The Aquaforest Protein skimmers are the latest pieces of tech from a new company that has mostly been making foods, salt and additives. What we like about the Aquaforest Protein Skimmers is their massive bubble diffuser plate, which is concentrated into not one, but two conical collectors.
We are well aware that the double-cone feature has been available from Royal Exclusiv for several years. However, Aquaforest has tapped one of the best and oldest manufacturers of needle wheel pumps to power their protein skimmers, AquaBee.
Our first ever experience with a powerful needle wheel pump was a D.A.S. skimmer using an AquaBee AC pump and that initial impression has never faded. The once juggernaut protein skimmer maker Deltec has long used Aquabee pumps too, but what makes the Aquaforest protein skimmers unique is that they are among the first to use Aquabee’s controllable DC needle wheel pumps.
Aquaforest is offering their new protein skimmers in four sizes, the smallest of which uses a conventional AC needle wheel pump, the AF160 drawing 18 watts and rated for tanks up to 130 gallons. But the real interesting skimmers in the line are the larger three models with the most powerful and efficient DC pumps AquaBee has ever made.
These include the AF200 using the AquaBee UP 5000e 24v which is rated for up to 250 gallons. Stepping up one size is the AF250 using the AquaBee UP 80002 24v rated for tanks up to 500 gallons. The UP 8000e is where performance really gets interesting with this pump capable of pushing 1,000 gallons per hour at just 5 watts!
But if you’re in the market for some serious heavy duty foam fractionation, the AF400 skimmer using two AquaBee UP 8000e needle wheel pumps can handle a loaded aquarium up to 1500 gallons. These are not space saver protein skimmers, but instead are designed for in-sump use with uncompromising performance.
These completely European made skimmers are not cheap either, definitely comparable to the best from Royal Exclusiv and ATB, but their use of the best pumps from AquaBee helps them stand alone. There’s no word on whether these protein skimmers will make it out of Europe but if these models are speaking to you, surely you could arrange a special order through Aquaforest’s distributors around the world. [Coral Farm]
