ReefSumper Gear Review: Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer

The Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer is a large high performing skimmer that pulls an excellent amount of dark nasty skimmate from marine aquariums. I’ve been running this skimmer on my 210-gallon reef tank for over a year. This is an in-sump skimmer that I have running in the third chamber of my Trigger Emerald 39 sump.  

Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer Features and Specs from Marine Depot

• Refined Filtration at an Affordable Cost
• Compact Footprint
• Ultra-efficient Aquatrance 3000s Pump
• In-Sump Application
• Turbulence Reducing Super Cone Body
• Solid Cast Acrylic Construction
• Bubble Dispersant Plate
• Precision Control / Bubble Free Output
• Efficient & Quiet Operation
• Disassembles for Easy Cleaning & Maintenance

Filtration Handling 

• 265 Gallon – Light Filtration Demand
• 200 Gallon – Medium Filtration Demand
• 180 Gallon – Heavy Filtration Demand

Technical Specs 

• Super Cone Body Size: 8.27 to 5.12in
• Footprint: 12.4in x 10in
• Neck Size: 4.7in
• Total Height: 23.2in
• Output Size: 40mm / 1.25in
• Note: Recommended Sump Water Depth: 7”-9″

Pump Information 

• Aquatrance 3000s Pinwheel Pump
• Wattage: 35w
• Air Draw: 871-880 lph / 27-30 SCFH*
• Water Draw: 211 GPH*
•  *Air and water results will vary depending on aquarium setup
• Warranty – 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on pump/1 year on rotor/impeller and 1 year on skimmer body

Selected Online Positive and Negative Trends on the Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer

Looking at existing online reviews of this product, here is a summation of some of the things users have pointed out:

Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer Positives

• Reliability
• Good performance
• Little to no break-in
• Well priced
• Well built
• Easy to break down and clean
• Very easy to adjust the internal water level

Reef Octopus Classic 202-S Protein Skimmer Negatives

• Large footprint
• Very noisy if using the original silencer
• A bit noisy even when using the new silencer

Hands-on experience with the Reef Octopus Classic 2020-S Protein Skimmer

Performance:  Performance has been top-notch for me this skimmer does an excellent job pulling thick dark skimmate sludge out of my system without fail. The pinwheel pump is very powerful and creates hundreds of thousands of microbubbles and with the large body of the skimmer, a lot of waste is pushed up and out into the collection cup.  

Design: The design of this skimmer is excellent. For a skimmer, it looks very nice with a clear body and red and black trim. The acrylic is thick and sturdy. Another item that sets Reef Octopus Skimmers apart is the inclusion of high-quality gate valves. The gate valves allow you to micro-adjust the water level inside the skimmer and works very well.

Maintenance:   Maintenance is pretty easy with this skimmer. The skimmer breaks down easily and goes back together easily. The one issue is a screw at the base that lies directly below the venture. It can be hard to unscrew this one with fingers if it gets stuck. I often have to use a small pair of pliers to loosen this screw.  

Noise and Customer Service:  For me, this has been the biggest drawback of this skimmer. I first got this skimmer included in a used buy from a fellow reefer. When I set up the system I found the skimmer to be super loud compared to other skimmers I’ve owned in the past. It was really loud. I contacted Reef Octopus and found that they had redesigned a new silencer that was much quieter than the smaller silencer that came with the skimmer. Reef Octopus would not replace the similar without cost because I was not the original purchaser and was under warranty. I accepted this but was pretty disappointed as the replacement was over $40 with shipping. When I received the silencer I was surprised to find that the new silencer did not fit into the collar. Nobody at Reef Octopus told me that I would also need a collar part at another cost. 

I was able to install the new silencer without the collar piece and it did significantly reduce the noise of the skimmer. Overall I was not happy with the customer service. As a note, a new skimmer should now come with an upgraded silencer.  

Even with the new silencer, I would still say that overall the skimmer is louder than other skimmers I’ve had. It is a low hum and not terrible, but it is the loudest piece of equipment on my 210-gallon reef tank and if given the choice I’d rather it be quieter.     

Final Thoughts and Score

Performance is the main consideration for me with a skimmer. This is a higher-performing skimmer and I would rate the pump 4 out 5 stars. If it wasn’t for the noise and confidence in Reef Octopus service I would probably rate it a 5.