Pets · Head-to-head
NYOS Quantum 120 vs Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Aquarium Protein Skimmers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Quantum 120 packs a 25 to 125 gallon rating into a 5.9 by 8.3 inch footprint and 18.3 inches of height on 8 watts, with separate water and air adjustment for fine tuning. The Classic 110-INT is the one to buy if you would rather have the maker tell you plainly what it does under a heavy fish load.
NYOS Quantum 120
Buy itA small-footprint in-sump skimmer with a hybrid impeller and genuinely independent water and air adjustment, rated by NYOS for 100 to 500 litres.
- NYOS rates it for 100 to 500 litres (25 to 125 gallons) while drawing only 8 watts.
- Water volume and air volume are set separately, with a water setting pipe for the rough level and a micro-adjustment screw for fine tuning.
- The 15 by 21 cm (5.9 by 8.3 inch) footprint and 46.5 cm (18.3 inch) height fit sumps that a wider skimmer will not.
- NYOS publishes a single volume range rather than separate lightly, moderately and heavily stocked figures, so you have to derate it yourself.
- The product page does not state a required sump water depth, so you need to check clearance and operating level before you commit.
- Body diameter is not published, only overall length, width and height.
Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT
Buy itA straightforward acrylic in-sump skimmer whose maker publishes three honest bioload numbers instead of one optimistic headline figure.
- Reef Octopus states 130 gallons lightly stocked, 90 gallons medium and 60 gallons heavily stocked, and says the figures exclude the sump.
- The full spec sheet is public: 5 inch body, 10.2 by 6.9 inch footprint, 2.4 inch neck, 19.70 inch total height, 6.5 inch output height.
- It calls for a 7 to 8 inch sump water height and adjusts through a gate valve on the output, which is easy to nudge in small steps.
- The 10.2 by 6.9 inch footprint is wide, and 19.70 inches of height plus cup removal clearance rules out shallow cabinets.
- The Aquatrance 1000s pump draws 9 watts, slightly more than the NYOS unit for a smaller rated volume.
- It is a fixed-speed AC pump, so there is no electronic flow control or ramping.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| NYOS Quantum 120 Our pick | Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | A reef keeper with a tight sump who wants strong performance and fine control, and does not mind sizing conservatively themselves. | Most saltwater keepers with a standard sump who want a skimmer sized against a real stocking level rather than a marketing number. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Type | In-sump | In-sump |
| Maker's rated volume | 100 to 500 litres (25 to 125 gal) | 130 gal light, 90 gal medium, 60 gal heavy, sump excluded |
| Stocking caveat published | Range only, no stocking tiers | Yes, three bioload tiers |
| Pump and bubble maker | Quantum 1.0 with NYOS Hybrid Wheel | Aquatrance 1000s pinwheel |
| Power draw | 8 W | 9 W |
| Footprint | 15 x 21 cm (5.9 x 8.3 in) | 10.2 x 6.9 in |
| Height and clearance | 46.5 cm (18.3 in) tall | 19.70 in tall, plus clearance to lift the cup |
| Sump water level and adjustment | Level not published; water pipe plus micro-adjust screw, air set separately | 7 to 8 in recommended sump height; gate valve on output |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the NYOS Quantum 120 if
a reef keeper with a tight sump who wants strong performance and fine control, and does not mind sizing conservatively themselves.
Know before buying: nYOS publishes a single volume range rather than separate lightly, moderately and heavily stocked figures, so you have to derate it yourself.
Pick the Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT if
most saltwater keepers with a standard sump who want a skimmer sized against a real stocking level rather than a marketing number.
Know before buying: the 10.2 by 6.9 inch footprint is wide, and 19.70 inches of height plus cup removal clearance rules out shallow cabinets.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the NYOS Quantum 120 - A small-footprint in-sump skimmer with a hybrid impeller and genuinely independent water and air adjustment, rated by NYOS for 100 to 500 litres. Choose the Reef Octopus Classic 110-INT instead if most saltwater keepers with a standard sump who want a skimmer sized against a real stocking level rather than a marketing number.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Aquarium Protein Skimmers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).