The 19 best protein skimmer brands
Reef Octopus, Coralife and Red Sea lead our ranking of 19 protein skimmer brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Protein Skimmer brands, ranked
TSCentral is reader-supported: we may earn a commission when you shop through links on this page. It does not affect the ranking.
-
1
Reef Octopus
Reef Octopus is a reputed brand of marine products with a dedicated focus on creating scientifically advanced and technologically effective products for the promotion of healthy aquarium life. Since their inception in 2005, their products have been tried and tested by professionals as well as aquarium users and are recommended for their efficiency. From tanks to pumps, their products have been designed by experts in the field after years of research and development.
Website: reefoctopus.com |Brands like Reef Octopus
Popularity 10.0/10
-
2
Coralife
Coralife is a multinational aquarium company specializing in superior product research, development, and manufacture. They can bring more beauty, pleasure, and happiness into people's lives by offering a diverse choice of creative and inexpensive items. Their goods are constructed with more outstanding components and materials. Everything you need to maintain your marine, freshwater, or pond environment healthily and thriving is included. Coralife is your one-stop shop for everything connected to aquatic life and its maintenance, from all-inclusive BioCube aquariums to a complete selection of lighting and filtration supplies.
Website: coralifeproducts.com |Brands like Coralife
Popularity 8.4/10
-
3
Red Sea
Add more to your home decor by introducing fine quality products presented by the Red Sea. The website delivers its services for upgrading aquariums by using a new dimension of reefer-s and products dedicated to reefs. These devices have elevated and balanced levels of the foundation elements such as calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonates and machines such as a refractometer to estimate seawater's absolute salinity and temperatures. The products provided for replenishing are the reef aquarium provides balanced supplements for all corals' sustainable growth, including the most delicate corals.
Website: redseafish.com |Brands like Red Sea
Popularity 7.1/10
-
4
Eshopps
Eshopps has been in the aquarium industry for over a decade. They began with a vast assortment of aquariums and have since extended to include various equipment such as protein skimmers, lighting systems, filters, heaters, and chillers. A skilled team of researchers and technologists produces and tests their goods in-house. Each product is rigorously tested before being released to the public, so you can be confident that it will perform as intended.
Website: eshopps.com |Brands like Eshopps
Popularity 6.1/10
-
5
Deltec
Deltec has been innovating and manufacturing products for over 30 years. They have kept up with the industry standards since the beginning and has been a pioneer in saltwater aquariums. They were the first in the market to introduce high-quality skimmers with a needle wheel. Their skimmers are handmade in Germany. Every skimmer has a sleek, compact design that offers exceptional functionality and high efficiency.
Website: deltecdirectusa.com |Brands like Deltec
Popularity 5.2/10
-
6
sera
Sera develops and delivers professional aquarists' products, from the smallest aquarium to the largest public aquariums. From monitoring pH and water quality to stocking your pond or aquarium with fish, invertebrates, and plants, their products ensure healthy fish, plants, and water at every stage of your aquatic experience. They made their products from the best materials to endure longer and keep your beloved pets safe. You can browse their website for ideal products for both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. The company was founded to bring together the top items for various uses.
Website: sera.de |Brands like sera
Popularity 4.7/10
-
7
Hydor
Hydor is an electromechanical company that was founded in 1984. It remains an undisputed leader in the manufacturing of innovative and unique aquarium products and technology that are exported all over the world. It provides a complete variety of high-quality, advanced tech filters, pumps, and heaters to its vast client base that continues to increase due to its numerous patents filed all over the world and the excellent quality of its products.
Website: hydor.com |Brands like Hydor
Popularity 4.7/10
-
8
Tunze
Tunze is a brand considered one of the most potent and well-known aquarium technological companies. The brand has been focusing on delivering exceptional items and, consequently, a unique aquariums adventure to its consumers since its inception. It continues to do everything it can to astound customers and enhance water quality in an aquarium's closed circulation system.
Website: tunze.com |Brands like Tunze
Popularity 4.7/10
-
9
Aqua Medic
In the United Kingdom, Aqua Medic Direct supplies the entire Aqua Medic product line. For over 20 years, their team has worked with the Aqua Medic product line. The company's central location facility is in Leicestershire, United Kingdom, and it...
Website: aquamedicdirect.co.uk |Brands like Aqua Medic
Popularity 4.2/10
-
10
EHEIM
All aquaria and water garden applications benefit from the EHEIM filter series. Begin with a modest internal filter and ultimately grow your system to create an underwater habitat that can live and breathe on its own. Pumps, filter systems, heating...
Website: eheim.com |Brands like EHEIM
Popularity 3.9/10
-
11
Marineland
Marineland delivers technology-enriched aquatic innovation by caring for aquamarine habitat. They have a penchant for producing high-quality aquamarine equipment, filtration products, and skimmers, along with powerheads and pumps, making the activity more enjoyable, instructive, and accessible for fishkeepers. Their infographics...
Website: marineland.com |Brands like Marineland
Popularity 3.5/10
-
12
NYOS
High level reafing made in Germany. Wir führen ein breites Sortiment von Nährstoffen über Meerwassertechnik hin zu Aquarien. Überzeugen Sie sich selbst.
Website: nyos.info |Brands like NYOS
Popularity 3.2/10
-
13
Classic
ClassicLEDs is your one-stop store for anything Mustang. They provide the most significant assortment of parts and accessories to help you have the automobile of your dreams. They can assist you whether you are looking for a specific amount or...
Website: classicleds.com |Brands like Classic
Popularity 2.7/10
-
14
Innovative Marine
Innovative Marine, Inc. is a manufacturer and supplier of aquaculture, environmental products, and equipment, including glass aquariums. Aeration, fish farming, reservoirs, predator control, filtration, pumps, laboratory, cooling and heating, sterilization, control, fountain, fitting, and chemical equipment are among their goods....
Website: innovative-marine.com |Brands like Innovative Marine
Popularity 2.7/10
-
15
Aquatop
Aqua top is a brand that provides different types of aquariums to customers. They also sell products related to ponds and saltwater reefs. They have various aquariums with several designs for home and commercial areas. They are also best-seller products...
Website: aquatop.com |Brands like Aquatop
Popularity 2.7/10
-
16
Aquanova
Aquanova is a Swedish company of bathing essentials and accessories. It was founded in 1948, selling devices and household goods. Their idea is to create a relaxing ambiance in the bathroom to provide a comfort and stimulation bath that releases...
Website: aquanova.com |Brands like Aquanova
Popularity 2.2/10
-
17
Cobalt
Fishkeeping and maintenance of aquariums can be a hassle sometimes, as they are a living ecosystem and require constant care and attention. Cobalt Aquatics is a giant root facility that supplies aquarium and fishkeeping products of superior quality and distributes...
Website: cobaltaquatics.com |Brands like Cobalt
Popularity 1.6/10
-
18
Tropical Marine Centre
Tropical Marine Centre takes pleasure in providing a large selection of hard-to-find fish and invertebrates, as well as a diversified collection of widely available species. All the animals they provide are captive bred, and the tank has grown in regulated...
Website: tropicalmarinecentre.com |Brands like Tropical Marine Centre
Popularity 1.6/10
-
19
SUNSUN
Sunsun is a company that specializes in making indoor aquariums. The company was established back in 1985, and they have been working tirelessly for more than 30 years to provide a high level of service to its users. Sunsun is...
Website: sunsun-china.com |Brands like SUNSUN
Popularity 1.6/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reef Octopus | reefoctopus.com | /ReefOctopusSG | – | – | OCTO by Reef Octopus |
| Coralife | coralifeproducts.com | /CoralifeProducts | – | – | – |
| Red Sea | redseafish.com | /groups | – | – | Red Sea |
| Eshopps | eshopps.com | /EshoppsInc | eshopps | @eshoppsinc | Eshopps |
| Deltec | deltecdirectusa.com | /deltecusa | deltecusa | – | Deltec USA |
| sera | sera.de | /sera.gmbh | – | – | – |
| Hydor | hydor.com | /hydorsrl | – | @Hydorsrl | HydorTube |
| Tunze | tunze.com | /tunze | tunze_aquarientechnik | – | TUNZEGmbH |
| Aqua Medic | aquamedicdirect.co.uk | – | – | – | – |
| EHEIM | eheim.com | /EHEIM | EHEIM_official | – | eheim |
Protein Skimmers Buying Guide
When it comes to maintaining a healthy and thriving saltwater aquarium, protein skimmers are an essential piece of equipment. Protein skimmers, also known as foam fractionators, help remove excess organic waste from the water before it breaks down and turns into harmful substances. With so many protein skimmers on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your aquarium. This buying guide will cover the most important factors to consider when selecting a protein skimmer.
What is a Protein Skimmer?
Before we dive into the considerations for purchasing a protein skimmer, it's important to understand what it does and how it works. Protein skimmers use a simple concept based on the way protein behaves in water. As proteins break down, they form a thin layer of foam on the surface, which is where the skimmer comes in. When water is pushed through the device, tiny bubbles are created which attach to the foam layer and collect it, removing it from the water.
In essence, a protein skimmer removes waste from the water before it has a chance to break down and cause harm to your fish and corals. Skimmers are especially useful in saltwater aquariums because the delicate balance of the ecosystem can be disrupted by even small amounts of waste.
Considerations for Purchasing a Protein Skimmer
Now that we understand what a protein skimmer does let's look at some key factors you should consider when purchasing one.
Tank Size and Flow Rate
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a protein skimmer is your tank size. Protein skimmers come in various sizes and capacities, and selecting one that doesn't match your tank size could result in inadequate removal of waste. Generally, protein skimmer manufacturers will specify the recommended tank size for their product, so make sure to follow these guidelines.
Another crucial factor is the flow rate of the protein skimmer. The flow rate refers to the amount of water the device can handle per hour, and it's important to select a skimmer with an appropriate flow rate for your tank size. If the flow rate is too high, the water won't stay inside the skimmer long enough for the proteins to attach to the foam. Conversely, if the flow rate is too low, then the skimmer may be unable to remove all the waste efficiently.
Type of Protein Skimmer
There are three primary types of protein skimmers, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The three types are venturi, air-driven, and needle-wheel protein skimmers.
Venturi Protein Skimmers
Venturi protein skimmers are the most basic type and are a great option for beginners. They operate by mixing air and water together to create the thick foam which removes waste. Venturi skimmers are simple to use and clean and don't require any additional equipment. However, they may not be adequate for larger tanks or more heavily stocked aquariums.
Air-Driven Protein Skimmers
Air-driven protein skimmers are similar to venturi skimmers, but instead of using a pump to mix air and water, they use an air stone. As bubbles flow through the water, they attach to the protein, creating the foam layer that's removed by the skimmer. Air-driven skimmers can be a bit more challenging to set up and clean than venturi skimmers. Still, they are more efficient and better suited for larger tanks and more heavily stocked aquariums.
Needle-Wheel Protein Skimmers
Needle-wheel protein skimmers are the most advanced type and operate by using a high-speed impeller to chop up bubbles and create very fine foam. This type is usually more expensive but is also the most efficient and suitable for larger aquariums. Needle-wheel protein skimmers can require more maintenance, but their increased function usually outweighs any additional effort.
Sump or Hang-on?
When choosing a protein skimmer, you must also decide if it should be a hang-on style or one that fits into a sump. Hang-on protein skimmers are attached to the outside of the aquarium and are perfect for smaller tanks or those without a sump. They're ideal for those who want to keep their system simple and don't have a lot of space. However, hang-on protein skimmers can be louder and less efficient than sump-mounted skimmers.
Sump-mounted protein skimmers, on the other hand, offer superior performance and efficiency compared to hang-on models. They're also less noisy and allow for more space in the main tank. Sump-mounted protein skimmers are typically designed to work with sumps, which requires more space and investment in ancillary equipment.
Budget
Protein skimmers come in a variety of price ranges, making it crucial to set a budget before starting your search. More expensive protein skimmers may come with additional features and more advanced technology, but these features may not be necessary for all aquariums. Consider your needs and evaluate the long-term usefulness of the skimmer to determine which price range suits you best.
Conclusion
Selecting the right protein skimmer requires careful consideration of your tank size, flow rate, type of protein skimmer, attachment style, and budget. It's also vital to follow manufacturer recommendations when installing and using the device to maximize its effectiveness. By keeping these factors in mind, you can select the perfect protein skimmer for your aquarium and enjoy healthy and thriving aquatic life.
