Best skimmers in the industry: Who gets your vote?

[Drobed]

Anyone recommend any good HOB external skimmers for a nano? Especially any that can do surface skimming.

 

[dkray944]

Deltec all the way for me

 

[ebeez]

So far I am a Coral Box Cloud 9 fan. Works great, very quiet!!

 

[Danny Folk]

I have used several and think the ASM is by far the best. Easy to adjust, reasonably priced and skims like a beast.

 

[Broadwave]

My VS-48 Lifereef skimmer... Best skimmer I've ever owned hands down and I'll never get rid of it and I've had A LOT of skimmers over the years (Vertex, Reef Dynamics / EuroReef, ETSS, Reef Octopus, AquaC). This LifeReef skimmer pulls out the absolute smelliest, nastiest skimmate I've ever seen.

 

[Fourstars]

Drobed, Just rebuilt this BH1000. Think they still sell them. Reef octopus sells a smaller size of I'm not mistaken.

 

[lavoisier]

LifeReef

 

[luke33]

I've pry used 60-70 skimmers in the past 15 yrs, now days most are pretty similar in design and many use the same pumps, just rebranded. I don't have a favorite anymore......it's very upsetting

 

[Homebrwr]

Life Reef..

 

[RONBATTLE]

MY FIRST SKIMMER 11 YEARS AGO, WAS A CPR, THEN A AQUA C REMORA, THEN A DELTEC...NOW I USE THE BUBBLE MAGUS 3.5 ON BOTH OF MY MIXED REEF TANKS...AND THEY WORK FINE...

 

[Rogergolf66]

I have owned large deltec, Tunze, reef octopus, I tech, psk , life reef, multiple euro reefs, PM bullet, im sure many more but don't recall right now. Best so far deltec, I tech

 

[d2mini]

LifeReef!
I choose them over any modern cone, bubble plate, needle wheel, whatchamacallit skimmer every time because other than size and power efficiency, nothing has improved in skimmer technology in 20+ years.
They've just gotten more finicky and more complicated.

 

[Husker]

Honestly... SCA aquariums are awesome. Mine replaced my Reef Octopus. And they are cheap.

 

[Reef Stallion]

Hands down the best... Puts Deltec, Bubble King, Vertex to shame

+1 My first skimmer!

 

[AndrewJ]

Tunze DOC in sump skimmer has done well by me. The ability for it to function properly in a range of sump water depth without adjustment is a plus. It also pulls a large amount wet skimmate out of the water column. Finally, their customer service is fantastic and we'll above any customer service I have ever experienced, inside or outside of this hobby.

 

[reefguyty]

I use the Hydor Performer 2005 and I couldn't be happier with it. So much foam and consistency.

 

[ricky5415]

Bubble King 300 for me. I have own most of the reef octopus skimmer (3000,5000int/ext, the regal 300..). Nothing beat

 

[PJS]

So far I'm happy with my Reef Octopus 3000int setup. It's a bit of a beast on a 125!
Plus...my wife loves the smell of the skimmate

 

[buckroe07]

I've tried Cadlights, Lifereef, RLSS, and now ATB. For my system, the ATB has out performed the others. My only complaint is I want to run it at a higher speed as I think it would suck more air in and pull more gunk out but it does soooo well at even the slowest speed I run it there or at the next speed up!

 

[sbidny]

first skimmer : MTC ( marine technical concept ) >> garbage
second skimmer : Reef Octopus >> much better than MTC
third skimmer : Deltec <<< great skimmer - don't plan on changing anytime soon

Can you tell me a little more about your experience with MTC? Did you have a Venturi or Beckett? I've heard good things and had been considering one. Thanks!