What do you consider to be the best Protein Skimmer?

[Fatman]

I have the coral life skimmer the 75$ one, and as long as you adjust the setting on it every 4 to 6 days (due to evaporation) I see no problems with it. The minor bubbles it releases is annoying but it has a trap for this, and seems to be working as well as possible.

[dakar]

Any decent skimmer *can* work and perform well.... but some just require more tuning and in general playing around with or making minor modifications to maintain contant water levels and such to reach the point of acceptable or better performance.

Personally, I like the Berlin style, the multiple chambers the water must traverse *seems* to allow for more contact time with the air bubbles. But with that being said my airstone driven skimmer really rocks too, too bad the air pump is the lousest part of that whole system now. But if I get my hands on a very large air pump I like to do a side by side comparison between the Berlin and an equally sized airstone hacked DIY type skimmer.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Fatman]

Any decent skimmer *can* work and perform well.... but some just require more tuning and in general playing around with or making minor modifications to maintain contant water levels and such to reach the point of acceptable or better performance.

Personally, I like the Berlin style, the multiple chambers the water must traverse *seems* to allow for more contact time with the air bubbles. But with that being said my airstone driven skimmer really rocks too, too bad the air pump is the lousest part of that whole system now. But if I get my hands on a very large air pump I like to do a side by side comparison between the Berlin and an equally sized airstone hacked DIY type skimmer.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Yeah Dakar makes a good point, they all seem to be based on their "tuning" requirements, and as he said if you tune even the cheapest one everyday I dont see why it shouldnt work as the most expensive ones.

[Reptoreef]

The main thing about a skimmer is bubble size and reaction time... the skimmer body is a basic definition of where the main reaction happens and where the waste is sent for separation.A "cheapo" skimmer and stock pump w/ the addition of a high end needlewheel pump(for a recirculating effect-recirc style) can bring some serious abilities to the once "cheapo" skimmer.

[jerryc]

That is the reason i don't like the low end skimmers
I'm a set it and forget it kind of person

[davejnz]

I'd also like to point out,even your high-end skimmers won't perform well if they're not an optimum location.I have an ER skimmer with a Sedra3500 that is located/setup optimally.I can get 20oz(1 1/4 collection cup) of skimmate a day from it.I also have a brand new ASM G-2 with Sedra3500 on my new 75gal thats in an open sump with turbulent flow and an unstable water level.It barely gets a collection cup in 1 week.

[Dirt4dinner]

Dave...I think you better give me a REALLY GOOD deal on that G2 then...thats the one I have been considering the most! -DIRT