Skimz Skimmer Reviews

Jack22 · Feb 3, 2019

Considering the Skimz Leopard SL203 DC Internal Skimmer. Surprisingly, can’t find many reviews.

Anyone running one? What do you think?

Ranjib · Feb 4, 2019

jent · Feb 5, 2019

I am pretty sure skimz is a solid skimmer (I recently bought one). To an I recognize that most skimmers will get the job done. Boiling the choice down to:
* Pump quality
* Size (including pump internal or external)
* Body quality (including if it can take ozone if desired)
* Recirculating or not
* I guess dc or not, but I think any form of water inflow control is basically the same
* Air in control
* How easy the cap is to remove
* Any other unique designs (inverted cone for skimz), probably the last impactful
* Finally cost

Many skimmers can fit those in an ideal configuration for your needs. I wish there was lots of head on head testing so we could quantify them, but I haven't found it. I think it's likely because most quality skimmers perform similarly.

I personally choose the sl200 for my new skimmer. I was extremely happy with my old vertex omega, but needed something with a larger body. The sl200 was the largest skimmer I can fit while meeting the other qualities I listed above.

Basically I prioritize mostly size and pump quality, but I think skimz meets well beyond just that personally.

FLSharkvictim · Feb 5, 2019

I have own SKIMZ protein skimmers before in the past and there is no compression to the Reef Octo REGAL protein skimmer.
The only good part about skimz is BRS will take care of all of your warranties issues when the pump break down.
Remember, you get what you pay for!! Go with the REGAL Version plus it has a float switch build in the skimmer cup.

joseserrano · Feb 5, 2019

If going with Skimz, I would go with the units that look like they have the older style red dragon pumps. The one you are picking looks like a modified Jeabo pump.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sl200-leopard-internal-protein-skimmer-skimz.html

Reeferguy365 · Feb 5, 2019

I just got a skimz SM 201 and love it. The thing is super quiet and already pulling out quiet a bit of poop. I've only had it up and running since Sunday

FLSharkvictim · Feb 5, 2019

Reeferguy365 said:
I just got a skimz SM 201 and love it. The thing is super quiet and already pulling out quiet a bit of poop. I've only had it up and running since Sunday

@Reeferguy365 - Until your pumps breaks and BRS no longer makes the pumps b/c that is what happened to me.
My SKIMZ Skimmer broke in just 5 months, the pump. Plus, the way you have to keep tweaking the handle, sucks.
For your next skimmer go with a Reef Octo REGAL! Zero Break in time plus it has a float switch in your skimmer cup so no overflows. It's like comparing apples to oranges mate!
Also, reef Octo teamed up with a 3 party pump mfg called VarioS and they rock.

Reeferguy365 · Feb 5, 2019

FLSharkvictim said:
@Reeferguy365 - Until your pumps breaks and BRS no longer makes the pumps b/c that is what happened to me.
My SKIMZ Skimmer broke in just 5 months, the pump. Plus, the way you have to keep tweaking the handle, sucks.
For your next skimmer go with a Reef Octo REGAL! Zero Break in time plus it has a float switch in your skimmer cup so no overflows. It's like comparing apples to oranges mate!
Also, reef Octo teamed up with a 3 party pump mfg called VarioS and they rock.

Not really worried about that my lfs covers all the warranties on stuff I get through them and I'm really not to worry about anything happening to this skimmer I know three other people in town that have the exact same skimmer and haven't had an issue for a couple years now plus the price would have been way different if I would have gotten A Reef octopus because my lfs supplies skimz skimmers and I was able to trade a couple OG bounce mushrooms and $50 for a $500 skimmer so can't really beat that

scriptmonkey · Feb 5, 2019

FLSharkvictim said:
@Reeferguy365 - Until your pumps breaks and BRS no longer makes the pumps b/c that is what happened to me.
My SKIMZ Skimmer broke in just 5 months, the pump. Plus, the way you have to keep tweaking the handle, sucks.
For your next skimmer go with a Reef Octo REGAL! Zero Break in time plus it has a float switch in your skimmer cup so no overflows. It's like comparing apples to oranges mate!
Also, reef Octo teamed up with a 3 party pump mfg called VarioS and they rock.

You sure Reef Octopus does not make Varios, At least that is what my Varios 8 says on the box?

NYBumkin · Apr 3, 2020

FLSharkvictim said:
I have own SKIMZ protein skimmers before in the past and there is no compression to the Reef Octo REGAL protein skimmer.
The only good part about skimz is BRS will take care of all of your warranties issues when the pump break down.
Remember, you get what you pay for!! Go with the REGAL Version plus it has a float switch build in the skimmer cup.

How much room above the skimmer would you say is necessary to perform maintenance? I am looking at the 150SSS if you have any experience with it? I am pretty limited...about 26" overall height from my sump to the cabinet cross brace.

Thank you!

lordraptor1 · Apr 4, 2021

FLSharkvictim said:
I have own SKIMZ protein skimmers before in the past and there is no compression to the Reef Octo REGAL protein skimmer.
The only good part about skimz is BRS will take care of all of your warranties issues when the pump break down.
Remember, you get what you pay for!! Go with the REGAL Version plus it has a float switch build in the skimmer cup.

well as one who has a regal 200 INT i for one would NOT recommend it. my varios-4s came out of the box with varios-4 water impeller instead of the correct 4s skimmer impeller and coralvue made me buy the one my pump was suppose to include and it wasnt even new, i had to buy one out of a varios pump htey had removed the controller from ( guess the varios pumps have high failure rate on the controllers)

FLSharkvictim · Apr 4, 2021

I LOVE MY REEF OCTO 150 w/ a VarioS-2 S DC Controllable for my new set up!!! I use to have it run my old 120 mixed reef tank and its one of the best protein skimmers that i HAVE USED. I like the VariouS pumps SO much I bought one for my mixing station - a VariouS- 4!

lordraptor1 · Apr 4, 2021

FLSharkvictim said:
I LOVE MY REEF OCTO 150 w/ a VarioS-2 S DC Controllable for my new set up!!! I use to have it run my old 120 mixed reef tank and its one of the best protein skimmers that i HAVE USED. I like the VariouS pumps SO much I bought one for my mixing station - a VariouS- 4!

check your pump to make sure it indeed has the skimmer impeller and NOT the water impeller. my regal 200 INT came with the water impeller in my included VarioS-4s pump. and yes it was a new in box skimmer so it was a factory issue but still coralvue made me pay $41 to get the correct impeller.

FLSharkvictim · Apr 5, 2021

lordraptor1 said:
check your pump to make sure it indeed has the skimmer impeller and NOT the water impeller. my regal 200 INT came with the water impeller in my included VarioS-4s pump. and yes it was a new in box skimmer so it was a factory issue but still coralvue made me pay $41 to get the correct impeller.

Already used my Regal 150INT, its got to be one of the best skimmers I have ever used...
It runs my 150 perfectly...

PeterC99 · Apr 5, 2021

NYBumkin said:
How much room above the skimmer would you say is necessary to perform maintenance? I am looking at the 150SSS if you have any experience with it? I am pretty limited...about 26" overall height from my sump to the cabinet cross brace.

Thank you!

Don't for get to take the water level in your sump into account. I had to raise my 150SSS on a homemade skimmer stand to get the skimmer at the right height. I have mine in a RSR 425 XL sump and with stand, I only have a couple of inches to remove skimmer cup top because of the float value switch line coming out of the top.

That said, I love the 150SSS elite. Quiet, skims very well, and pump is adjustable. Recirculate CO2 air through skimmer cup and the CO2 media lasts months.

lordraptor1 · Apr 5, 2021

FLSharkvictim said:
Already used my Regal 150INT, its got to be one of the best skimmers I have ever used...
It runs my 150 perfectly...

then you got lucky teh varios-4s pump that came in the box with my new regal 200 int had the wrong impeller and my old yellow and red box coralife super skimmer 220 was outperforming my $600+ reef octopus regal 200 INT. it is better now with teh correct impeller but to be honest not worth the high price tag when an old coralife skimmer is at most equal to and at worst slightly below the reef octopus regal 200 INT in terms of performance. basically at the end of the day all skimmers are basically the same with a few exceptions as in recirculating skimmers but they all do indeed work even those limewood airstone nano jobs. the difference is in the application, in my case for light to med bioload the coralife skimmer outperforms the regal 200 INT on tanks up to 150 gallon heavy bioload up to 120 gallon, reef octopus regal 200 int in same situation based on experience with regal 200 int is you would need a 200 gallon plus tank med to heavy stocked to get the regal 200 int to outperform the old coralife super skimmer 150/220.