Recommended protein skimmers?

CPR's arent that bad for a budget minded person. If you have any interest in DiY projects you could hit the threads on Algae Scrubbers as well.

 

The CPRs are okay, especially with some minor mods. The Reef Octopus skimmers are better out of the box though and you should certainly be able to find one for your tank, within your budget.

I think ATS are good too, bit they aren't really the same as a skimmer. Some people use them as a replacement, but IMO they are better as a compliment to a skimmer. An ATS for example, will not remove anything organic until it already has decayed. A skimmer will remove it before it decays.


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+1 and well said. Had a brain cramp & forgot about reef octo's & very true there isnt much of a price difference between the two. I will also agree that an ATS & a protien skimmer compliment rather than replace each other. When I stood up my tank I was ATS only & later added the skimmer when one off of CL came along. While I didnt have some life changing growth spirt by livestock or corals I do beleive there was a visible change of water clarity.