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NextReef NXS1 Series Skimmers

"I set out to build the skimmer I've always wanted to own:  efficient, quiet, simple to maintain, easy to adjust, great performance.  The NXS1 series is the culimnation of that goal, and the difference is in the details.  I don't generally boast, but this skimmer is exactly what I've been trying to find for over a decade.  I think you'll enjoy them as well." - Dave Underwood, NextReef

"This thing runs like a truck!  It's insane..." - John Boden, Big Dog Reefs


Internal / External REcirculating Skimmers



NextReef NXS1

NextReef NXS1 XL

NextReef NXS1 XXL

Click any image for a larger view

NextReef NXS1 skimmers feature a fully-sealed, recirculating design, perfect for internal or external use.  That means they work as well in your sump as they do sitting next to it.  It also means that they're not picky about water level like many in-sump only models - like an infomercial oven, you can set it and forget it.

Big on performance.  Skimmer performance comes down to three things: air, bubble quality and dwell time.  NextReef NXS1 skimmers are big on all three, and it's made possible by the recirculating design.  Needlewheel pumps are great for aeraton, but do poorly when also tasked with feeding and maintaining the water level in an in-sump skimmer - the Sicce pump on the NXS1 is used exclusively for air introduction / recirculation, exactly what it does best.  Every watt of power goes towards producing air, not wasted lifting water.

NextReef quality goes into every NXS1 skimmer.  We have a reputation for overbuilding things, and these are no exception.  Each NXS1 skimmer is hand-assembled in the USA, from heavy-gage components, precision machined on our in-house CNC equipment.  They're sturdy, they're engineered well, and designed to withstand use by demanding hobbiests and commercial facilites alike.


Features:

  • Heavy Duty Contruction 1/2" thick flat stock and 1/4" wall acrylic tube.  That's double what most competitors use.  They're heavy, and built for serious use - nothing light or flimsy here...

  • UniSeal fittings on the pump, inlet and outlet.  We chose UniSeals because they're durable - they flex instead of breaking, and provide a stronger interface than acrylic bonded to PVC.  They're watertight, and user-replaceable (Want to modify or reconfigure your NXS1? Go for it!).  UniSeals also help isolate vibration and noise from pumps.


  • Sicce PSK Recirculation Pumps.  Sicce pumps are quiet, reliable, and low in power consumption.  NXS1 skimmers are built around factory-tuned Sicce PSK pumps and NextReef's custom venturi. 

 

  • Twist-off Cup Assembly.  Machined from solid acrylic, all NXS1 skimmers feature an easy to use twist-lock neck.  Collection cup maintenece is as easy as a quarter turn. 


  • Machined Trasition.  Most skimmers use a thermoformed "transition" - the section where the body reduces down to the size of the neck.  Because thermoformed transitions are the weakest point on a skimmer, the NextReef NXS1 series features transitions machined from 1" of solid cast acrylic.  They look flat from the outside, but inside the transition is milled in a smooth, compound curve to efficiently concentrate the bubbles and waste into the neck.


  • Integrated Silencer.  Maximum air with minimum noise.  They're built heavy, too, and they're easy to remove for cleaning.  

 


NXS1 Specifications

NextReef NXS1 Internal / External Recirculating Skimmer

Recommended Tank Size: Up to 225 gallons  (850L)
Height: 24" Overall Height    (610mm)
Footprint: Approx 13" x 13" with Pump and Fittings   (330mm x 330mm))
Reaction Chamber: 6" x 16"    (155mm x 410mm)
Power Consumption: 15w
Air Intake:  800lph (max)
Inlet / Outlet: 1/2" FNPT fitting (replaceable) / 1.25" slip PVC
Suggested Water Flow (User supplied pump or gravity fed):  100-200gph  (350-700 l/hr)

NextReef NXS1 XL Internal / External Recirculating Skimmer

Recommended Tank Size: Up to 450 gallons  (1700L)
Height: 27.5" Overall Height    (700mm)
Footprint: 16" x 16"    (410mm x 410mm)
Reaction Chamber: 8" x 18"  (205mm x 460mm)
Power Consumption: 24w
Air Intake:  950lph (max)
Inlet / Outlet: 1/2" FNPT fitting (replaceable) / 1.25" slip PVC
Suggested Water Flow (User supplied pump or gravity fed):  200-400gph  (700-1400 l/hr)

NextReef NXS1 XXL Internal / External Recirculating Skimmer

Recommended Tank Size: Up to 600 gallons  (2250L)
Height: 34" Overall Height    (865mm)
Footprint: 16" x 18"    (410mm x 460mm)
Reaction Chamber: 8" x 24"    (205mm x 610mm)
Power Consumption: 48w (24w x 2)
Air Intake:  1900lph (max)  (950lph * 2)
Inlet / Outlet: 1/2" FNPT fitting (replaceable) / 1.25" slip PVC
Suggested Water Flow (User supplied pump or gravity fed):  300-500gph  (1100-1900 l/hr)

How we rate skimmers...

Skimmer ratings can be all over the board, and we agree that it's confusing.  In reality, there is no "hard" rating based on gallons alone (3 sharks in 70 gallons is a heavier load than 3 damsels in a 225...).  It ultimately comes down to your specific bio-load and feeding habits, and we try to rate our skimmers for "real-world" setups.  Frankly, there's a lot of dishonesty in skimmer ratings.

Our ratings are both realistic and conservative - for example, we rate our NSX1 XL for 400 gallons, but have several running (successfully!) on well-stocked systems twice that size.  Our ratings are based on testing, observations and years of experience, and we put our reputation behind each unit sold.

How can you tell if your skimmer is adequate?  Watch what it does.  If it is working around the clock to produce foam, it probably can't keep up. 

Our skimmers are efficient, but do require a minimum amount of dissolved organics in the water to build a foam head.  That means, ideally sized, they will alternately skim and then run idle (times when there appears to be no foam head) - when contaminants begin to build, a properly-sized skimmer has the ability to quickly respond and remove them.

Questions on skimmer sizing?  Please contact us...