Protein skimmers have evolved drastically over the past few decades, with manufacturers trying all sorts of tricks to boost energy efficiency and performance. Unfortunately, however, these manufacturers have, by and large, abandoned many of the old tried and true technologies in their constant battle to win over fickle aquarium hobbyists who are always looking for something new. One such technology, the use of wooden air stones, has been cast to the wayside in favor of venturi style water pumps with needle wheel impellers. While the needle wheel based skimmers offer less maintenance and fewer consumable parts than an air stone driven skimmer, the air stone skimmers still perform so well, especially on smaller systems. Fortunately for air stone fanatics, this style of skimmer has made a little bit of a comeback as of late, and they’re getting a new addition to the family with the help of ATB, who recently introduced their Mini Mikro cone skimmer.

The best part about the Mini Mikro is that it blends old school technology with new. It uses a pair of beefy wooden air stones that sit beneath a modern day skimmer. The Mini Mikro has the standard issue cone shape and bubble diffusing plate, and if it weren’t for the stones, the skimmer wouldn’t look any different than any other modern day skimmer. This combination of modern and retro makes for a formidable device, as can be seen by the videos posted below. Read More