9 Best Nano Protein Skimmers With Excellent Cleaning Ability

Nano aquariums soak in popularity thanks to their affordability and convenience. These compact tanks can be placed nearly anywhere in your house. 

Despite their small size, it is essential to regularly maintain them and the water quality. Marine tanks benefit from a protein skimmer and so do nano aquariums. 

This post will compile a list of the best nano protein skimmers that can create outstanding cleaning performance. 

What Do Nano Protein Skimmers Do? 

Nano protein skimmers are created to eliminate dissolved organic carbon contaminants from the tank water.

Fish, inverts, algae, and natural biological processes discharge organic into the water. If these organic compounds remain in your tank, they will gradually decompose and be turned into ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and other harmful substances. 

Nano protein skimmers work 24/7, wiping out dissolved and particulate organics. These skimmers will get rid of organic substances when they are released in the tank before decomposing. 

Why Nano Protein Skimmers Matters?

Aquatic research has indicated that there is a direct relation between the level of organic compounds in the tank and fish diseases.

A dirty fish tank is a breeding ground for detrimental microbes that will attack your inhabitants. Cleaning out dissolved organics helps reduce the organic load, which leads to fewer diseases for your fish and corals. 

Dissolved organics also produce a yellow tint. Turn off the tank light, look through the tank lengthwise, and you might notice the yellow coloration in the water. 

Blue light wavelengths, which are essential for small and large polyp stony corals, are captured by the dissolved organics. Using a nano protein skimmer will decrease these compounds and provide better light penetration through the water. 

What’s more, dissolved and particulate organics might cover and clog the surface and pores of filtration media. With fine nano protein skimmers, the filter media will get a longer lifespan and require less replacement. 

Moreover, the skimmers can mitigate an algae bloom. Eliminating the organics before they break down into algae-stimulating nutrients, you probably block algae from growing on the tank glass, live rock, or filter. 

9 Best Nano Protein Skimmers With Excellent Cleaning Ability

1. Eshopps Nano Protein Skimmer 

The Eshopps nano protein skimmer is relatively small at 5 by 2 by 4 inches, so you can put it nearly anywhere. It can be installed inside the tank or in the sump. It also has an adjustable magnet amount for easy positioning. 

As soon as you set the skimmer up, it starts working and you will see an immediate impact on the water quality. It is designed to fit in the filter chamber of most all-in-one style tanks. 

The skimmer includes a premium, Italian-made Sicce pump. There is a venturi generating the tiny air bubbles necessary for an efficient skimming operation. Besides, the needle-wheel impeller mixes the air bubbles into the water for effective skimming. 

Plus, this nano protein skimmer sports a removable collection cup for simple cleaning. 

Pros

• Easy to clean skim mate cups
• Its mall size suits tight spaces 

Cons

• Not include a drain in the collection cup

2. Hydor Slim Skim Nano Internal Skimmer 

This nano protein skimmer is tailored for internal installation for small and all-in-one marine tanks. It pulls out water from the aquarium’s surface to decrease surface bio-ticks. It also provides some oily films that inhibit oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange at the water’s surface. 

The energy-saving venturi air pump makes millions of tiny, equal bubbles, great for absorbing aquarium waste and bringing it to the adjustable collection cup. In addition, you can dial in the production of skim mate by increasing or reducing the height of the skimmer’s collection cup. 

The Slim Skim utilizes magnet-mounted suction cups, which results in quick installation and uncomplicated removal. 

Pros

• Quiet and reliable operation
• Easy to set up
• Effective 5-watt pump

Cons 

• Difficult to clean the corners of the collection cup

3. Bubble Magus QQ1 Nano Protein Skimmer

The Bubble Magus QQ1 unit addresses the problem of space by attaching it to the frame of your aquarium. They tend to be louder than their submerged ones. Being disconnected from the aquarium makes the pump work harder and lowers the skimming effectiveness. 

Created for aquariums up to 25 gallons, the nano protein skimmer can be placed on frames 0.5 inches in thickness or less. Bear in mind that as it hangs off the back of the aquarium, you will want about 5 to 6 inches of clearance behind your aquarium. 

Pros 

• Support maximizing the available space in the tank
• Include a needle-wheel pump SP600
• Easy to set up and assemble

Cons 

• Quite loud 

4. Aquatic Life 115 Mini Internal Skimmer

The Aquatic Life nano protein skimmer mounts inside the tank and is small enough to fit in nearly rear overflow and internal filtration compartments.

Its footprint measures only 3 x 3-1/4 x 10-5/8 inches high. It is perfect for small saltwater and reef tanks up to 30 gallons. 

The skimmer is powered by an 8-watt needle-wheel impeller pump that optimizes air-to-water contact and delivers very efficient organic waste elimination. Users can adjust the water flow with a knob. 

Moreover, you’ll get a mounting bracket and suction cups, allowing for easy placement inside your tank or pump. Plus, the adjustable mounting bracket fits all standard tank frames. 

Pros

• Compact construction 
• Create good skimmate
• Easy to clean
• Adjustable mounting brackets 

Cons 

• Require modification with a longer air intake tube for more silent operation

5. Innovative Marine BioSkim DC AIO

The latest nano protein skimmer from Innovative Marine is a simple and efficient all-in-one unit. 

The BioSkim skimmer contains a miniature DC pump to bring water into the reaction chamber and produce millions of microbubbles via a needle wheel impeller. The bubble plate diffuser delivers the stream of bubbles to the reaction chamber. 

Skimmate will be contained in the removable cup. You can easily adjust the cup height, which helps you dial in the exact amount of foam production. 

In addition, the nano protein skimmer comes with an external silencer, ensuring a quiet operation process. Plus, its adjustable hanger makes it simple to install in a number of aquarium sizes and shapes. 

Pros

• Simple, compact design
• Quick break-in period
• Support for tanks of up to 34 gallons

Cons 

• Might be difficult to set up 

6. Tunze 9004.000 Comline DOC Skimmer

The German-engineered nano protein skimmer is highly voted for marine and reef tanks of from 10 to 65 gallons. 

The Tunze skimmer is constructed to offer surface skimming – the Tunze Flash skimming principle. That means water flows into the skimmer via the surface intake system. 

This process can get rid of oily bacteria film that inhibits the gas transfer of carbon dioxide and oxygen on the water surface. The outstanding Tunze Foamer produces millions of tiny air bubbles with a specified diameter from 0.1 to 0.3 mm

Notably, the uniform bubble size results in quiet operation and effective skimming. Contaminants like cellulose and dead cells are captured on the bubble surface and taken away in the foam. 

Moreover, this skimmer is built with a patented over-foaming protection system that can prevent the model from producing too much wet foam. 

Pros

• High-quality materials
• Silent operation
• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Require dedicate air adjustment

7. Mame Skimmer III 

Small aquariums are meant to be filled with colorful corals and other invertebrates, not a space-hogging protein skimmer. 

The Japan-made Mame nano protein skimmer is an extra-thin in-tank model created for aquariums of up to 30 gallons. 

Its slender glass tube can be mounted to the side of the aquarium with a transparent plastic clip. It is also placed inside an all-in-one filter, further taking up less space in your fish tank. 

This model is air-powered, utilizing a limewood air stone to generate microbubbles inside the glass tube. The increasing bubbles push the tank water into the skimmer tube. They also froth up the skimmate at the top of the tube. 

The unit includes no collection cup on the top. Air pressure from the bubbles will force the skimmate via an airline tube that reaches an external collection container. 

It is possible for you to hide the collection container out of sight behind the tank. 

Pros

• Ultra-slim design
• Be mounted on the side of the aquarium or in an AIO filter
• Provide external skimmate collection cup
• Simple to set up

Cons

• Quite pricey
• Not offer an air pump
• Monthly replacement required for limewood air stones

8. IceCap K2-50 Protein Skimmer

The IceCap K2-50 nano protein skimmer is a sump-mounted skimmer proper for reef tanks of between 40 and 80 gallons, depend on the bioload. 

The protein skimmer is made from solid PVC and acrylic components. It makes use of a “beer bottle” shaped skimmer body, lowering random bubble turbulence inside the skimmer. That can considerably increase the productive contact time between the water and microbubbles when it flows into the action chamber. 

The skimming process is implemented by an internally mounted DCAIR-700 skimmer pump, which can generate bubbles and forces water into the K2-50. 

Markedly, the skimmer’s footprint is small, with only 4.75 x 3.5 inches, thanks to the internal water pump and slender skimmer body. Therefore, you can flexibly position the skimmer inside the sump. 

What’s more, the unit comes with a pipeless side-mount outlet that reduces the bubbling, gurgling, and unstable water height. 

The skimmer cup is placed on the smaller side, but it can be fitted with a drain line to enhance the service intervals. 

Pros

• Internal water pump with needle wheel impeller
• Simple adjustment 
• Small footprint

Cons

• The small collection cup requires regular service or installing a drain line. 

9. Comline DOC Protein Skimmer 

The Comline nano protein skimmer might be a brand new unit on the market, but can deliver the desired performance. 

The skimmer is a simple plug-and-play device, so it’s easy to get in position and work. It can work well for nano tanks of up to 37 gallons. 

Additionally, the model is packed with an intermediate chamber that includes a patented system, preventing the case of over-foaming. Plus, you’ll get a better airflow regulation and silencer, making sure the skimmer operates without noise. 

This protein skimmer also utilizes silicone buffers to prevent any transfer of vibrations from the skimmer to the tank. 

Pros

• Surface suction for film elimination
• Bubble-free outgoing water
• Quiet operation

Cons

• The mount might not work as expected. 

How to Maintain a Nano Protein Skimmer?

Due to the small sizes of nano protein skimmers, they tend to require little maintenance. There are several tips and tricks that ensure your skimmer works seamlessly and durably:

• Clean the collection cup every single day because nano protein skimmers provide small collection cups. If you don’t do it regularly, you might end up with the collected waste turning back into the aquarium.
• Remove debris from the intake pump frequently.
• Do not scrub the inside of the skimmer to the collection cup too much. Cleaning these parts too often might require your skimmer to “break-in” again. 

Quick Comparison of the Best Nano Protein Skimmers

#	Product Name	Image	Price	Action
1	Eshopps Nano Protein Skimmer		$125.54	Buy on Amazon!
2	Hydor Slim Skim Nano Internal Skimmer		$$	Buy on Amazon!
3	Bubble Magus QQ1 Nano Protein Skimmer		$$	Buy on Amazon!
4	Aquatic Life 115 Mini Internal Skimmer		$$	Buy on Amazon!
5	Innovative Marine BioSkim DC AIO		$$	Buy on Amazon!
6	Tunze USA 9004 DOC		$$	Buy on Amazon!
7	Mame Skimmer III		$145.89	Buy on Amazon!
8	IceCap K2-50		$$	Buy on Amazon!
9	Comline DOC Protein Skimmer		$$	Buy on Amazon!

There are numerous good-quality nano protein skimmer options appropriate for small saltwater and reef tanks. You will first need to compare the dimensions of the available space to the size of the skimmer to ensure it will fit your aquarium. 

The Eshopps Nano Protein Skimmer is considered a well-designed, reliable model for tanks up to 35 gallons. Its small footprint makes it ideal for internal or in-filter placement. 

For those who own a larger tank up to 65 gallons, the choice goes down to the Tunze DOC Skimmer 9004.