What's your absolute favorite skimmer?

Lifereef all the way! I spent too much on other skimmers before and I should have just purchased it off the bat. No- it is not as quiet as a Nyos or as sexy-sounding as a Royal Exclusiv, but it requires virtually no adjustment once you have it set to preference and the drain port is one of the easiest I've ever used. In the 8 months I've had it I have cleaned the neck and cup once with no impact to performance.
 
I've owned a bunch of different skimmers over time. Depends a bit on the size of the tank, but my favorite was the MTC HSA-1000.
 
Klaes Skimmer https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/5/review Sadly the company is no longer in business. A crazy foam machine for sure. Foam production was separate from the water input and output. So you had more control of the skimmer.
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I've had numerous skimmers in the 20 years I've been keeping saltwater tanks. Bubbleking, H&S, MRC, AquaC, ReefOctopus, RLSS, ASM, EuroReef, ATI, BubbleMagus... Currently I have 2 tanks running Deltec skimmers and with 100% confidence I can say Deltec will be the last brand of skimmer I run unless they go out of business for some reason. Dead silent, easy to adjust, quality build, super stable and extremely good value for the price IMO
 
Loving my Reef Octopus 300INT right now!
 
Vertex Omega 150. Consistently pulls out insane gunk even when the body and neck are covered in build up and coraline. Extremely easy to fine tune and adjust the skimmate concentration. Robust build quality and I think it looks cool.
 
I like my aquamaxx skimmer over the others I've owned. Just have to plug it in and empty the cup. It requires very little adjustment and works at a variety of depths. It's not the highest quality material and construction wise, but never having to mess with it makes it my favorite.
 
Loving my Reef Octopus 300INT right now!
+1 sorta I have a 150ss and really like it compared to My Skimz 123 but that is a good one too, It was just under sized for my system...
 
NYOS Quantum both 160 and 120, easy to set and pulls a lot. Quiet
 
Love my Nyos 160. Reliable and easy to adjust. My first major skimmer was an Aqua-C long long ago. It was bullet proof.

Clearly there is no clear concensus on the best. So if you are confused, at least don't choose what is not mentioned here.
 
I have used a variety of skimmers. BK, Lifereef, Euroreef, and Deltec. Deltec blows any of them away. That thing pulled out nasty, stank sludge like no other.
 
I can't really compare the nyos 160 to other skimmers but I can say that it works, and has a tiny footprint, is very low on wattage and very quiet.
 
I havent had many over the years; started with a Coralife (I think) airstone driven skimmer that worked well enough, then switched to an AquaC Remora that was a workorse for about 11 years, than a couple tanks with no skimmers for a few years, a Bubble Magus (too finicky, hated it), and then went with a Deltec. I've extremely happy with it and purchased another for the bigger tank though I'm thinking of plumbing both tanks to a common sump so I'll have to ditch both and grab a bigger one. While mine certainly isnt near silent like another user posted, it is quiet enough for me and just works. When it's time for maintenance it can be completely disassembled with a single thumbscrew. My only complaint would be parts availability; after an issue with availability about a year ago I keep a spare pump and impeller on hand just in case.

I'm also tempted to try a Lifereef as I have plenty of space with a basement fish room now.
 
I do not have a huge number of skimmers i have used in the past but i do not have any complaints with my eshopps x-160.
Quiet, and i get a disgusting smelly skimmate to empty once a week.

Used purple plumbing to match it.
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Deltec 3070 is had min on my 600 gallon Sps for 10 years with no problems [emoji106]
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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