The SkimMate protein skimmer from Innovative Marine, not to be confused with the Skimmate locker from Avast marine, is a little fractionator designed to fit in small all-in-on reef tanks. The SkimMate is a tiny one-cylinder tube of a protein skimmer with an itty-bitty needle wheel pump slapped on the bottom of it. A foam-sleeved standpipe should prevent micro air bubbles from getting back into the tank and a built in air silencer serves double duty for regulating air flow. Better yet, the bracket for the Innovative SkimMate nano skimmer will help with heigh adjustment of the body and the smaller model will come with two brackets, one which fits Nuvo aquariums as pictured below and one for mating up with different sized aquariums.
Coming in two sizes, the Innovative Marine SkimMate will come in a small $99 model which is intended for use with IM’s 16 gallon Nuvo Aquariums and rated for up to 25 gallons, as well as a $129 model slated to fit in IM’s 28 gallon Nuvo Aquarium rated for up to 65 gallons, but that rating could be stretching it a bit. With its tiny footprint and small height, if the 6.5 watt pump for the Innovative Marine SkimMate can deliver good air draw while also not being too loud, the SkimMate could find an audience with a broad range of all in one marine aquariums. Look for the Innovative Marine SkimMate protein skimmer to start shipping in late August.
