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Reef Octopus Diablo XS 160
Protein Skimmer

SKU: 204050


  • Fantastic Skimmer By Tony on 4/22/13

    I'm new to the hobby and researched everything carefully before I bought this skimmer. I based my choice upon other reviews on how it was easy to get started. They were right. This skimmer is amazing! I installed it in my 40g sump under my 125 g DT. New set up and everything is getting under way. Within 30 minutes of starting the skimmer, the brown gook coming out was unbelievable. I ran this wide open for several days and just now, a week later, started toning it down a bit. It's been fantastic. Quiet, efficient and really doing it's job. Very few bubbles coming out of the skimmer now and lots of stuff coming out of the water. Truly plug and play! I didn't have to hunt around for the right level, worry about break in, etc. It's just that easy. Love it.
  • I love this skimmer! By James on 4/4/13

    Best skimmer I've ever bought! So glad I bought it, it really pulls out all the gunk in my tank. I haven't had any problems and I'm glad I purchased this skimmer.
  • Great Skimmer, But on the Loud Side By Thomas on 3/18/13

    I purchased and put this skimmer into use 4 months ago on a 75 gallon mixed reef tank that is stocked with 11 fish. Reading various posting about the skimmer if there was a complaint about the skimmer it was about water discharge. The skimmer came with a metric/SAE adapter. A quick trip to HD and $4 in parts and the issue with water spraying down the sump area was fixed. My only complaint about the unit is how loud it is. I read several reviews where individuals say theirs got quieter with time. Well after 4 months I am still waiting. I may plug one of the two holes in the silencer as some suggest. The performance and build quality are great. The skimmer is constructed well and was pulling skimmate immediately. Overall I would recommend the skimmer with my only slight complaint being the loudness.
  • Great Skimmer By Jonathan on 2/20/13

    Perfect for those with smaller sumps that want full size skimming. Easy to set up, pulls out an astonishing amount of yuk. Little loud but I have a basement sump, so who cares!! Don't think twice!!
  • awesome skimmer By Joe on 2/10/13

    This thing is quiet, reliable, skims like a dream, as long as you set it up properly, water level can not be low in sump or it won't work and will be loud. But deffinety high qaulity you get what you pay for.
  • Have not had a good experience By Stylianos on 2/5/13

    Almost thinking of replacing this skimmer currently. Using it for my 93g and it just doesnt seem to do a very good job. I have to constantly fiddle with it to try to get the skim just right, and one of the bottom legs broke off while i was cleaning it (not made very well)... I am wondering if the pump that came with it is just not strong enough? anyway I would not recommend it after about a year of using it.
  • Great Skimmer! By Doug on 1/29/13

    No problems. Very satisfied with my purchase.
  • Unimpressed By Charles on 12/17/12

    While this skimmer works I have the following problems with it....
    #1. It's loud. The silencer is made of cheap plastic and is the same generic silencer used on other RO skimmers (it is not designed for the PSK-600 pump or this skimmer). You can plug holes and at most you'll reduce maybe 1/3 of the noise. This skimmer DOES NOT get quiet with break-in. You may just get used to the noise.
    #2. It's got a 4" neck size. Do not plan on using this on anything less than a heavily stocked 90. You will be disappointed.
    #3. It's loud...Yes I mentioned this already. Look at this skimmer...It doesn't include vibration dampening feet on either the skimmer or the pump. What this equates to is...noise and lots of it. Even cheap skimmers of other manufactures include this.
    #4. You will have to make your own vent pipe. This is obviously RO cutting costs...You can buy the separate outlet if you want, however it will cost YOU.
    $5. This skimmer takes FOREVER to break-in. I've owned numerous skimmers and the amount of time this took to break-in was rediculous.

    All in All...I wouldn't recommend this to any of my friends as a buy.
  • Good Skimmer, Very Loud By Trevor on 11/28/12

    Although other reviews have discussed the noise, I feel it necessary to mention that this skimmer is loud. It does a good job of generating foam and pulling debris from the water, but it is as loud as an air conditioner. Several people have suggested plugging one of the air intakes and that does help, but overall the skimmer still provides a loud hum of machinery. If you are more interested in the quality of filtration than noise, then this is the skimmer for you. However, if you plan to put this aquarium in a bedroom or office, I would suggest a quieter alternative.
  • Started skimming crud in less than an hour in a new tank no livestock By jeff on 11/5/12

    I hooked this up to a new tank with rinsed dry rock and rinsed dry sand, plugged in the xs160 for a test run and couldnt believe my eyes when i returned an hour later and there was nasty crud already being skimmed. With regards to noise I have to say that it is pretty darn quiet, most all of the noise comes from the air inlet sucking air and as many have suggested just plugging one of the two inlets cuts the noise down to just a small humming and it didnt seem to affect the quality of skimming. VERY happy with this skimmer.

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