Protein Skimmer Commentary

4628 S. Ward Way, Morrison, Colorado 80465

Phone: 303-978-0940 and 303-719-0950 Fax: 303.973.2044

E-mail: lifereef@denver.net

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It seems that every month there is a "new" skimmer on the market claiming to be the skimmer to end all skimmers.
Or worse, one that comes out with "new and improved" or another version to fix the problems with the previous models. Do these companies not test their own designs before selling them to you? You spent hard-earned money on a skimmer that is now obsolete, with flaws. Are software engineers now designing skimmers, it seems so.
And then they pull your attention away from their design by saying things like "cell cast acrylic" or, "heat welded seams", or "flame polished edges" or "extruded pvc tubing". Heck, it could be made of titanium but if it is a poor design, then you paid for the fancy words, not performance. Hey folks, it's just a round, or square/rectangle, container full of micro-bubbles, just different plumbing, different shapes, but the way these are incorporated into a good skimmer design makes one skimmer superior, and others not so superior.

Most "new" skimmers are just re-hashed designs with a few added twists and plumbing ideas to make it look unique but still have the same issues. I have seen this going on now for years and still the same complaints are coming from customers:

Micro-bubbles leaving the skimmer

Air suction or nozzle injection noise
Needle-wheel cavitation noise
Having to clean the venturi or nozzle, sometimes daily
More adjustments to make than on a foreign car
Daily "tweaking" and fiddling to keep it working
Salt creep all over the skimmer and sump
Poor workmanship
Very high maintenance and complete disassembly in order to keep functioning.

The Lifereef VS2 Series skimmers came on the market in 1991 (VS3 Series in 1995) and are still made the same today and still continue to perform equal or better than many other skimmers with none of the above problems, and some neat features other skimmers lack.

Lifereef skimmers might be considered "old school" but old school works and "new and improved" or "revised" seems to, well, wait until next month for the new and improved version, it's bound to happen.

Before you go through a half-dozen skimmers make Lifereef your next choice, and if you have not purchased a skimmer make Lifereef your first choice. If you want to check out what a Lifereef Protein Skimmer can do for you Click Here.... The proof of good skimmer design and efficiency is in the cup.

Why do I continue making the same skimmer designs now for 19 years, because they work.