CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer Review

When it comes to owning a saltwater aquarium, there’s no question that a clean tank is a healthy tank. Clean water not only makes your tank look good, but it also keeps your reef vibrant and your fish free of disease.

However, manually cleaning your aquarium can be a hassle; not everyone has the time to routinely change a quarter of the water volume of their tank. Even then, there’s no way to be sure you’ve removed all the harmful detritus that could be floating around.

The Coral Vue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer is great for getting rid of dissolved organic compounds (or DOC’s) that threaten to dirty your tank and harm the life within it.

Considered one of the best skimmers on the market, the BH-1000 Octopus is ideal for tanks of up to 100 gallons. It’s easily adjustable, quiet, relatively compact, and won’t transfer unnecessary heat to your tank.

For such a powerful protein skimmer, it won’t skim your bank account.

Though there is some confusion as to how to assemble the filter along with certain tank requirements that need to be met for it to function properly, the BH-1000 Octopus is still worth considering for your aquarium.

Before you make any decisions, here are some specific details to give you a better idea of what this filter does and how it performs.

Coral Vue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 3 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8 in x 3.5 in/ 17 in in height
• Capacity: up to 100 gallons
• Minimum/Maximum Water Level: Rim water level must be under 1.125 inches
• Skimmer Type: Pinwheel Pump – mixes water and air for waste removal
• Warranty: 2 years for pump body, 1 year for pump rotor, 1 year for skimmer body

Features

The BH-1000 Octopus offers plenty of features that will contribute to the cleanliness and health of your aquarium.

These features also make the skimmer easier to maintain so that you don’t have to constantly worry about upkeep.

Low-Profile Body

One perk of the BH-1000 Octopus is that it has a low-profile body. It is an HOB, meaning that it hangs on the back of your aquarium in a way that doesn’t take up too much space.

The total design of the Octopus is also slim and sleek to minimize the amount of space you’ll need to host it.

There is much less room needed for it on the backside of the aquarium, leaving more space for filters and other enhancements (and we all know how much space a filter can occupy).

External Pump

Another perk of this skimmer is its external pump.

The pump is positioned under the skimmer body to reduce heat exchange. This way the heat from the skimmer won’t enter the aquarium and heat up the water.

The external pump also reduces the space needed for the skimmer, contributing to its low-profile body type.

Cup Size

The cup that captures the compounds is large, which means that your skimmer can work for longer periods of time without that cup having to be emptied out all the time.

This also means that the skimmer can remove more waste.

Composition

Overheating is a big issue when it comes to protein skimmers. If left unchecked, they can increase the water temperature of your tank, threatening the life of your personal ecosystem.

Its acrylic composition assists with the lack of heat distribution to your tank, preventing the skimmer from overheating and increasing the water temperature.

‘Aquatrance’ Pump

The Coral Vue Octopus Skimmer uses a pinwheel pump for optimal waste removal.

This pump combines water along with air to create the perfect mix for getting all that gross stuff out of your tank.

Coral Vue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer Review

The Positives

Along with its list of cool features, the Coral Vue BH-1000 Octopus has some great things going for it.

Quiet

The air silencer of the skimmer is quiet so you don’t have to hear the annoying whir of the pump.

Though this may not seem like a big issue, the sound of a filter at work can become grating over time, especially for those with sensitive ears.

Luckily, with the BH-1000 Octopus, you won’t slowly lose your sanity due to repetitive noise.

Easy Cleaning

One thing about filters is that they can be difficult to access and clean properly. This can lead to dirty filters that end up getting clogged and don’t perform well, if at all.

But when cleaning time rolls around, most of us tend to groan at the task at hand.

Fortunately, the BH-1000 Octopus’ external pump is easy to remove, allowing for stress-free cleanup and maintenance.

 

Cleaning Power

In terms of cleaning power, this skimmer does the job and does it well.

The large cup will fill up with all the gunk and grime that would have polluted your aquarium otherwise. You won’t have to worry about a thorough clean because the skimmer will collect the nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia floating in the water.

There’s also a weird satisfaction seeing all the gross junk the skimmer was able to remove.

Easy Set-Up

You won’t have to fumble for hours when it comes to setting up the BH-1000 Octopus.

Coral Vue has made this skimmer with simplicity and ease in mind so you can get your tank crystal clear in as quickly as possible.

The small and easy to manage HOB design makes this a breeze to add to your tank. And once installed, this skimmer gets right to work so no time is wasted.

If you do happen to get stuck, you can easily refer to YouTube for tips to keep you going.

Works Quickly

As mentioned, the Coral Vue Octopus Skimmer packs a lot of power and this helps get the job done quickly.

You can expect a ton of gunk to be removed shortly after installing so you won’t have to wait forever to see results.

The water should start the process of getting crystal clear once installed, and you will quickly be able to tell if the skimmer is doing the job you want it to.

Sensitive Filtration

A common concern with skimmers and filters is the threat of fish getting sucked in and injured because of filtration that is too strong.

You’ve seen it happen to Nemo and couldn’t bear if it were to happen to your own clownfish, or any other fish.

Though the skimmer system is strong, you won’t have to worry about smaller or slow-moving fish getting sucked into it. The BH-1000 Octopus is a surface skimmer, so it will only collect microscopic surface materials.

Warranty

The warranty for the BH-1000 Octopus is comprehensive and forgiving.

The unit is designed to be free of defects and issues, so you can be confident that what you receive will work to its best capability once installed (properly, of course).

But just in case anything does go wrong, or you just want an extra piece of mind, Coral Vue has included a warranty with the purchase of the skimmer.

Liability under the warranty covers repairing and replacing parts free of charge – for up to two years for the pump body and one year for both the pump rotor and skimmer body.

Sturdy Build

The warranty isn’t the only thing that makes this skimmer built to last.

The Coral Vue BH-1000 disregards the cheap, flimsy plastic used to make other skimmers. Instead, as mentioned, Coral Vue uses acrylic to stop the spread of heat distribution throughout the tank.

This acrylic is high grade and durable so you won’t have to keep an eye out for any cracks or shifts too often. Just one less thing to worry about.

Cost

In terms of price, this device isn’t too costly and won’t make a huge dent in your budget. Depending on the retailer, the price can vary but still won’t have you reaching into your savings.

A skimmer of this size can be costly, but with the BH-1000 Octopus, you don’t have to sacrifice too much for a product that stacks up well against its competitors.

This skimmer also works well with heavy bioloads (around 60 gallons), medium bioloads (around 80 gallons), or low bioloads (around 100 gallons). Its performance doesn’t depend on the size of the tank and will do its job either way.

The Negatives

No product is without its hangups, and the BH-1000 Octopus is no different. Here are a few things to consider about this product.

Assembly

Although assembly is pretty straightforward, the directions that come with it aren’t the best. There have even been instances where directions don’t come at all.

Luckily, there are YouTube videos that will walk you through installation, but one shouldn’t have to resort to a non-company-sponsored online video to assemble a product.

Low Water Levels

For the skimmer to work, the water levels in the tank need to be low.

If you like to fill your aquarium to the brim, then it’s likely that the skimmer will overflow with water and cause a mess.

This is an easily adjustable issue, but it can cause problems for those who didn’t know this tidbit of information beforehand.

Size

Despite the skimmer being designed to take up as little space as possible, it can appear to be large.

It’s taller than it is wide, making it very noticeable in relation to your aquarium.

If appearance means a lot to you, then this product can look bulky.

Overall Verdict

The BH-1000 Octopus is a must-have for saltwater aquarium hobbyists.

The quality and price make it a worthwhile investment to keep your aquarium clean and your fish feeling healthy. If appearances are high on your list or you prefer not to do a little research, you may want to check out other options before committing.

Thanks to the power and included warranty that come with the Coral Vue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer, you can expect this skimmer to perform for a long time.

Where to Buy the Coral Vue Technology BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer

This Coral Vue BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer shines in its performance making it a popular product commonly available in-stores and online.

To start, check out these online retailers:

• Sears (from $249)
• Bulk Reef Supply (from $204)
• Aqua Cave (from $204)

Of course, you can also find it on Amazon.

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That’s all for our review on the Coral Vue BH-1000 Octopus Skimmer. Tempted to give it a try?