Are you an aquarium owner?
Featuring cutting-edge innovations, 5 Best Protein Skimmer has the absolute best selection of protein skimmers available on the market. Our proteins skimmers provide superior performance and incredible value by allowing your aquatic life to naturally filter out toxic waste, creating a healthful environment for your fish and other creatures within it.
With the best protein skimmers, you'll get crystal clear water with reduced levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrates. Not only that but also, these filters require little maintenance or upkeep as compared to traditional filtration systems. Enjoy long-term savings in energy costs as well as a great reduction in noise produced by motors!
Read on to see our variety of five best protein skimmer now!
How We Choose the Best Protein Skimmer
Protein skimmers are an essential piece of equipment for any saltwater aquarium, but shopping for the right one can be overwhelming.
Not all in sump protein skimmers are created equal. There are a lot of different factors to consider when shopping for one- from size and shape to type of pump and power consumption.
We’ve done the hard work for you and read through thousands of reviews on Amazon to find the best protein skimmer for your needs. Whether you have a small or large tank, we’ve got you covered.
Macro Aqua M-50 Mini Hang-on External Protein Skimmer

Best For Hang On Back Skimmer
Macro Aqua M-50 Mini Hang-on External Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
If you have a fish tank of up to 60 gallons, you need the right equipment to keep your tank clean and healthy—which is why investing in a high-quality in sump protein skimmer is crucial.
This small hang-on back skimmer won't take up much space, while its water flow of 238gph effectively eliminates organic waste from your tank.
Maintaining your tank is incredibly easy too; simply remove the collection cup to conveniently dispose of the waste. Invest in this skimmer for a happier and healthier tank ecosystem today!
What You Should Know
When maximum efficiency and convenience are your goals, a needle-to-wheel impeller is definitely the way to go. This innovative design increases air-to-water contact for increased performance and won't need any priming for installation or operation.
Installing this impeller is easy and stress-free - so you can start experiencing its benefits right away! The installation process takes no time at all, meaning you don't have to put off enjoying the improved efficiency that comes with this technology.
With most improvements, longer setup times are often a barrier but the simplicity of this impeller means there's nothing in your way.
Marine Color Sunsun Aquarium Surface Protein Skimmer

Best For Quick & Easy Cleaning
Marine Color Sunsun Aquarium Surface Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
An effective surface skimming system is essential for keeping any body of water looking pristine. With an adjustable flow rate which makes it easier to customize the level of skimming on any given day, it's quick and easy to keep the surface free of debris.
Cleaning has never been simpler as these systems feature easily removable components to help with upkeep and maintenance. Instead of sifting through leaves and foreign objects by hand, an effective skimming system takes care of the hard work for you.
What You Should Know
The Marine Color Sunsun Aquarium Surface Protein Skimmer is the perfect device for monitoring and maintaining optimal water levels in your fish tank.
Its small and compact size makes it easy to fit in any aquarium setup without taking up too much space while its adjustable design allows you to automatically control water levels within a 4cm range.
With this skimmer, you can rest assured that your fish will always be swimming in clean, healthy waters!
hygger Protein Skimmers for Saltwater Aquariums
Why We Love It
The Aquatic Life Mini Protein Skimmer for aquariums is a powerful and highly efficient device designed to help keep saltwater tanks crystal clear.
Featuring a low-noise DC pump that combines air and water to generate many fine and smooth bubbles, this advanced skimmer effectively removes organic waste before it alters the chemistry of the environment, thus protecting the aquatic inhabitants from harm.
Additionally, this innovative skimmer also employs honeycomb heads in the reaction chamber to cut foam, preventing bubbles and foam from re-entering the tank while providing extra space and time to collect waste particles.
All in all, this new protein skimmer proves that the efficient removal of organic waste can be achieved without compromising performance.
What You Should Know
The new adjustable flowrate protein skimmer is an ideal choice for your aquarium tank. Its unique rotatable body makes water level adjustment easy, allowing you to get the perfect foam collection, micro bubbles and moisture level. Furthermore, its cone-shaped reactor chamber allows quick bubble collection.
It also features a built-in air intake silencer which eliminates any suction noise. Installation and maintenance is a breeze - the adjustable skimmer height bracket fits standard aquarium frames, while its quick-lock design allows easy cleaning of the collection cup.
In short, this small protein skimmer offers maximum efficiency and convenience with minimal effort - it truly is the ideal choice for your tank!
Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer

Best For Needle Wheel
Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
The Coral Vue Octopus 4-inch Needle Wheel Skimmer 100gal is the perfect addition to any reef keeper's aquarium. Its efficient needle-wheel technology allows for smaller bubbles and greater diffusion of waste particles, creating an optimal environment for skimming and trapping contaminants.
This skimmer can easily handle tank volumes of up to 100 gallons without any difficulty, making it a great choice for those with larger freshwater tanks. On top of that, it operates quietly - so no need to worry about annoying noises!
With its better performance and versatility, this Reef Octopus pinwheel/needle wheel skimmer is an essential piece of equipment for achieving your coral and fish-keeping goals.
What You Should Know
For those looking to maximize their aquarium filtration, the innovation of a new pinwheel impeller and in sump skimmer in the Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer is impressive.
Offering up to 100% improved performance compared to traditional models, it provides powerful skimming capabilities not found in similar products.
Through the use of high quality materials and intelligent engineering, this skimmer ensures stable performance and reliability for years to come.
With this state-of-the-art technology, it's simple to create a clean and healthy aquatic environment perfect for your underwater paradise.
Fluval Sea PS1 Protein Skimmer for Aquarium
Why We Love It
The Fluval Sea PS1 Protein Skimmer for Aquarium is an ideal addition to any marine aquarium environment. With this, you don't have to worry about protein skimmer overflowing.
With its easy-to-install design and silent operation, it works to provide your tanks with pure reef-like conditions. The device uses a Phillips pump to create an improved water flow that helps to remove organic waste from the tank quickly and efficiently.
Its highly adjustable venturi inlet allows you to fine-tune your skimming for maximum effectiveness, creating a healthier aquarium for your fish and corals.
What You Should Know
Keeping an aquarium is a rewarding hobby as it can bring beauty and tranquility to any space. To ensure a healthy environment for fish, the aquarium water needs to be properly filtered.
Today, a range of new technologies exist that make filtration systems more efficient than ever before. For example, modern aquarium skimmers are designed with low energy consumption in mind and feature an air-tight seal to prevent bubbles from escaping the system.
Not only efficient but also suitable for aquariums up to 45 gallons, these advanced skimmers are sure to keep your tank clean without breaking the bank on energy bills.
Coralife Biocube Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
The Coralife Biocube Protein Skimmer is an effective device to remove dissolved organics from saltwater, thanks to its powerful pump and collection cup design. The protein skimmer body utilizes air bubbles to help capture unwanted waste particles in the water, allowing for a more efficient collection of organic matter.
It also has a large surface area in the reaction chamber which helps reduce the overall volume of water needed for filtering. This makes it easier on your pump and allows for a faster filtration process compared to other systems.
What You Should Know
If you're in the market for an aquarium and want a streamlined, easy setup experience, then look no further than Coralife super protein skimmer and standard aquariums up to 32 gallons in size.
Installing this type of aquarium is simplified with its self-priming pump, saving time and energy during setup. With no need for manually filling the water or pumping out air bubbles, this convenient system ensures that setting up your tank becomes a stress-free experience.
CHERLAM Aquarium Surface Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
Maintaining a healthy water environment for your fish is paramount to their continued health and well-being - which is why the CHERLAM protein skimmer is the ideal solution for those affected by external factors causing strong protein build-up on the water surface.
Featuring a robust eddy current motor, it can quickly and efficiently sort out any unsavory proteins, while its highly permeable separator membrane optimizes its adsorption capacity to keep the balance of oxygen and flow exchange in check.
Best of all, the skimmer features a unique floating table design which enables it to compensate for changes in water level due to evaporation or other fluctuating external factors, while still providing that much-needed lift up to 1.18 inches - giving you one less thing to worry about when stitching together an ideal living aqua environment!
What You Should Know
CHERLAM's aquarium protein skimmer offers users the ability to easily adjust the size of their water output, allowing for a flexible and effective solution to filtration.
Behind the oil removal film are multiple suction cups that securely adhere to fish tanks, and its flow switch design enables efficient and personalized adjustment.
What's more, it is made of superior-quality PVC material, making it durable enough for turtles, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. By optimizing water quality in their environment, CHERLAM helps pet owners provide their aquatic friends with a more comfortable living space.
AQUATICLIFE 115 Mini Internal Protein Skimmer

Best For Overflow & Filteration Compartments
AQUATICLIFE 115 Mini Internal Protein Skimmer
Why We Love It
With Aquatic Life 115 Mini Protein Skimmer, organic waste will have no chance of causing harm to your aquarium inhabitants. This mini protein skimmer is not only designed to effectively remove organic waste, but it also comes with a compact design that can easily fit in most rear overflow and filtration compartments.
Measuring 3 1/2 x 3-1/4 x 10-5/8 inches, this mini skimmer is great for those nano tanks or small aquariums where space is limited.
With the Aquatic Life 115 Mini Protein Skimmer, you can now maintain cleanliness without worrying about harming the aquarium's inhabitants.
What You Should Know
Aquarium hobbyists understand the importance of a good protein skimmer for aquariums, and now that task just got even easier with the internal protein skimmer.
It utilizes an 8-watt impeller pump to ensure maximum air-to-water contact and efficient energy use, leading to superior organic waste removal. Installation is easy and hassle-free due to its suction cups and adjustable bracket, allowing it to fit most standard aquarium frames.
Give your aquatic creatures' home the best with this small yet powerful protein skimmer; you'll find yourself surprised at its powerful operation in spite of its compact size.
Best Protein Skimmer FAQ
People want to know more about protein skimmers before investing in one.
Protein skimmers are a great way to remove organic waste from your aquarium, but they can be confusing for people who don't know much about them.
We've put together this list of the most frequently asked questions about protein skimmers to help you decide if one is right for you.
Should I run protein skimmer 24 7?
Yes, you should run your protein skimmer 24/7 as it is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy aquarium. Protein skimming can help remove organic waste, toxins, and other debris from your water. It also helps to reduce nitrates and phosphates in the water, which can lead to better water quality for your fish or other aquatic creatures living in the tank. By running your protein skimmer 24/7, you can ensure that organic matter is constantly removed from the tank, leading to healthier and clearer water overall.
What is the best protein skimmer for a 55 gallon reef tank?
The best protein skimmer work for a 55 gallon reef tank is the Bubble Magus BM-110. This long-lasting, high quality protein skimmer is suitable for tanks up to 115 gallons and comes with an adjustable air intake valve and self-leveling collection cup feature. It features a conical body design allowing for greater foam production and has an efficient needle wheel impeller that can generate fine air bubbles. Plus, it's easy to maintain and adjust the bubble plate - all you need is a few simple tools!
Do you really need a protein skimmer?
Yes, it is essential to have a protein skimmer for your saltwater aquarium. Protein skimmers remove organic waste and dissolved proteins from the water before they break down into toxic compounds. This helps keep your tank healthy and prevents algae blooms and other issues that can be caused by an accumulation of toxins in your water. Additionally, protein skimmers also maintain the correct pH level of your tank and are necessary for maintaining proper oxygen levels which help support the fish and corals in your reef tank. In short, it is essential to have a protein skimmer if you want to keep a healthy thriving aquarium!
How do I choose a protein skimmer?
Choosing a protein skimmer can seem daunting, but with a few key points in mind it becomes much easier. First, consider your aquarium size and filter system: you want to make sure the skimmer is powerful enough to do its job without wasting energy or clogging up your filtration system. Second, research the various types of protein skimmers available on the market; there are both internal and external models that work differently depending on your tank setup. Finally, before ordering any model online or from a fish store be sure to check its technical specifications so that it will match up well with the type of filter you have in place.
What makes a good protein skimmer?
A good protein skimmer should have a high flow rate, a large contact chamber for maximum efficiency and time, a deep cup design to eliminate annoying bubbles, adjustable air intake to control the water level and foam production as well an adjustable needle wheel impeller. It should also be easy to maintain with removable parts and durable construction that can last through long-term use. Lastly, it's important to make sure the skimmer is tuned properly so that it can run at its optimum performance level.
Do protein skimmers need air pump?
Yes, protein skimmers need an air pump. Protein skimmers work by injecting a stream of bubbles into the water which then attach to proteins and other dissolved organic compounds. The air pump is required to create enough pressure to push the bubbles through the device, increasing its efficiency. Additionally, the flow of bubbles helps in removing excess nutrients that can help promote algal blooms if left unchecked.
Conclusion
After studying numerous protein skimmer reviews, we determined the best ones in this list. It is highly rated by customers, provides powerful filtration, and has a simplistic design all for a reasonable price. However, it’s important to remember that no single product is perfect for every situation.
The decision about which protein skimmer to buy should be based on your own personal needs and preferences. Consider the size of your tank, budget, maintenance requirements, and desired features before making your purchase.
To help you out on your journey to finding the right protein skimmer look out for our next blog post featuring recommendations from seasoned aquarists who provide countless tips and tricks when searching for the ideal product.