The Hydor Performer Skimmers are a line of mass produced fractionators which have usually aimed for the mid range of performance and cost. We have to admit that the old opaque acrylic that Hydor used for the Performer Skimmers made them look plastic-ey even though that is just the way Italians make their acrylic. With the refresh of materials and features, the new Hydor performer skimmers will now use Chinese acrylic which is much clearer, as well as a whole suite of features the demanding reefer expects to see in a modern protein skimmer. No radical design changes will be coming to the performers, but you can now expect better control from the knob-actuated wedge pipe, better silencing from the air intake, and better visibility of the foam being produced in the clearer acrylic body. Furthermore you’ll be able to slip a finger into the lid’s finger hole, and spin it around like a record, err pick it up with one hand without the heavier acrylic disc getting away from you. What you won’t find on the new Performers is any kind of diffuser plate as Hydor is still kicking it old school with clutter free, Euro Reef style skimmer bodies. We don’t expect these clear performers to cost any more than their foggy italian acrylic made predecessors, and it’ll probably be mid fall until the clear performers feel wider distribution. We can wait for Hydor’s clear performers to ship but we’re chomping at the bit to see and try their Slim Skim for nano and in-tank fractionation. More pictures of the Clear Performers after the break.
