10 of our Favorite Protein Skimmers we Currently Use

[@reefonreefer1770]

Looking to buy a new skimmer and I was looking at some videos on KZbin and came across this video Jake’s still helping the reefing community from heaven RIP 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@neptunes_pot]

This is one of my favorite reef channel. Thank you for constant launching videos 😊

[@areyouarobotz]

I like the sound and visual of the bubbles mixing around, the foam, it reminds me of the beach and waves crashing on the sand

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

My Top 5 favorites - Deltec MCE300 back pack because of its totally different design. Euro-Reef RS-80 incredible skimmer that was simple and works. Deltec AP600 circa 2006. The design still works perfectly well. Any thing ETSS down draft is legendary. Reef Octopus Regal 200 SS, hot rod of a skimmer. Tunze 9004 skimmer, can’t beat that for in tank skimmer. Pretty much hit every style skimmer but honorable mention goes to Seaclone, which would be a great skimmer, but the impeller and volume throughput needs to be redesigned.

[@KN-ko8ez]

I’m over here near Aurora Reservoir at about 5800 feet elevation and didn’t think about how the thin air would affect the operation of my protein skimmer. My Reef Octopus Classic 150-INT has been working, but think it could be tuned better. Nowhere in the manual does it refer to anything about adjustments for high altitude. You guys are always thinking outside the box, and I love it! ⭐️

[@rodster44]

I bought the Aquavitro Division 250 from a local dealer. Out of the box the pump was having issues. I contacted Seachem. They told me the skimmer needed a 1-2 week break-in. I told them that the pump wasn't functioning properly. I reached out 4 more times, they have ignored my requests for technical support. No response at all. Out $325, I decided to get something higher end so I bought the Maxpect Aeraqua Duo. What a fantastic skimmer. Ingenious design, expertly made, quiet and powerful. I've been running it trouble free for over a year.

[@Faithbleed]

Great video, love the comparisons and perspective on them all. However, there's not a Deltec to be found, which is a shame. The 1000i that I run now beat my Red Sea RDK-600 on every category. The best skimmer I've ever used, bar none.

[@mrberlinmethod1492]

Great video as always! From my perspective the most important thing is to have a cleaned and serviced skimmer not what model it is. Great to see some old school skimmers and that H&S will do as well now as it did before (why not put an eheim on it?!) I did miss a Sanders airdriven skimmer in your lineup to make it complete. From a brand perspective I did miss Royal Exclusive and ATB but understand if you did not have any on hand. I have run a lot of skimmers during the last 30 years and all have done a good job as long as they were cleaned but I have so far not had a better one than my current Royal Exclusive skimmer from a foam production perspective. In case you wanted a suggestion for a video it would be how to combine/select a skimmer with other equiptment to cmplement it. eg. if you have a vliesfilter then the combined capacity is this.......

[@PatrickJewellTheGreat]

The H&S would still work on any modern reef tank.

[@Waynerock77]

Great video. A studio tour is always welcome even if it’s just the skimmers. Still rocking a RO 110ss on my 65 gallon and even 5 years of straight use it always works. The key is like you said and continue to say is maintenance. Every 4-6 months or if I get really bored I strip mine down and fully clean. My 200.00 “low end of the high end” works like a 600.00 model any day of the week. If you want it to get dirty you got to keep it clean!!!

[@Emmanuel-rs7eu]

Believe it or not but I'm still using an AQUA C120 skimmer on one of my builds..still works like a charm! Thanks for making the skimmer reviews!

[@vincentprezioso9190]

Great skimmers made by aqua c

[@ChristopherDivine]

I believe it. I'm still using an Aqua C EV 180 with a jebao DC pump. I can over drive it when needed.

[@vincentprezioso9190]

@@ChristopherDivine I have a brand new EV240 I am holding onto for a new build and as a spare skimmer. You have to treat them like a treasure because they last forever

[@feliciafox4205]

RIP Jake, we miss you and all your awesome information! 😞

[@xmaluj9564]

Descansa en Paz y que viva Reef Builders. 💙

[@markleong6004]

My first skimmer was a Weipro 2012 air venturi. Skimmers have since advanced throughout the years. This brings back memories too. Wouldn't it be cool to do an old school tank setup with old equipment from the 90s/2000s! MH lights, PL tubes, Seio wavemakers, SCWD, berlin method, kalk, that would be surreal.

[@meggive3443]

Perfect video which was very useful for me to decide for Ultra Reef Typhoon - just a question, I saw that you use wiht ocone, do you use an additional air pump or just directly with air tube?

[@danswanson2172]

If you had a 150 gallon lps only reef feed it heavy would you buy the max spect jump skimmer or the ultra reef 200 Which one be easier to tune @reefbuilder.

[@hunterh891]

I used to have a old Aqua-C (it was a downdraft type skimmer) and that thing ran so good and the skimmate was disgusting stuff but it worked so good.

[@RobTeeJr]

I purchased the Sea Chem 250 partially on the strength of your initial review. I have been very pleased with this skimmer. Unfortunately SeaChem doesn't provide much info with regard to accessories e.g. additional pump. I see that you also have Red Seas new filter roller in use. I'm looking forward to your review.

[@premierreefsmn]

Glad to see the aqua vitro is in use. The written review left some questions. Like, is this good enough that you still use it, and i see you do. 👍

[@cegentry]

I am a huge fan of the Octo Elite skimmers. Build quality could use a slight improvement for the price but the quality of the performance is amazing. The varios DC pump has been crazy reliable. Those ultra reef look nice but I don’t see a cut off/float switch. That is pretty much a must have feature on any top tier skimmer these days in my opinion. Kind of surprising that you guys don’t have a single Bubble King in house. I have always heard they are the best skimmers out there for build quality and performance when appropriately sized. Wearing my Reefstock Tee today Jake 👍👍 What up Evan! 👋

[@JachPot]

I'm setting up a 200 gallon that should have a medium+ bioload by the end. If you had to give your top 2 recommendations what would you go with? I plan to go Mix reef with 4-5 tangs and several smaller fish. Feeding pretty heavily is the plan.

[@vincentprezioso9190]

LifeReef Skimmer , you will never need another skimmer again.

[@stellarlivingstoned]

I think I'm going to start manufacturing skimmers and sell them for less than half of what everyone is selling them for but with better quality.

[@zenith.reefkeeping]

jake. I heard you say in a video or livestream that every time you walk in the studio you check your co2 monitor. However, i don't think I have heard you say what levels you keep in your studio. I also have some plants in the room and keep a window open, I recently ordered a co2 monitor but I am curious if there's a certain level of co2 you try to keep to keep plants happy and also keep the ph up? do you even worry about the co2 for plants?

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

terrestrial plants evolved to normal atmospheric CO2 levels so no worries with the house plants. Normal ATM CO2 is around 350ppm, indoors up to 500ppm is ok, but when it starts getting up to 700ppm or higher is when I try to really air out the place.

[@zenith.reefkeeping]

@@ReefBuildersVideo thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate you! Now I know. To much over 500 air out. Thanks!

[@graneinarsen434]

The dc pump in Red sea skimmer, where did you get that from? Red sea have not heard about it..

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

It’s the Sicce PSK 1200 SDC

[@graneinarsen434]

@@ReefBuildersVideo ok. Does it need to be rebuildt or put straight in the skimmer?

[@cameronm4416]

Love the variety

[@barelyreefer]

Could you please review the red sea reefmat filter?!? I enjoy your informative videos!

[@HCBCHEMISTRY]

The ultra reef one looks solid.

[@TrevorHiller]

Nice video! Glad to hear you like the Ultra Reef. I bought the little brother (160) for the Cade 600 tank I have on order. Sounds like I made the right decision.

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

Aww man you're going to love it, there's nothing about the UKS 180 that I would change

[@Mg2hsuk]

Hey, did you have to modify the Red Sea skimmer at all to fit the DC pump? Wondering if this is also possible for the smaller RSK 300 model...

[@philcavallini9657]

I was waiting to see if u were going to have a sealife system skimmer running on one of the tanks... 😂

[@fishpony1211]

I just got the division 500 skimmer for a new build. Would love to see in detail what u did to get rid of the sock

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

I haven't used the five hundo yet so can't speak from experience, but we just found the water level the skimmer like to run at and then cut a standard 1" PVC pipe to replace the adjustable standpipe and sock

[@fishpony1211]

@@ReefBuildersVideo sweet ok thanks

[@Anthony-rl4ok]

do a skimmer tuning video please

[@nwyk153]

Bubble King > Maxpect > H&S > Nyos > Eshopps > Reef Octopus > ETSS > Bubble Magus(Elite) > Red Sea These are the skimmer i ranked according to my experience with it. currently on Maxspect Aeraqua Duo and love it to death! no breaking in period needed, and longest running in my tank for 3 years.

[@petarst]

All MAxspect products are shit

[@emeraldcoastreefer4674]

Well I was wondering if you would do a video on a smaller tank / nano with your thoughts on dosing and when you think you should. Say someone wants to but shouldn’t but wants to go only SPS in a small tank willing todo the work ( water changes ,testing , feeding ) when they should start dosing after adding only frags say 5-7 . lights and everything are up to par , no pun intended lol but everything is there that should be there for an sps system just shrunk down!! Just your thoughts and mayb how you would go about it!! If you should think about dosing at all mayb water changes will be enough idk mayb a dumb idea but Thanks Jake your the man keep being you✌🏻✌🏻

[@sosmra]

Great stuff love the video

[@veat1lla]

Awesome Jack,,, if you don't mind what is the dimensions of that big frag tanks !

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

48 x 96 inches

[@TheDaveyd29]

rip jake, will be massively missed

[@cameronbasford8991]

GW would have to be the biggest lemon of protein skimmers. OCTO FTW.

[@justinbradford9826]

Great vid. I want one for my 38gal aio, suggestions?

[@timmmyt101]

Tunze 9000 series for aims imo.

[@chiquidrog]

Do you guys have extra equipment for sale ?

[@pauli1291988]

What frag tanks do you use and where can I get one

[@jamisonjamison1]

What is the diameter of the body on the ultrareef typhoon 250?

[@deandaisley3060]

Perfect timing, I am in the market for a skimmer. 🇬🇧

[@kiddenvy5707]

Hello I’m wanting to expand out of freshwater, I’ve been watching your videos for over a year. I live in denver colorado what stores do you recommend in the denver area?

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

Elite Reef, Murrmans, aquatic art are damn good but I visit almost all of them

[@kiddenvy5707]

@@ReefBuildersVideo thank you so much

[@zacharymarks2172]

Why don't we see Ultrasonic skimmers that create tiny bubbles through cavitation, or use US to boost a more conventional skimmer? Might even work in freshwater...

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

that might work for a nano skimmer but I doubt it's enough air production for any conventional sized skimmer

[@BlackGoldReefing]

Time to upgrade!

[@vincentprezioso9190]

Jake great video , but LifeReef Skimmers need to be in the video for sure. They last a lifetime , they can use any pump , and are lowest maintenance skimmer around.

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

LifeReef is literally 10 minutes down the road from the Studio but Jeff hasn't accepted an open invitation to come visit in over three years.

[@schnizdawg]

I already know your answer cause you’ve been asked before. But I still think a large studio like this could benefit from connecting all the tanks with a good network of manifolds and valves to have a couple super large sumps and eliminate all the isolated filtration per tank. Like a public aquarium does

[@Anthony-rl4ok]

But then if there’s any issues all tanks would have it, can’t compare to a public aquarium with thousands of gallons of water

[@schnizdawg]

I know. I know. 😂 Totally think valves to shut off tanks as needed and isolated hang on filters for bad actor aquariums would suffice for those incidents. Kind of what like world wide in Orlando does. Plumb it all together but have the ability to shut down specific tanks as needed

[@schnizdawg]

Tidal gardens does it too. Connect as many systems as possible then plumb in shutdown contingencies. Saves a lot of money and time in electricity and water changes for the entire system

[@gocedimoski728]

Missing Royal Exclusiv… clear winner

[@ReefBuildersVideo]

It's been many years since Royal Exclusiv skimmers were a leader in features, craftsmanship or performance but they've fallen far behind the times, regardless of how much they charge.

[@gocedimoski728]

@@ReefBuildersVideo thats simply not true! Still made in germany, still craftsmanship, the feeling of the Material is simply not cheap. And handmade is also expensive here in germany. For savers there are also cheaper pumps nowadays. Thats correct.

[@MrPrentissDJones]

I was hoping to see the Deltech , I think that spelled correctly

[@theaquariumproject]

Reef Octopus is the best

[@PunchGaming1007]

Tunze is my fav.

[@ou812reefing]

My reef octopus 110s very happy

[@kF-mj9uz]

Buy an undersized skimmer I bought this expensive super sized on it just over flows

[@ramezriad4047]

Where’s bubble king??

[@kF-mj9uz]

20 years in this reef octopus 🐙 is the best set it and forget it excellent product don’t get sucked into stupidity 🎉 I’m 55 I’m not lieing just I’ve been taken by 6 of these fancy ones sitting in basement but fun fact not one part is usable on any other one

[@Pau-Rodriguez11]

Hi jake

[@marymykid5777]

Aquamaxxx is high quality.... other skimmers is weak

[@adrianmitchell6148]

First👊🏾👊🏾🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

[@MrMastavida]

congrats buddy