AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer Review

If you own an aquarium or are in the market for one, chances are, you’re going to need a protein skimmer as well.

But how do you know which is best? We’re here to help you make an informed buying decision, so let’s take a look at the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer.

It has a capacity of up to 100 gallons, comes with a removable collection cup for easy maintenance, and includes a robust pump that cleans 370 gallons of water per hour.

It’s not perfect — we know that we aren’t the only ones to find the set-up instructions a little vague and some of our peers had some minor problems with leaking.

Regardless, we think this skimmer is definitely worth the money. Let’s take a closer look at the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer and find out more.

AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 5.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 22 x 10.3 x 7.5 inches.
• Capacity: 100 gallons.
• Minimum and Maximum Level: 50 – 100 gallons.
• Type of Skimmer: Skimmer with air pump with needle wheel impeller.
• Warranty: One-year warranty.

Features

Capacity

Aquatop’s Xyclone Protein Skimmer works on aquarium tanks that hold up to 100 gallons. That is quite a large tank. But don’t let the maximum capacity fool you; you don’t need a huge tank to use this skimmer.

Whether you have a 50-gallon tank or a 100-gallon one, the protein skimmer will work so long as the pump is submerged.

It only operates in saltwater, but so long as this requirement is met and the skimmer is submerged, you can adapt it to any tank.

Pump

To move water from the tank through the skimmer, Xyclone has an air pump with a strong motor. This works to cycle your tank efficiently and remove all waste or toxins on a regular basis.

However, this pump is not the only tool at work here. The Xyclone also leverages a needle wheel impeller, ensuring your water makes full contact with the filter strainer.

This strainer then guarantees that all impurities are caught and removed from the water. As such, the impeller and pump work in tandem to ensure the water is cleaned as quickly, efficiently, and with no missed steps.

GPH

The amount of water a protein skimmer works through per hour is, perhaps, the most important detail you need to evaluate before purchasing one.

It’s crucial for your skimmer to clean the water in your tank fast enough to ensure your fish are never left in a toxic environment.

The AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer goes through 370 gallons of water per hour (gph). As such, if you have a 100-gallon tank, it will clean the water over 3.5 times in 60 minutes. That’s pretty great!

Collection Cup

The collection cup on this skimmer ensures maintenance is incredibly simple. All the waste and toxins go right into this storage area, so you can effortlessly remove it, wash it out, and reinstall it onto the skimmer body.

Be sure to clean out the collection cup at least once a week, so it can properly keep up with its powerful cleaning routine.

Peeking in once every seven days will ensure your tank stays as clean and healthy for your fish as possible.

Variable Mounting

You won’t have to be on the lookout for too many specifics with this protein skimmer. It comes with options for both in-sump and hang-on installation so you won’t have to worry about your configuration right away.

This also allows users to try out each option to see which type suits their tank and pets better. You won’t be forced to choose without trying with this skimmer.

AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

While the set-up process on any new item can be daunting, setting up this protein skimmer is surprisingly straightforward. There are only a few steps, and then you’ll have it up and running.

First, connect the inlet strainer and the airline to the pump, and then connect the pump to the inlet tube. You receive a lock fastener with the purchase to secure them together.

After this, you can install the skimmer wherever you want it on your tank or in your sump. Secure the skimmer with the included fastening bolts.

Ensure the pump is completely submerged in the water and then you can plug it in. That’s it! You won’t be left fussing and fumbling about with the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer, which means you can get your tank cleaner in no time.

Easy to Maintain

While it’s easy to set-up, maintenance could not be any simpler. All the waste your skimmer removes from the aquarium ends up in a collection cup.

Simply remove the cup, rinse it with warm water, dry it out, and then place it back on the skimmer. So long as it’s emptied once a week, it can operate at full capacity.

That’s it! You don’t need to take the whole thing apart, as is required with other skimmer models. You can also wipe off or rinse the outside of the skimmer if you’d like, but it’s not necessary.

Aquatic accessories that are easy to clean and maintain make it all the easier for hobbyists of all levels to practice aquarium keeping.

It’s also a bonus for the busy hobbyist – you won’t have to commit a ton of time to keep your tank clean.

Large Capacity

Based on tester feedback, they really appreciated the capacity of the Xyclone protein skimmer.

A 100-gallon tank is nothing to sneeze at. It can be difficult to find affordable options for a tank of that size, but this is where Aquatop shines.

However, it’s worth noting a 100-gallon tank isn’t absolutely necessary for this skimmer. The size of your tank can vary dramatically, so long as the pump is completely covered by water.

Smaller tanks will receive even more robust cleaning because the skimmer can cycle their water at a faster rate.

Affordable

Protein skimmers can range from $50 to over $300, depending on the capacity and the number of features it has.

The Aquatop Xyclone Protein Skimmer is currently is under $100 on Amazon. With all the features and the large capacity, this is a more than affordable price.

Numerous testers were impressed with how much they got for under $100, so if you’re on a budget the Aquatop Protein Skimmer won’t be the product to empty your wallets.

This way you’ll have more cash for other aquatic accessories without forgoing the quality.

Great for Beginners

Thanks to the price, the ease of use and how easy it is to maintain, this could be a great addition to the tank of a new hobbyist. Beginner testers still noted how easy this protein skimmer is to have and use, and had little problems with it along the way.

Its price tag makes it all the easier to commit, and newbies won’t be straining their bank account before they’ve even gotten started.

Thanks to its size, it’s able to fit a large variety of tanks, promising to get the job done. You’ll also have the option of choosing to put this in-sump or hanging on your tank, so you can experiment and see which variation you like best!

And since this is a product growing in popularity, you’ll have a large fishkeeping community to support you in your endeavours. This protein skimmer definitely takes away some of the risks of starting a new hobby.

The Negatives

Vague Instructions

While the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer does come with instructions, according to some testers, they are not very detailed. As such, the set-up was difficult.

Hard to read instructions can make the process of owning this protein skimmer harder from the start. Fortunately, this skimmer doesn’t require too much fussing about to get set-up and going.

If you have issues understanding the instructions, there are quite a few YouTube videos to help you manage the process. It’s annoying, but not insurmountable.

Leaks

A few testers had issues with the Xyclone protein skimmer leaking; most of them had water leak from the tubing.

It’s best to be sure you have secured all the fasteners tightly, so there are no gaps that water could escape through.

This wasn’t an issue for the majority of testers, so it’s most likely down to user error. While the set-up is an easy process, it’s important to install all the parts accurately, so as to avoid and prevent leaks before they begin.

Here’s a video showing what the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer looks like out of the box and set-up.

Overall Verdict

After combing through all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer.

With such a large capacity, an easy set-up process, and very simple maintenance, this is a great protein skimmer. Add in the affordable price and you really can’t go wrong here.

There were barely any testers who had a negative experience with this protein skimmer. Only a couple had it malfunction or had issues with the instructions.

As such, if you are in the market for a protein skimmer, this AquaTop model is definitely one worthy of handling your aquarium.

Where to Buy the AquaTop Xyclone Protein Skimmer

AquaTop is a common brand in the fishkeeping hobby world, with a large variety of items in their product lineup from tanks to filters.

This protein skimmer is just one example of this brand’s quality and affordability, which makes them a popular brand on the market.

As such, you’ll be able to find the AquaTop Cyclone Protein Skimmer both in-store and online. While it’s usually best to check pet, fish, and specialty stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Pet Smart (from $73)
• Wai’s Aquarium (from $179)
• Aquatop (from $119)

And of course, you can also find this protein skimmer on Amazon.

---

That’s the end of our Aquatop Xyclone review. Tempted to give this protein skimmer a try?