Modern protein skimmers draw in more air than they ever have so the need for good, effective air silencers has never been greater. Unfortunately, making a good air silencer often means making it larger, but Maxspect has developed a new approach which will inevitably be imitated by others in the near future.
At Reefapalooza California last year, Maxspect showed off a brand new protein skimmer called the Aeraqua Duo using their innovative dual-volute Turbine Duo controllable DC pump. Everything about this prototype demo was pushing the envelope in every way with a unique needle wheel design, an innovative water control mechanism, a built in shut-off float switch and more.
The one detail about the Aeraqua Duo was avant-garde except it had a very typical, ugly, and probably ineffective air silencer bolted to the side of the skimmer body. We were part of a chorus of reefers who implored Maxspect to do something about that silencer and boy did they listen because they went and built the entire thing into the base of the protein skimmer! 
We wish we could show you the air silencer but there’s nothing to really see, it’s just integrated into the bottom platform of the Aeraqua Duo. However you can see where the air intake of the needle wheel Turbine Duo goes straight into the bottom, and there’s a pair of soft silicone nipples that mate up with two hoses built into one side of the skimmer body.
We’ve been running the Aeraqua Duo a couple weeks now – stay tuned for the full review – and can tell you that the silencer is incredibly silent, since the whole thing is submerged and the water helps to muffle any sound produced within it.
