Runs remarkably quiet, often described as dead silent once installed in the sump
Priming issues aside, owners with the same skimmer report reliable multi-year performance once it's set up correctly
Pulls a strong amount of dark, nasty skimmate for its wattage
Owners complain about
Loses prime and won't restart on its own after cleaning or a period of neglect, often requiring owners to lift the unit out of the water to manually re-prime it
Owners question the value for the roughly $500 price tag, with some saying cheaper competitors like Reef Octopus perform just as well
Some units develop a loud humming or noise problem after weeks or months of otherwise-quiet operation, undercutting the skimmer's quiet reputation
“I love my NYOS 160 which I have had for over a year now. When the pump needs cleaning I do have to lift the unit out of the water to get it primed and started.”
“My Nyos 160 does the same thing regardless of how recently it was cleaned. I have to lift it out of the water as well. Nice skimmer but for the money I feel there are much better products out there”
IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer vs Nyos Quantum 160: frequently asked questions
Is the IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer or the Nyos Quantum 160 better?
Real owners lean toward the IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer: 82% of 11 owners recommend it, vs 48% of 29 for the Nyos Quantum 160.
Who should get the IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer?
Owners point the IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer at aIO/nano tank owners with limited cabinet space for a bigger skimmer, and budget-conscious reefers wanting a cheap alternative to pricier nano skimmers.
Who should get the Nyos Quantum 160?
Owners point the Nyos Quantum 160 at reefers who want a quiet skimmer and can dial it in without hand-holding, and larger, established tanks where the skimmer isn't overkill for bioload.
What do owners complain about?
The most-cited downside of the IceCap K1-Nano Protein Skimmer is inconsistent noise levels — some units run stone silent while others are described as miserably loud, in one case loud enough to get sold off. For the Nyos Quantum 160, it's loses prime and won't restart on its own after cleaning or a period of neglect, often requiring owners to lift the unit out of the water to manually re-prime it.