Protein Skimmer

[Pradeep]

I am planning to buy a protein skimmer for my 55 gallon saltwater aquarium. Based on the many reviews, I found Tunze 9012 dc and BH-1000 Octopus with external pump as top choices. Can someone share their experience and help me guide which HOB protein skimmer is good for 55 gallon saltwater tank?

Regards
Pradeep

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am planning to buy a protein skimmer for my 55 gallon saltwater aquarium. Based on the many reviews, I found Tunze 9012 dc and BH-1000 Octopus with external pump as top choices. Can someone share their experience and help me guide which HOB protein skimmer is good for 55 gallon saltwater tank?

Regards
Pradeep

Reef octopus very reliable as is ice cap K2-100

 

[Pradeep]

Reef octopus very reliable as is ice cap K2-100

Thanks

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Aquamaxx and esshops made a good.hang.on back skimmer awhile ago idk if they still do. Im sure they do. Reef octopulse makes the bh90. Classic 100. And the 1000 and 2000 models.
Surface skimmer would be good attachment.
D

 

[Rmckoy]

Do you have a sump or limited to hang on back ?

 

[polyppal]

I have a 9012 and it works great. It is a little annoying manually adjusting the unit height to get it tuned in, but once you do its pretty ez and quiet. Id get the DC one with adjustable pump speed if I bought another.

 

[dedragon]

i think they may be fazing the icecap k2 out for the k3 protein skimmer now. Icecap literally stole the reef octopus design and added on a new dc pump so it seems pretty good. Tunze is also great, you just need to keep a very constant level

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

i think they may be fazing the icecap k2 out for the k3 protein skimmer now. Icecap literally stole the reef octopus design and added on a new dc pump so it seems pretty good. Tunze is also great, you just need to keep a very constant level

I echo all the sentiments about the tunze. Touchy as can be about water level, but when dialed it, it's the best out there.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I have a 9012 and it works great. It is a little annoying manually adjusting the unit height to get it tuned in, but once you do its pretty ez and quiet. Id get the DC one with adjustable pump speed if I bought another.

I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.

 

[dedragon]

I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.

yea you definitely need to have a sump baffle to keep that water level stable or use a really good ato like the tunze osmolator

 

[Pradeep]

Aquamaxx and esshops made a good.hang.on back skimmer awhile ago idk if they still do. Im sure they do. Reef octopulse makes the bh90. Classic 100. And the 1000 and 2000 models.
Surface skimmer would be good attachment.
D

thanks

 

[Pradeep]

Do you have a sump or limited to hang on back ?

I don't have sump. It will be just HOB.

 

[Pradeep]

I had the Tunze 9004 DC model on my AIO and 50 gallon for a bit, then ironically upgraded to the Ice Cap k2-50 after selling the Tunze. The sump water height on my 50 gal was a pain to dial in the Tunze.

Thanks. Is Ice Cap k2-50 good enough for 55 gallons? Or should I go for some other model (any newer model)? Are you happy with Ice Cap k2-50 or planning to upgrade again?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Thanks. Is Ice Cap k2-50 good enough for 55 gallons? Or should I go for some other model (any newer model)? Are you happy with Ice Cap k2-50 or planning to upgrade again?

I was happy with it. I had a 50g display with a 15g sump. Total water volume was about 45g. It did a good job of yanking some nasty skimmate.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

In your case, I don't think you can run the ice cap due to no sump. Your limited to reef octo, Aquamaxx and Tunze (those are the hob compatible brands I know).

 

[jmello8402]

Any opinions on the older Aqua C remora pro with a mag 3 pump? 10 years ago they seemed to have been the go to HOB skimmer… anybody out there still running one?

 

[Idech]

I have the Tunze 9012 DC and it’s doing a fine job and isn’t too noisy. The cup is easy to remove and clean.

I have 6 fish in my 75 gallons, so not a high bioload and I need to empty the cup maybe every 6 days.

If you want to see how to adjust it, I had a post about it with a picture, and Roger from Tunze helping me.

 

[serecheneric]

Any opinions on the older Aqua C remora pro with a mag 3 pump? 10 years ago they seemed to have been the go to HOB skimmer… anybody out there still running one?

I'm still running one but doesn't fit quite right in my AIO back sections, still does its job but thinking about going another route with the aquamaxx 1.5