The Red Sea Skimmer – RSK-300 Review by ReefHacks.

If you are a fan and follower of our blogs or have joined us on our social media groups; then you should know that we love the sea, but we also love the way the Red Sea makes our reef tanks look and feel.

The Red Sea RSK-300 is a model that is built to improve the quality of your reef tank and whether you are novice or professional aquarist; you will find that having a powerful reefing tool makes all the difference in your tank. The Red Sea skimmer is an epitome of quality and powerful engineering that every aquarium should have.

We have detailed our experience with the Red Sea Reef Care Program in our REEFER 170 tank, we are also using the Red Sea products in our Reefer 250 system like Coral Corals ABCD, and it is the healthiest and dynamic reefing adventure we have ever designed.

However, with the Red Sea skimmer in the production pipeline, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it and thankfully, it came sooner than expected. Our friends at the Red Sea have given us a personal viewing of this product, and we must say; we love it. This skimmer is fantastic!

With features and aesthetic, performance and satisfaction, the Red Sea RSK-300 REEFER Skimmer beats many other brands of skimmers on the market in the same category under 300 liters / 80 gallons. The efficiency and fast learning curve give the RSK-300 reef skimmer a straightforward operating system that allows a novice to handle it like a professional with unbelievable results. Without further ado, we will try to give you our take on why we know that we have got a fantastic skimmer for your reef tank.
If you are ready, sit tight and get ready to be amazed.

Why do we need a protein skimmer in a reef tank?

If you have an aquarium in your home, you must have noticed that bubble and foam form on the upper part of the tank or in the corners of the sump. Now don’t be scared, it could be a result of two things – one agitation in the tank by the connecting mechanics which is not harmful or from the protein waste by your fishes or the organism in the aquarium.

Well, whatever the case, this kind of foam is dangerous and harmful to the aquatic life in your tank and  making the reef tank look dirty and cloudy which is not healthy for your fish and corals.

Freshwater tanks don’t need skimmers, but for a reef tank, the best way to control the build-up of proteins is to install a skimmer. Skimmers are designed to remove proteins controlling the algae growth (nutrients levels) improving water clarity and stabilising oxygen levels in the tank. The foam particles are skimmed from the tank and collected in a skimmer cup that can be quickly drained to keep the cycle flawless and healthy.

The Red Sea REEFER Skimmer Design Highlights.

Let’s see in details what is in the box of the new Red Sea skimmer and why this piece of the equipment is so different from the competitors.

First of all …

The Packaging.

The RSK-300 comes in a large box with the ratings and specifications detailed on the side. The box is sealed tight, and when opened, the parts of the RSK-300 REEFER Skimmer is packaged in an egg crate type of carton, which is held in place with two thick rubber bands limiting movement or breaking during delivery.
Each part is bubble wrapped, and all edges are smooth and clean. Unlike many other skimmers, the RSK-300 is super easy to assemble.

The skimmer is about 7 by 9 inches wide and stands about 20 inches tall; it took me only about 10 minutes to assemble all the parts together, and it was ready to use! Hey, we can’t forget that in addition to the easy setup, the RSK skimmer is very easy to maintain and use. But wait, there’s more…

Let’s be sincere, even if a product is the best and can deliver excellent results, as human, we are put off by an ugly or intrusive design and will prefer to work with beautifully designed products that are less functional than one that is functional and not attractive. I’m sure you’re with me on this one.

Well, thank goodness that the manufacturers of the RSK-300 are design experts aside from been engineers. The sleek transparent pieces that make up the skimmer are made to pop with red and black parts that compliment the design and your tank. The brilliant visual, colour choice and design are right on point by the Red Sea and if you are looking for an attractive skimmer, look no further than the RSK-300 and for an instrument that is a water poop scooper, the REEFER Skimmer, is a well thought off design, well proportioned, beautiful and effective at keeping your tank clean and fresh.

And the best part is…

The REEFER RSK-300 skimmer fantastic air intake - 500l/h.

This is one of the top performance features that attracted us to this model. Red Sea skimmer can keep your reef tank at an oxidation-reduction level of 350 millivolts and maintaining a healthy tank atmosphere for your reef.

This will not be possible without the Sicce PSK600 skimmer pump, the large reaction chamber, the venturi at the base and the bubble diffuser who work in unison to create a balance between the air and water mixture in the skimmer at the right time to form a stable foam to tell you that your tank is now in good hands.

I know what you’re thinking, that the RSK-300 must be loud and the vibration is annoying, but that is not so with the Red Sea RSK-300 skimmer that is absolutely quiet because of the rubber damper at the base that combats vibrations. A large silencer is also doing a fantastic job and eliminates all noise produced during foaming when air and water mixes together.

Despite this silent feature, I saw some customers complain on forums and Facebook groups about the noise they heard when the skimmer was working, but after testing out different skimmers on the market, RSK Series has proven to be very quiet with less vibration which is a good thing for your tank and you. Also, we've found that most of the customers who have reported it are people sensitive to high-frequency sounds.

So what’s my point?

If you can hear a mosquito buzz 2 miles away from you, it doesn't mean that the mosquito is loud and noisy, it's just your unique ability. If you are still worried about the noise; you shouldn't. But if you keep a dolphin in your house, probably it can be an issue for him.

Different Models.

The RSK skimmer comes with three assembly options giving you different flexible positioning for to attach the pump inlet and regulates the valve according to your sump. The Red Sea skimmer also comes in other models – RSK-600 and RSK-900 for different tank sizes.

The Foam Bubble Action.

Probably the most essential feature of the RSK -300 is how fast it starts foaming compared with other skimmers in the same category. My skimmer began producing skimmate in the first three hours after installation; unlike other skimmers that take days or weeks to break in. How awesome is that? But keep an eye on it, most likely it will need slight adjustment after three-four days. We have a video posted on the Red Sea Facebook group about, check it and join this fantastic community!

Here’s the interesting part…

Unique feature - the viewing window on the collection cup.

Sometimes you'll need to adjust your foam level in the skimmer and most of the times it's an easy task, but what if your collection cup is full or half full? One stand out feature of the RSK-300 is the collection cup viewing window. This fantastic feature allows you to see the amount of skimmate removed from the water, but also gives you the perfect view to see if the device is producing enough good foam and the level of it even when your collection cup is full. Now if you never thought about it that is amazing!

And the cleaning part is fun; the extra long tube allows you to drain the skimmate from the cup without affecting the foam production.

Here’s the big secret - what should the nitrate levels be in reef tank?

The dream of any aquarist to have a reef tank that looks good always and knowing that your fishes and aquatic life are healthy is paramount. The Red Sea Skimmer will eliminate proteins and other organic waste before they have a chance to break down. However, with a reef tank, low levels of nitrates can also be dangerous, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals.

Cleaner and Brighter Reef Tanks with the RSK-300 – Final Thoughts.

We have tested a lot of skimmers alongside the RSK-300. This is a fantastic skimmer; the RSK-300 easily beats most of the skimmers in this size category. From start to finish the REEFER skimmer is hands-down one of the most exceptional products on the market for any tank at this moment.

We set it for our clownfish breeding system, we feed this system 8 times more than a regular reef tank, which is very heavy, you can imagine how many nutrients are introduced into this 80 gallon system with 10 active mature breeding pairs that require all type of food, frozen, dry pellets enriched with amino and other snacks to keep them happy. This skimmer is dealing efficiently with such heavy nutrients pressure and producing very dark skimmate.

Well, now that you know it all, the Red Sea Skimmer – RSK-300 model is a must-have for a reef tank. t's design, easy assembly, use and maintenance have made this one of the best for reef hobbyist.

We are not saying this is the best well, maybe it is ... but at least we have helped you damper the noise to give you a durable and sturdy reef protein skimmer for your tank.

What’s your experience with Red Sea Skimmer? Visit the Reef Hacks Facebook page and leave us a comment or send us a message.

On behalf of the entire Reef Hacks team, we’re always here to answer your questions or concerns. And, as always, Happy Reefing!

by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.