Best HOB Hang On Back Protein Skimmers

Keeping an aquarium in optimal conditions is one of the most important parts of being an aquarium hobbyist. Nothing is worse than having a cloudy tank full of all kinds of debris and waste. This is especially important if you have a heavily populated tank with different kinds of aquatic species.



Aquariums that use reefs can see a large increase in the pollution of the tank from all the waste and degraded by-products.

Although some aquarium tanks do come with protein skimmers to help clear out the waste, a major issue for a lot of aquarium owners is that their tanks do not have built-in protein skimmers. Some tanks don’t even have space at the bottom to accommodate an aftermarket protein skimmer.

This is where a HOB protein skimmer or a Hang on Back protein skimmer comes in handy.

A HOB protein skimmer is a specialized protein skimmer that doesn’t need complicated installation and can be fixed to the upper lip of your aquarium’s glass walls. It can be incredibly helpful to have this on your tank if all other options aren’t feasible. We’ll be looking in depth at a HOB protein skimmer so that you know just what to look for.

Our Picks for Best HOB Protein Skimmer

There are a ton of different HOB protein skimmers in the market from all kinds of brands. To take the guesswork out of the equation, we’ve assembled a list of some of the best protein skimmers that you can buy confidently.

1. CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus with External 1000 Pump

The CoralVue BH 1000 Octopus is a solid protein skimmer built with quality in mind. The outer design of this protein skimmer is made from high-grade acrylic that holds up well. All the connections, pumps, and pipes are well built. And to top it all off, the unit weighs practically nothing.

The lightweight and hassle-free design of this protein skimmer also make for easy maintenance. You can easily take the unit apart and clean it from the inside out. Reassembling is also a breeze and you don’t need any special tools or lengthy tutorials.

With an external 1000 pump, this unit works great with 100 gal aquariums. You can seamlessly clean your tank with minimal effort and maximum ease.

2. Eshopps Hang-On Protein Skimmer PSK-100H

The Eshopps PSK 100H is the latest protein skimmer from the company. It’s a great product that tries to combine high performance with a budget-friendly cost. This is a decent-sized protein skimmer that can handle aquariums with capacities ranging anywhere from 75 gallons to 100 gallons; it is suitable for most medium-sized tanks in homes.

This protein skimmer is more self-contained with its design at just under 23 inches of height and 4 inches in diameter. The unit is also lightweight and easy to fit on to the tank. It can handle large quantities of water, resulting in faster performance. You’ll also notice that this unit runs virtually silent with no static whirring or humming noises coming out of it. It’s a great option if you need a sub $200 protein skimmer that does the job.

3. Coralife Super Protein Skimmer

At a price tag of a little over $100, the Coralife Super Protein skimmer is a great option for those on a tight budget. This is also the most consistently well-reviewed protein skimmer in the budget category.

This protein skimmer comes in three different sizes that are equally priced. The cheapest version can hold up to 65 gallons. If that isn’t enough for you, the company also offers larger tanks available in 125 and 220-gallon quantities. These will be more than sufficient for just about any tank.

The dual injection inlets of the Coralife Super Protein Skimmer make cleaning the tank very easy. This unit comes with its own wide-needle aspirator system so that the air in the tank diffuses properly and removes organic waste. All in all, this is a solid choice for a cheap skimmer.

4. CPR Bak-Pak 2

The CPR Bak Pak 2 is one of the latest protein skimmers in the product line. It improves upon the design of the CPR Bak Pak 1 by adding even more functionality and design features. This unit is very compact, and yet it can filter a large quantity of water easily.

The standout feature about this protein skimmer is the way the filter works. It creates suction forces that drive the water downwards where it’s hit with bubbles. This increases contact time with the bubble and makes for superior protein filtration.

If that wasn’t enough, this protein skimmer also has a second filtration step. The CPR Bak Pak 2 includes a biological filtration station in it. This manages to remove volatile biological compounds and prevents them from flowing back into the tank.

5. Reef Octopus Classic 100-HOB Protein Skimmer

Reef Octopus is a premier name among aquarium enthusiasts. The Reef Octopus classic demonstrates all the qualities of a great protein skimmer. It has a powerful Aquatrance 1000 pump and is capable of cleaning out a 105-gallon tank at a very affordable price.

The unit not only functions well but it is also very well-designed. It comes with a lightweight frame that allows it to be attached to any surface on your aquarium. It’s easy to set up and highly customizable thanks to its adjustable surface skimming attachment.

There’s no mistake that this is one of the best protein skimmers you can buy. It has a lot of positive reviews from both users and professionals. If you’re looking a high-quality protein skimmer at less price, this is the one to get.

Final Thoughts

There are many options when it comes to protein skimmers. Hopefully, the products above will give you the insight you need into your next protein skimmer purchase.