Deltec, the inventors of the needle wheel protein skimmer, has added three Black Edition protein skimmer models to their top-of-the-range premium line. Suitable for reef aquariums from 1000-7000 liter volumes, the engines driving these pumps are the german made E-Flow S DC pumps, with sine wave technology, ceramic bearings, and adjustable in 2-watt energy increments. The new Black Edition 1.5, 3.0, and 7.0 all stick to Deltec’s core skimmer body design principles with a cylindrical, not a cone-shaped body. The pump is also on the outside of the body, sending an air/water mix right to the bottom of a twin chamber design, maximizing contact time in these otherwise quite compact models. The 1.5 body is just 160mm in diameter with a maximum model height of 600mm, but that E-Flow 4S pump turbocharges performance so that even the smallest model is rated for volumes up to 1500 liters.
The advantages of an externally mounted pump are that air can be added so low versus starting halfway up the skimmer body, and pump maintenance is easier too, but for the majority who find sump space at an absolute premium, there is a white version with the pump mounted inside. Black Edition features a standard water level adjuster but a novel built-in emergency overflow, cutting off airflow if the skimmer goes haywire and preventing the cup from overflowing. It’s a simple, non-electrical solution to an age-old problem. Since Deltec invented the needle wheel skimmer, design and color have gone off at a tangent with many manufacturers, but by going back to black, fitting an external pump, and sticking with a cylindrical body the company has stuck to tradition while still managing to produce top-performing skimmers suitable to be badged with their Premium Line.
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