10 Best Protein Skimmers For Aquariums in 2024: Top Picks & Reviews

Not everybody uses a protein skimmer, but they are great tools to have. You don’t necessarily need one, but they clean your water and remove dissolved organic waste, which can harm your fish.

Not all skimmers are the same, and different models are ideal for different sizes and types of aquariums. The trick is to find the best protein skimmer available, which is precisely what we are here to help you do with our detailed reviews and buying information guide.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites Picks in 2024

The 10 Best Protein Skimmers

If you are on the hunt for the best protein skimmer for the money, this is what we feel is one of the better options for many reasons, let’s take a detailed look at what this skimmer has to offer;

1. Coral Vue Octopus Needle Wheel Skimmer

The Octopus Needle Wheel is rated for aquariums up to 210 gallons, making the Coral Vue a pretty large and powerful option. This protein skimmer features a 6-inch needle wheel impeller that generates uncountable tiny bubbles that help remove dissolved organic compounds from the aquarium water.

We have to say that the Coral Vue Skimmer is made out of durable materials, so it should last for quite some time, assuming it is looked after. The water level can be adjusted, which is incredibly convenient. Because of its size, it will require a fair amount of space in a sump or refugium, but it does a great job at skimming. It needs to be submerged in between 6 and 8 inches of aquarium water to work properly.

It also features a 4-inch cone neck to help increase bubble transfer from the main tank to the collection cup. The quick-release neck makes emptying the collection cup of the foam and compounds about as easy as can be.

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2. Coralife Super Skimmer with Pump

One cool part about this protein skimmer is that it can be used in a sump, or you can buy a hang-on back bracket to mount it on the rear of your aquarium. It’s easy to install and maintain, which is quite a bonus.

It can be used for aquariums up to 125 gallons, but it comes in larger sizes as well, covering up to 220 gallons. It’s not one of the biggest aquarium protein skimmers in the world, so it does not take up too much space, either.

With that said, it does a great job of removing fine debris and dissolved compounds from the water. It features a patented needle wheel system with dual bubble injectors that help increase bubble-to-water contact for effective DOC removal. It also comes with a bubble diffuser to make sure that micro-bubbles do not make their way back into the tank.

The pump is energy efficient, and it comes with a wide-neck collection cup to catch as many bubbles and foam as possible. The cup can be easily screwed off for waste disposal.

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3. SCA-301 Protein Skimmer

The SCA Skimmer is intended for tanks up to 65 gallons per hour. It does have a lot of processing power, and it can handle over 340 gallons of water per hour. It’s quite powerful and efficient, plus the flow is adjustable, which is convenient.

This model uses a simple air injection system to create a lot of tiny bubbles. It is relatively effective at removing dissolved organic compounds from the water, but not the best. While it is not the strongest saltwater protein skimmer or the most durable, it is a good option for smaller saltwater tanks since it does not take up too much space.

It can easily be placed in a sump, but it needs to be submerged in 6 to 7 inches of water. A bonus is that the SCA-301 comes with an air silencer, so at least it is not too loud. It is not the biggest or best in the world, but it gets the job done.

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4. CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus

This is a really nice option to go with if you need a large skimmer for a large tank. It is meant for aquariums up to 100 gallons in size and can process a substantial amount of water per hour. It’s designed for hardcore skimming jobs that smaller skimmers cannot handle.

We like how this is made with strong acrylic and durable inner components. It should last for quite some time. We do appreciate the high-quality components being used. Although it’s large, it does not require too much space behind the tank.

The external pump is mounted under the filtration system, so while it takes up a bit of space, it could be much worse. The CoralVue skimmer is designed to minimize heat exchange, so it does not heat the water too much.

The pump is also made for easy removal and maintenance. The collection cup is large and can fit quite a bit, but removing it for emptying is challenging.

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5. Bubble Magus BM-Curve 5 Protein Skimmer

The Bubble Magus can be used directly in the tank or used in a sump. Easy installation and various installation methods are the traits that we like about this model. However, it is best used when put in a sump.

This thing is quite big and powerful, as it is rated for tanks up to 140 gallons and has quite a bit of hourly processing power. This thing is no slouch. The Bubble Magus is quite big and can handle a lot, but beware; it is not the most durable option out there.

With that being said, while it works, it works well. The SP1000 Internal pump is actually quite reliable, not to mention fairly energy efficient too. The needle wheel and venture intake let you control the exact amount and size of bubbles being produced.

It also comes with a bubble plate to minimize turbulence in the reaction chamber, plus an air silencer to make sure that this thing is not way too loud.

The curved skimmer body helps bring as many bubbles as possible to the collection cup. The collection cup is easy to remove and empty; however, it also comes with a drain to reduce the frequency you have to perform maintenance on it. We like how the Bubble Magus Skimmer is compact, at least more so than other options with the same capacity.

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6. Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 9001

This is a smaller option and is ideal for tanks up to 37 gallons in size. However, if you have a heavily stocked tank, you may not want to use the Tunze 9001 for anything over 15 gallons. While it is quite efficient and good at its job, it does not have much processing power, so it cannot be used for large or heavily stocked tanks.

The Tunze Skimmer is a very small protein skimmer best used for a nano reef aquarium. It is tiny and compact, so it does not take up much space, no matter where you put it. To be clear, this model needs to be used in a slump, but it comes with a cool magnet holder and clips to keep it in place within the sump.

The fact that this thing features an energy-efficient pump is quite a big bonus, as it won’t run up your electricity bill too much. It comes with a decent aeration system to produce a lot of fine bubbles, but some bubbles may make their way back into the tank.

With that being said, this option does come with an easy-to-change and maintain collection cup. On the other hand, this is not the most durable protein skimmer you could go with.

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7. AquaMaxx Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer

This is a convenient hang on back protein skimmer option to go with. It’s convenient due to the fact that it is so easy to install. You can hang it on the back of your tank with the hardware, and you are ready to go.

The AquaMaxx is intended for lightly stocked aquariums of 90 gallons or heavily stocked tanks of 60 gallons. It does have a fair amount of processing power, but it’s not the best in the world, so don’t use it for heavily stocked tanks over 60 gallons.

One thing that you might like about this option is that it is made with cell-cast acrylic, so in layman’s terms, it’s pretty tough and durable. The interior components are built fairly well, too, but the exterior durability is the real bonus here.

We also do like the high-quality pump included here, as it is fairly energy-efficient and reliable. You might also like how the number and size of bubbles created are adjustable, plus how it comes with a feature to stop microbubbles from reentering the tank.

The AquaMaxx HOB Skimmer is easy to maintain, thanks to the easy-to-remove and clean collection cup. You can also adjust the collection cup to adjust the wet-dry foam level for increased effectiveness. All in all, this is a pretty decent option to go with.

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8. Tunze USA Doc Skimmer

One of the biggest benefits that you get with this protein skimmer is that it is very energy efficient. It is up to 2 times as energy-efficient as other protein skimmers with the same skimming capacity. It’s good for the environment and for your wallet.

It might not look like much, but it works quite well. It can be used for heavily stocked tanks between 80 and 265 gallons, so it definitely has quite a bit of processing power. If you are using it for a heavily stocked tank, its capacity will top out at about 150 gallons.

Now, one of the drawbacks here is that the Tunze can only be used inside of a sump, but with that said, it is pretty easy to install, not to mention that it does not take up too much room inside the sump. Remember that it needs to be submerged in between 5.5 and 8 inches of water to work properly.

We do like the very high-capacity collection cup, which this thing features because it reduces the amount of maintenance that needs to be performed. We should probably mention that this is not the most durable protein skimmer in the world. It works well, but only so long as all of the individual components stay in one piece.

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9. NYOS Quantum 160 Protein Skimmer

This is a high-end option that is quiet, durable, has fantastic performance, and more. To get this out of the way, this is not a model that is ideal for beginners, small tanks, or people with tight budgets. Also, it needs to be installed using a sump, and it takes up quite a bit of space, too. However, it works well at its intended purpose.

The NYOS Skimmer features an optimal mix of air bubbles to water contact for efficient skimming. The high-power pump can handle any tank up to 265 gallons in size, even really heavily stocked ones. This thing is meant to clean even the dirtiest of tanks with ease.

What is impressive here is that the NYOS is so efficient, yet it uses minimal power and is designed for energy efficiency. It’s also a good option because even though it has a ton of power, it actually runs quite silently.

You can adjust the bubbles and the collection cup for optimal results. At the same time, this particular option is quite easy to install and easy to maintain as well. The collection cup can be easily removed for quick cleaning.

On a side note, the NYOS skimmer is also built for maximum durability and longevity. Just don’t buy the NYOS skimmer for a small tank or if you are a beginner.

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10. Hydor USA SlimSkim Internal Skimmer

If you need a small and slim internal protein skimmer for a small nano reef aquarium, then this is a good option to go with. It can handle tanks up to 35 gallons, but if your tank is heavily stocked, it should probably not be used for anything over 25 gallons in size. Installing the Hydor USA is easy, thanks to the suction cup magnets included.

It is a rather small protein skimmer, so pick a space and plaster it onto the interior of the tank. Now, this is an internal protein skimmer, and it will take up space inside of the tank, but at least it is built compact, so it’s not too bad.

The Hydor USA Skimmer uses only 4 watts of energy, making it quite energy-efficient and cost-effective. What is cool here is the adjustable air control for the exact amount of bubbles you want, as well as the adjustable foaming level to fit your skimming needs.

Now, this is not the most durable protein skimmer to go with, not by far, but it works well as long as all of the parts are maintained. We do like the large collection cup, which is also easy to remove. All in all, this option is not the best of all, but it gets the job done for smaller, lightly stocked tanks.

Buyers Guide – Choosing the Best Protein Skimmer

Types Of Protein Skimmers

There are 4 main types of protein skimmers that you can go with. They all function in more or less the same way, but where they are installed and housed is the real difference.

Hang On Back (HOB)

This is a common type of protein skimmer to go with. As the name implies, these are hung on the back of your tank using simple brackets. They do not take up space inside of a sump or the tank, but they do need some clearance in the rear.

These tend to be fairly efficient and high quality, but they usually are not the best for large aquariums. They do work well, but they are not the nicest to look at.

In Sump

In-sump protein skimmers are a good option if you already have a large sump or refugium and have some space to spare inside of it. They tend to be easy to install, but you do need to pay attention to the water level, which they require to sit in.

In-sump skimmers are good if you want a protein skimmer but do not want it to be overly visible. They work well, but fitting them inside of a sump can be a bit of a pain sometimes, as it makes maintenance a little harder.

External

External protein skimmers are pretty much like in-sump skimmers, but they do not require a sump. They tend to be quite expensive, and they need shelf space. However, they also do not take up room inside the tank, they are not overly visible, and they work quite well.

In Tank

The in-tank protein skimmer is always an excellent option to go with. They work well, they are energy efficient, and they can handle pretty large loads.

You also never have to worry about water overflowing from them and ending up on your floor. The only real downside here is that they take up a lot of space inside of the tank, plus they do not look all that nice.

How to Choose a Protein Skimmer

When choosing the best protein skimmer for your aquarium, there are several factors to take into consideration, including the size of your aquarium, the size of the skimmer you want, and the type of aquarium you have.

Aquarium Sizes

Protein skimmers for larger aquariums should have a higher capacity than the tank. So, if you have a 35-gallon tank, for example, you will want to purchase a 100-gallon skimmer. This gives you enough room to clean the water and can be done in far less time.

Skimmer Sizes

Some skimmers will be larger than others, and it is essential to remember that the size of your protein skimmer is just as important as the overall size of the aquarium.

The size of the protein skimmer you choose is in relation to the available space you have in the aquarium to mount it. If you need a larger protein skimmer, be prepared to move your aquarium to an area that will be more accommodating.

The Amount and Size of the Bubbles

The protein skimmer uses air bubbles to help get rid of all the organic matter that is in the aquarium water. So, the bubbles are important when choosing a skimmer. Small bubbles can get the job done a lot more quickly.

Budget

Finally, what is your budget for a new protein skimmer? The budget should remain somewhat flexible so you are sure to get all the features you are looking for and so it can be the perfect fit for your aquarium.

What Is A Protein Skimmer?

A protein skimmer can be a very important piece of equipment for many aquariums, especially for saltwater tanks. In layman’s terms, it is a secondary filtration unit that picks up the slack that your regular filter has left.

Regular filtration units usually engage in mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration, which in most cases is good enough to keep tanks clean and clear (You might also find our post on cleaning a fish tank properly helpful). However, a heavily stocked tank with lots of messy, waste-producing fish and lots of plants can be harder to keep clean.

This is where the protein skimmer comes into play. It is kind of like a filter, one that is meant to remove DOCs from the water. DOC stands for Dissolved Organic Compounds. These dissolved organic compounds are created when solid waste like old fish food, old plant matter, and fish waste begins to decay and is broken down by oxygen-consuming bacteria from your biofilter.

Mechanical filtration removes a lot of this waste. The beneficial bacteria that are in the tank, thanks to your biological filter, break down these decaying organic compounds and get rid of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites.

However, mechanical filtration cannot eliminate 100% of these decaying materials, nor can biological filtration break them down 100%. The result is that dissolved proteins end up in the water, such as carbohydrates, fats, amino acids, hormones, phenolic compounds, and more.

These proteins can be dangerous in fish tanks, even lethal, especially in saltwater tanks. A protein skimmer’s purpose is to remove them.

What Does A Protein Skimmer Do?

The function of a protein skimmer is fairly simple in terms of how it removes all kinds of waste particles and dissolved organic compounds from the water. The mechanism itself consists of a large tank with an air and water pump.

First off, water gets sucked in from the aquarium. The water is then combined with a lot of air from the air intake. There is then a needle impeller, which then cuts these bubbles down into very small bubbles.

The point of these bubbles is to get all kinds of minuscule debris particles and dissolved organic compounds to bond with them. The bubbles, which are bonded with these dissolved organic compounds, then rise to the top of the tank.

There is then a collection tank at the top of the protein skimmer, which collects these air bubbles that are bonded with the dissolved organic compounds. If the protein skimmer works correctly, you will see a thick, watery, discolored foam in the collection tank.

This foam can be greenish, bluish, gray, or any number of colors depending on the type and amount of organic compounds being removed from the water.

FAQs

Let’s quickly go over some of the most commonly asked questions about protein skimmers, just so you know what they are all about, how to use them, and how to maintain them.

What Size Protein Skimmer Do I Need?

Simply put, you need a protein skimmer that is large enough to handle the total volume of the fish tank several times per hour. Now, the top of the skimmer does need to be above the top of the tank, so there is always that to keep in mind.

Generally speaking, larger skimmers will perform better than smaller ones. So, if you have a 100-gallon tank, you might want to get a skimmer rated for more than just 100 gallons. However, the size of the skimmer does not always correlate to performance.

What Is The Best Skimmer For Reef Tanks?

When it comes to reef tanks, you are probably best off going with an in-sump protein skimmer. If you have a reef tank, having a sump is good either way because reef tanks need a whole lot of biological filtration anyway.

With an in-sump protein skimmer, you can keep the skimmer out of sight while ensuring it works properly. In-sump skimmers are not the easiest to maintain, but they don’t take up space inside of the tank, they are out of sight, and they tend to be fairly efficient, too.

How To Use A Protein Skimmer Properly?

This is a somewhat tricky question to answer as different types of protein skimmers have different proper usage instructions. Your best bet is to read the instructions for the specific skimmer you purchase.

One tip is to ensure the skimmer is submerged in the water, as much as the particular skimmer requires, before you turn it on.

How To Tune A Protein Skimmer

Tuning a protein skimmer refers to the amount of water it puts into the tank. The more you restrict the water outflow, the higher the water level will become. You want to adjust the outflow so that the water level is a few inches above the upper rim of the neck.

Different skimmers perform differently at different water levels, so you will need to read the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific skimmer you have in regard to the proper water level.

How To Clean Protein Skimmers

The good part about protein skimmers is that they do not need to be cleaned too often. The collection cup should be emptied about 3 times per week and rinsed out with warm water. It does not get any easier than that.

Also, the skimmer’s body only needs to be cleaned every 6 months or so, depending on the level of buildup. Remove the skimmer from the sump or tank, drain all the water, and fill it with a strong vinegar and water solution. Let it soak until the debris becomes easy to scrub off.

Should Protein Skimmers Run All The Time?

This answer depends on how dirty your tank is, the bio load inside of the tank, and how efficient your primary filtration unit is. If you test the water for DOCs and the level is high, you will need to run the skimmer more.

If your tank is lightly stocked and not too dirty, running it for 4 or 5 hours daily should be fine. However, some people elect to let them run all day long if the tank is dirty and heavily stocked.

Will A Skimmer Help With Algae?

In most cases, yes, a protein skimmer will help with algae. Algae like to feed on many types of dissolved organic compounds. A good protein skimmer should be able to remove most food sources that algae require to grow and multiply.

How To Get Rid of Microbubbles From A Protein Skimmer

First, if you have a new skimmer creating a lot of microbubbles, give it about a week to break in. This should solve the problem. If this does not solve the problem, you need to reduce the turbulence in the tank.

Also, turning down the flow rate should help eliminate microbubbles entering the tank. Adding a diffuser to the mix will help, too. It does depend on why the bubbles are forming, as there are quite a few things that could be the culprit.

What Are The Advantages Of Using A Skimmer?

These things help to remove dissolved waste from your water, thus lowering ammonia and nitrate levels, both things that can decrease water quality and even kill your fish.

The main advantage of these tools is that they reduce the need for frequent water changes, plus, of course, they reduce the chances that your fish will get sick due to impure water.

There is also the fact that less dissolved waste in the water means that pesky algae have less food to feed off of, and thus, it helps to reduce algae buildup in the tank. If you need some pointers on removing algae then this post will help you out.

Skimmers also help to increase oxygenation in the water (and pumps can also help, more on air pumps here), another beneficial aspect indeed. Even better is that these things help provide clearer water to let more light penetrate deeper into the water.

The final benefit of protein skimmers is that they can help to stabilize pH levels in the water. For more on pH levels on how to lower them, check out this article.

 

Conclusion

We discussed several protein skimmers, but our favorite model is the Coral Vue Octopus Needle Wheel Skimmer for its durable construction, adjustable features, and ease of cleaning. We also recommend trying the Coralife Super Skimmer with Pump if you have a larger tank. It has an energy-efficient pump and an impressive collection cup. We hope you have found our reviews and buying guide helpful, and hopefully, you’re closer to finding the best protein skimmer for your tank.

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