Review on Efficient SCA-302 180 Gallon Protein Skimmer: Upgrade Your Sump with the Newest Version by SC Aquariums by Sheryl Reilly

I replaced the Reef Octopus 150 INT, the original version that you won't see for sale in many places anymore. It has a huge footprint because it has a huge external pump that lies flat on the floor in front of it. I thought it was broken, but it turned out that there were only pieces of a plastic bag stuck inside the impeller. I bought this in a panic because I won't be able to operate my pool without a skimmer for much longer, a few days have already made me nervous. Of course, the price of this skimmer caught my attention. It is, and I've seen it listed in the top 10 skimmers in several places. I would say it's not exactly Reef Octopus quality, it's basically just lighter and therefore probably thinner acrylic and just feels a little cheaper. However, after a few days of struggling with this skimmer, he's doing a damn good job. I also like that it has a smaller footprint, although the tapered body is slightly smaller than the Reef Octopus. I've been thinking about a new sump and I want to know that most sumps will not pose a problem. All in all I can recommend this skimmer considering the price. I've had a Reef Octopus for many many years now and we'll see if it always holds up, but I'll update the review if it doesn't. My biggest downside is that the airline/silencer screws into the cap. It's such a silly concept because you have to unscrew it every time you want to reset and clean your head. I have no idea why they didn't drill a hole in the arm, but it was definitely a bad design decision. The second disadvantage would be that if dialed in incorrectly, many tiny bubbles will be deposited directly behind the skimmer. This would be a problem if your return pump was next to the skimmer, but luckily mine is a fair distance away.