This is one of the best protein skimmers I’ve worked with in the lab, and is one of the most trusted brands available on the market today. SC Aquariums has been making protein skimmers for quite a while and has been a name thrown around on reefing forums and other aquatic websites online. Ask any reefer and they’ll know about SCA. The SC Aquariums SCA-301 is a protein skimmer built for aquariums up to 65 gallons in volume. I’ve worked with this model and it’s comparable to the Coralife Super Skimmer series of protein skimmers. I wrote a full review that you can check out if you’re interested. However, this review will be specifically for the SCA-301 by SC Aquariums. It’s a superior skimmer with a compact profile.
First, here’s a comparison table comparing the SCA-301 vs. the Coralife Super Skimmer 65 gal:
| Skimmer | Pros | Cons | Tank Capacity | View on amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC Aquariums SCA-301 | Super quiet Sleek profile Easy setup | Requires more cleaning Lesser GPH cycles | 65 gallons | View |
| Coralife Super Skimmer | HOB bracket Powerful performance Minimal maintenance | Bigger profile More difficult to setup | 65 gallons | View |
As you can see, both skimmers are pretty much comparable in performance.
Don’t want to read? Are you looking for my quick recommendation? It’s a definite yes. You can go to amazon and check it out now.
For those who want a review, keep reading.
The SC Aquariums SCA-301 Protein Skimmer
First, take a look at the skimmer’s profile. You can see how thin it is.
It’s not really a first impression since I have about 12 of these at the lab running for 9 reef tanks, but compared to other protein skimmers, the SCA-301 is definitely thinner. You’ll notice the thin profile it has, which is beneficial if you have no space. It’s built with a space-saving design made to fit into narrow or tight spaces. Overall, it has a nice design that’s compact. We have this running in a few 30 gallon tanks and it works fine with some slight adjustment.
One thing that’s different compared to the Coralife line of skimmers is that there’s no mounting bracket. So, if you want to mount it via HOB, you’re gonna have to do it yourself. If you’re not handy enough, or don’t feel confident, then go for the Coralife as it already comes with the mounting brackets for a hang-on-back setup.
Skimmer design
The design of the SCA-301 is impressive. It fits a lot of the features that more expensive protein skimmers have into a nice little compact design. It uses a counter-flow reaction chamber along with a needle-wheel design. It uses a cone mechanism to produce the bubbles, but it’s nothing to laugh at. The bubble generation is insane. The output from this little beast seems to overpower its more expensive counterparts. In the lab, we usually use this skimmer for smaller enclosures, but I have no doubt that it can power a full size reef with a medium bioload.
If you’re not familiar with protein skimmer designs, check out the post I wrote about skimmers here.
The box comes with everything you need and a setup guide to get you going quickly.
Skimmer setup
The setup is extremely easy. I’ve personally put together 3 of these for our reefs and it gets easier each setup. Read the manual. That’s all I can say.
Performance of the SCA-301
The SCA-301 needs a break in period, as with most skimmers. The ones we have here take about 1-2 weeks on average to start producing any noticeable skimmate. You’ll notice the collection cup fill up with dark, green, seaweed-scented crap very quickly- which is good, because it means it’s working. It requires regular maintenance to work at maximum efficiency. One problem we’ve had with this model is that it gets dirty real fast. You’ll notice that the bubbles start to slow down in volume, which means the venturi nozzle that’s connected to the snorkel hose is probably capped with calcium, hard water, and other salt grime. You’ll need to clean it out when this happens, but at least you’ll know exactly where to look. Other than that, after the initial break in period, this skimmer performs like a pro. The performance is on-par with the Coralife Super Skimmer series and is notably more quiet. That’s the bonus over the Coralife. You can read more about the performance here.
How noisy is it?
This little beast is super quiet. It comes with an air silencer and runs on a 370GPH pump. The lid over the reaction chamber keeps the bubbles muted, and the build quality is excellent.
What’s the size of it?
Now, we get to the dimensions and sizing. Over at the lab, we only have these running in sumps. You can’t really hang these on anything else, and they’re designed to be used in your sump. The footprint size is about 4.25” x 7.00” by 17” tall, which is quite compact for the performance. You need to keep about 7” in the sump, so make sure your sump can accommodate that. Compared to other skimmers, this size is very decent for the performance it puts out. Compared to the Coralife skimmers, these have about the same performance with a thinner profile, which is impressive.
Cleaning the skimmer
These skimmers do require more cleaning compared to the Coralife skimmers. However, all skimmers need to be cleaned, so it’s not really something to think negatively about. Of course, you do have to clean it more often for full functionality. I think this is due to the smaller size of it, so it gets plugged much quicker. You’ll notice buildup in the cup and reaction chamber, along with a reduction in bubbles. Cleaning is easy though. The skimmer comes apart and can easily be cleaned.
After cleaning, it’ll need about a day to start skimming again. During the break-in, you’ll get lots of bubble generation. You may have to adjust the flow to a lower rate, and then readjust later on. The excess bubbles go straight to the outlet.
Should you buy an SCA-301 skimmer?
I’d recommend this skimmer if you’re new to the hobby, or if it’s your first skimmer. This is probably one of the easiest skimmers to setup, and its compact size makes it easy to store. If you need to use a HOB skimmer, then I suggest you look at the Coralife skimmers, which I also wrote a review about. If you don’t need any HOB mechanism, then this would be a nice buy, as I found it easier to use than the Coralife skimmers in setting up. Also, I’d recommend this if you have a lack of space. It’s a little shorter than the Coralife Supers, but it does require about an inch more of water level in order to start skimming. So there’s a tradeoff. Either way, you can’t go wrong with either.
You can check it on amazon here, or you check out the Coralife skimmers.
Overall, it’s a decent skimmer for the price point. It has the performance of more expensive skimmers without the price. I’d definitely recommend it.