going to spend a lot of money on a skimmer I'd be looking into one of these. Otherwise, most new skimmers are using a needle-wheel impellers. if you buy a used skimmer from someone just make sure you're not getting some old model without needle-wheel or mesh because these do make a difference.
 
Found this on Reef Central it has some good basic info about skimmers.

Skimming Basics 101: Understanding Your Skimmer
www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/fm/feature/index.php
(Eric is this link OK or should I remove it?)

I’m looking at the Precision Marine Bullet 1 (Beckett) and I’m trying to justify sending over $400 for a skimmer. That’s why I asked which is better a Needle Wheel or a Venturi/Beckett.

From what I have been reading the last few days it seems like the Needle Wheels are the way to go. Cheaper to buy and cheaper and easier to run.

Is anyone here running a Precision Marine Bullet skimmer? Are they really worth the extra cost??
 
When trying to figure out what size skimmer you need do you go by total gal or just whats in the display tank?

What features should I look for in the $200 to $300 range?
 
total gallons, but it depends on what you are keeping. If you go SPS you will need a higher rated skimmer than if you were just going fish only or LPS.

I hope this helps. If you have a system size of 150 gallons I would shoot for one between 180 - 225 or so. I would NOT go bigger.

Bigger is not always better.
 
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