The Ocean Queen is a new line of protein skimmers from Aqua Medic which sport more than a number of interesting features and potential improvements. On their own none of these smaller changes will dramatically improve the performance of the Aqua Medic Ocean Queen but altogether they might create a unique protein skimming experience for users and for the water quality of the aquarium.
The first detail that caught our attention is that the Ocean Queen has an externally positioned needle wheel pump, not a new feature but one which is becoming increasingly uncommon in a market which has increasingly valued space saving designs with internal needle wheel pumps. An externally mounted allows the air-water mixture to be injected lower into the protein skimmer body for longer contact time, but we especially appreciate being able to access and service the needle wheel without taking apart the entire skimmer.
On the subject of pump orientation, Aqua Medic has seen fit to include three different positions for the pump which can be placed at 90, 180, and 270 degrees from the skimmer outlet so you’ll have many degrees of freedom when deciding how to install the Ocean Queen inside your sump of choice. The last detail of the needle wheel pump which was also once common, but has become a defining feature of protein skimmer versions of the Ocean Runner pump is the enclosed needle wheel impeller which increases the head pressure of the pump, although the mesh of K-series pumps is not included in this model.
One feature that Aqua Medic clearly took inspiration from is the elongated bubble diffuser ‘nozzles’ and a very large riser chamber above them for reducing turbulence inside the protein skimmer body. Perhaps the most unique detail of the Aqua Medic Ocean Queen is the interesting vertical indentations of the cone shaped skimmer body which the company calls ‘foam rails’ which we can easily surmise might reduce turbulence within the body for longer contact time, but which will have to be born out through operation t determine its real efficacy.
The Ocean Queen is powered by Aqua Medic’s own controllable DC Ocean Runner pump but this generation is blessed with wireless control and programming so you can get the most from how you want this newest protein skimmer to work on your aquarium. Aqua Medic is offering the Ocean Queen protein skimmer in three sizes, the Ocean Queen 90 rated for up to 900 liters, the Ocean Queen 160 for tanks up to 1,600 liters and the Ocean Queen 300 for tanks up to 3,000 liters.
The Aqua Medic Ocean Queen is an intriguing new protein skimmer from the German company that introduced needle wheel protein skimmers to the aquarium masses with their historic Turboflotors. The Ocean Queen may not be breaking a lot of new ground, the indented foam rails are certainly intriguing, we don’t yet know how much it will cost, but the combination of new features should make this protein skimmer worthy of consideration on new tanks and upgrading older skimmers. [Aqua Medic]
