The Reef Octopus Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer comes in sizes to suit tanks from under 100 gallons up to 250 gallons. This is an in sump only skimmer, which means it is not designed to be used outside of a sump. Like most of the other types of Reef Octopus skimmers, the needle wheel skimmers are touted for their high quality, yet relatively low price point.

The foot print of any protein skimmer you are considering is very important to know before you purchase, and that is particularly true of an in sump skimmer like this one. The NWB150 model has an overall footprint of 9″, with the main body diameter being 6″. The NWB200 model’s overall footprint is 11.5″, with a main body diameter of 8″. The largest version of this skimmer has a 15.5″ footprint and main body diameter of 10.25″. As you can see, a skimmer can take up some space, so it pays to pay attention to these dimensions and how they can be accommodated inside your sump.

The water level inside the skimmer body can be adjusted by either a gate valve or a standard wedge type adjustment system, depending on which model you purchase. The gate valve equipped skimmers tend to be a little more expensive, and since the gate valve is more of a convenience feature that doesn’t effect how the skimmer operates, it is for you to decide if the extra cost is worth the added convenience. Once the skimmer has been adjusted to its optimum settings, most people rarely change those settings, so it is my opinion that the gate valve is not anything you have to have.

The needle wheel skimmer comes equipped with an OTP pump, and of course the size of that pump depends on which size skimmer you purchase. By most accounts the OTP pump operates silently and is a good option for these skimmers given the relatively low price point.

Any protein skimmer requires a break in period before it will produce results, and this one is no different. Many reviewers have reported the skimmer pulling out good amounts of waste after just 2 or 3 days. Even in those cases, there is no doubt that the results a week or two later were much better, and what you see after a week or two is much more in line with the kind of results you can expect from your skimmer going forward.

The Reef Octopus Needle Wheel Protein Skimmer is an excellent choice for both new and experienced marine hobbyists, but a particularly good option for those who are new to the hobby. The reasons for this are the low price point when compared to other brands, the ease of installation and operation, and the fact that this low priced, easy to operate skimmer does a very good job as long as you use the appropriate size skimmer for your tank. When in doubt, use the next largest size, and never use a skimmer on your tank that is rated for smaller tanks as you will only be disappointed with the results.

The smallest needle wheel skimmer is designed for tanks up to 100 gallons and can be found for around $175. The middle sized version of this skimmer can handle tanks up to 150 gallons, and if you find it for $200, that is a good price. The largest of these skimmers can handle tanks up to 250 gallons, and is priced in the $275-$300 range.
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