Aquaforest All-in-One Skim Review: Skimming, CO2 Scrubbing, and Odor Control in One Unit

Introduction

Most reef keepers treat a protein skimmer as a single-purpose tool: pull organics out of the water and move on. The Aquaforest All-in-One Skim takes a different view. It is built around a capable skimmer body, then layers in recirculating CO2 scrubbing, carbon-based odor control, ozone compatibility, and a chamber of biologically active media, all within one footprint. It is one of the more ambitious skimmer designs to reach the reef hobby in recent years, and the interesting part is how neatly the extra functions share space with the core job.

This review walks through what the All-in-One Skim actually does, who it suits, where it shines, and what to weigh before adding one to a sump.

Who This Product Is For

Aquaforest rates the All-in-One Skim for lightly stocked reef aquariums up to 198 gallons and heavily stocked reef aquariums up to 80 gallons. That spread says a lot about how the unit is meant to be used. In a lightly loaded system it has plenty of headroom. In a heavily fed, heavily stocked tank it is working closer to its ceiling, but still within its stated range.

The recommended operating depth is 7 and 1/4 inches, and the footprint is a compact 7.3 by 7.2 inches. Those numbers matter for anyone with a tight sump chamber, since the skimmer needs to sit at a stable water level to behave predictably. The narrow footprint also leaves room in the same compartment for the CO2 scrubbers, which mount around the collar rather than off to the side.

This is a good fit for reef keepers who already value pH stability, quiet operation, and tidy equipment, and who would rather solve several problems in one chamber than add separate reactors and silencers.

Skimming Performance and Control

At the core is a Reeflow 2300 DC controllable pump rated at roughly 600 gallons per hour, feeding a dual venturi that allows up to 620 L per hour of air injection. That is a healthy amount of air for a skimmer in this size class, and it translates into the ability to produce a thick foam across both wet and dry skimming styles.

Dialing it in takes three separate controls, which is more than most skimmers offer. A gate valve adjusts the water height inside the body, letting you move between a wetter and a drier skim. A graduated external tube shows that water height without bubbles in the way, a genuinely useful detail when you are trying to hold a setting steady. A pair of valves on the venturi line lets you reduce the air in the mix, and the pump itself can be turned down to lower both water and air flow. Between the three, there is enough adjustment range to find a stable foam head for the amount of organics a given system produces.

There is also a float switch that can be placed inside the collection cup. If the cup fills before you empty it, or if something you add to the tank sends the skimmer into overdrive, the switch shuts the skimmer off automatically. That protects against a messy overflow and keeps skimmate from draining back into the sump.

CO2 Scrubbing and Quieter Operation

Most dual venturi skimmers use a pair of air silencers to keep noise down. Aquaforest uses that space for two recirculating CO2 scrubbers instead, and the swap works in the hobbyist’s favor on three fronts.

First, they perform the silencing job well. The result is a very quiet skimmer, which matters in a living space. Second, together they hold roughly 800 ml of CO2 scrubbing media, which delivers a meaningful pH lift and helps keep a system above the 8.0 mark, the range where corals build their skeletons more effectively. Third, the recirculating design draws air from inside the skimmer body rather than from the room. Because that air has already passed through the system, the CO2 media lasts considerably longer and each refill goes further.

Aquaforest also includes multiple mounting locations around the collar, so each scrubber can be positioned where it fits the plumbing and cabinet layout rather than being locked into one spot.

Odor Control and Ozone Compatibility

Sitting on top of the skimmer cup is a container that holds 400 ml of carbon. Its job is straightforward: absorb odors and airborne impurities so a full cup of skimmate does not announce itself every time you open the stand. For anyone running a skimmer in a living area, that is a small feature with an outsized effect on daily life.

The All-in-One Skim is also ozone compatible. The second CO2 scrubber includes a port ready for an ozone generator, and the carbon cup serves double duty by helping keep ozone from escaping the skimmer. It is a thoughtful piece of design that turns an accessory port into something that fits the rest of the unit rather than an afterthought bolted on.

Built-In Biological Filtration

Inside the body, above the pump, sits a component that looks like a diffuser but is actually a container for biological media. It is perforated at the top and bottom for water flow, and the PVC fittings from the pump outlet pass directly through it, so the air and water mix from the pump enters the skimmer body above the media.

That arrangement creates a pull behind the rising mix, drawing oxygen-rich water from below the bubble column up through the media container, where beneficial bacteria are ready to work. Aquaforest includes a 400 ml bag of Life Bio Fil, a biomedia pre-seeded with nitrifying bacteria. Because it arrives biologically active, it can begin breaking down ammonia and nitrate right away rather than going through a typical cycling period.

It is fair to say almost no one would run the All-in-One Skim as a primary biological filter. Still, extra seeded media in a running system is rarely a downside, and here it costs nothing in terms of footprint or extra plumbing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main thing to check is sump space and water level. The unit wants 7 and 1/4 inches of operating depth, and the CO2 scrubbers mount around the collar, so the surrounding area needs to stay accessible for refills. The scrubbers are consumable: the roughly 800 ml of CO2 media and the 400 ml of carbon will need periodic replacement to keep doing their jobs.

Budget for those consumables, and be realistic about stocking. If your reef sits at the heavily stocked end, you are near the upper limit of the 80-gallon rating. Larger, heavily loaded systems may want more skimming capacity than a single unit in this class provides.

It is also worth asking whether you will actually use the ozone port. If you already run ozone, the built-in port and carbon cup make the integration cleaner. If you do not, it is simply headroom you may never use, and the value of the skimmer rests on its skimming, pH support, and odor control instead.

Buying Advice

The case for the All-in-One Skim is strongest when several of its features line up with problems you already have. If your reef struggles to stay above a pH of 8.0, if you want a quieter skimmer in a living space, or if the smell of a full collection cup has become a running joke in your household, this design addresses all three without adding separate equipment to the sump.

If you mainly want straightforward, reliable skimming and already have your pH and odor situation handled, a simpler skimmer will do the same core job with less complexity and fewer consumables to track. The All-in-One Skim earns its place when you want the extra functions and are willing to keep up with the media refills that make them work.

Conclusion

The Aquaforest All-in-One Skim is a well-considered piece of reef equipment. It pairs a capable dual venturi skimmer and a controllable Reeflow 2300 pump with recirculating CO2 scrubbing, carbon odor control, ozone readiness, and a seeded biomedia chamber, and it fits all of that into a compact 7.3 by 7.2 inch footprint. Sized for lightly stocked reefs up to 198 gallons and heavily stocked reefs up to 80 gallons, it makes the most sense for keepers who value pH stability, quiet running, and tidy equipment. Keep the media refills in mind, confirm your sump depth, and it is an easy recommendation to feel good about.