IceCap K3-100 HOB Controllable Protein Skimmer
SKU: IC-K3-100HOB
MSRP: $ 259,86
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Available Through Authorized Retailer
- Controllable 24V DC Needlewheel Pump: Powered by a low-voltage DC pump featuring a dedicated digital 10-speed controller and integrated 10-minute feed timers.
- Low-Profile Surface Skimming Intake: Includes a specialized, auto-adjusting overflow box that strips organic oils directly off the water surface to boost gas exchange.
- Zero-Clutter Display Configuration: Mounts the primary pump and reaction chamber completely behind the tank rim, preserving clean viewing lines inside your display.
- Fail-Safe Collection Cup Overflow: Equipped with an integrated overheight drain port and flexible line to route extra wet-skim fluids safely into an external reservoir.
- Highly Efficient Bubble Dispersant Plate: Internally isolates high-velocity air integration to maximize organic contact times while keeping micro-bubbles out of your aquarium.
- Premium Cell-Cast Acrylic Build: Constructed entirely out of robust, heavy-wall clear acrylic and thick PVC fittings to ensure a leak-free lifespan.
IceCap
Premium aquarium equipment without the premium price. Protein skimmers, pumps, reactors, heaters & more.
IceCap K3-100HOB Hang-On-Back Protein Skimmer
The IceCap K3-100HOB Protein Skimmer (SKU: IC-K3-100HOB) is an authentic, high-efficiency external foam fractionator distributed by CoralVue to deliver professional-grade water purification to sump-less marine aquariums from 40 to 100 gallons. Traditional hang-on-back skimmers often suffer from common design flaws: they utilize noisy, hot AC pumps submerged inside the display tank, take up valuable real estate, spit millions of micro-bubbles into the water column, and overflow onto living room floors when clogged. The K3-100HOB addresses every single one of these complaints, condensing advanced, sump-grade skimming dynamics into a sleek, narrow-profile external hang-on chassis.
At the core of this system is its innovative Controllable 24V DC Skimmer Pump. Utilizing an external digital keypad, you can fine-tune the pump's operational speed across 10 distinct power intervals. This allows you to match the internal air-and-water ratio perfectly to your tank's unique bio-load profile. Rather than using standard underwater pipe intakes that draw clean water from mid-depths, the K3-100HOB features a surface-skimming overflow box. This box skims off the organic surface slick—where the highest concentration of dissolved proteins collects—and routes it directly down past the needlewheel impeller. The resulting slurry undergoes multi-stage diffusion before rising into the collection neck, extracting waste before it can break down into harmful nitrates.
Key Features
Active 10-Speed Flow Calibration: Lets you increase or decrease pump intensity at the push of a button to quickly fine-tune your foam line or pause skimming for feeding routines.
Advanced Dual-Chamber Silhouette: Features a dedicated, isolated bubble reduction track that traps air micro-bubbles, returning crystal-clear, degassed water to your display.
Ultra-Narrow Cabinet Separation Profile: Requires less than 4 inches of physical clearance behind your tank rim, sliding easily into tight under-cabinet or against-wall gaps.
What’s Included:
(1) IceCap K3-100HOB Clear Cell-Cast Acrylic External Skimmer Body
(1) High-Capacity Adjustable Collection Cup with 8mm Overboard Drain Barb
(1) Low-Voltage Controllable 24V DC Needlewheel Skimmer Pump
(1) Digital 10-Speed Pump Control Module with Backlit Display
(1) Self-Adjusting Surface Skimming Intake Box Assembly
(1) Form-Molded Air Intake Silencer with Silicone Airline
(1) Flexible Vinyl Collection Cup Drain Hose Line (8mm ID)
Technical Specs:
Official Manufacturing Title: IceCap K3-100HOB Protein Skimmer
SKU / Factory Part Identifier: IC-K3-100HOB
Primary System Application: External Hang-On-Back Aquarium Use Only
Total Base Body Dimensions (LxWxH): 8.8" x 3.5" x 24"
Total Operational Height Range: 24 Inches (including collection cup clearance)
Required Rear Glass Wall Clearance: 3.75 Inches
Skimmer Pump Operational Voltage: 24V DC (Includes 120V AC Global Power Supply)
Maximum Motor Power Consumption: 10 Watts Peak Draw
Maximum Volumetric Air Induction: ~500lph / 17.5scfh*
Water Draw: ~185.5gph
*Air and water results will vary depending on the aquarium setup
Warranty
CoralVue, Inc. hereby guarantees this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of:
- 1 Year
Warranty is activated on the date of purchase.
This Standard Limited Warranty applies and is limited as follows:
- To the product only as long as it remains in the possession of the original purchaser.
- To the product that has not been subject to accident, misuse or abuse.
- To the product that has not been modified, altered, defaced, or had repairs made or attempted by other than CoralVue, Inc.
- That CoralVue be immediately notified in writing within ten (10) days of first knowledge of defect by owner or his agent.
- That CoralVue, Inc. shall be given first opportunity to make any repairs, replacements or corrections to the defective construction within a reasonable period of time.
- Under no circumstances shall CoralVue and/or the Manufacturer be liable by virtue of this warranty or otherwise for damage to any person or property whatsoever for any special, indirect, secondary or consequential damages of any nature however arising out of the use or inability to use because of the product defect.
Instructions
Unbox the assembly. Carefully verify that the external 24V DC pump block is seated tightly onto its lower union plumbing paths beneath the main clear acrylic frame.
Hang the skimmer frame vertically over the rear rim of your aquarium. Use the adjustable thumb-screws located on the lower stabilization brackets to level the skimmer body perfectly flush against the rear glass.
Install the surface-skimming intake box inside the aquarium, connecting it to the input plumbing loop. Adjust the sliding overflow gate until its top teeth sit roughly 1/2-inch below your daily operational waterline.
Prime the Skimmer: Before applying power, manually fill the main rear acrylic reaction chamber completely with salt water from your display tank until it flows backward out of the return pipe. Warning: Running the DC needlewheel pump dry will permanently score the ceramic shaft and void your warranty.
Connect the pump lead to the digital controller, plug the power supply into a certified GFCI outlet, and set the initial power level to Speed 3 or 4 to begin processing water.
Let the skimmer break in wide open for 5 to 7 days. Once the manufacturing lubricants have completely cleared, use the digital speed buttons and physical cup height adjustments to dial your foam line into a dark simmer.
Full Instructions: https://www.coralvue.com/blog/instructions-2/k3-100-150-hob-protein-skimmer-user-instructions-136
Pro Tips:
- Never Skip the Water Priming Step Before Firing Up Your Controllable DC Pump. Because the K3-100HOB mounts its controllable pump high up behind your aquarium rim, it operates above the natural gravity line of your tank water. If you turn on the pump without priming the unit first, the impeller will spin in trapped air, failing to draw water and causing the pump block to overheat within seconds. Always fill the rear acrylic canister completely with salt water by hand before plugging in the controller to ensure immediate siphon vacuum synchronization.
- Use the Lower Pump Speed Settings (Levels 2-5) During Your Initial Break-In Week. Controllable 24V DC pumps pack a massive amount of kinetic force compared to old-school AC variants. Firing up a brand-new, unbroken-in HOB skimmer at full Speed 10 will almost always result in immediate, aggressive over-foaming, forcing clean tank water straight out of the collection cup lid. Start with the controller dialed down to Speed 2 or 3, and slowly scale up the velocity over a two-week period as the plastic surfaces break in.
- Route the Collection Cup Overflow Hose Straight Back Into a Deep Secondary Jug. While sump-based skimmers simply spill backward into the filter compartment if they overflow, a hang-on-back skimmer overflow can spill directly onto your flooring. To eliminate this risk, never plug or block the collection cup's lower drain barb. Attach the included clear vinyl hose to the barb and direct the opposite end down into a stable 1-gallon utility jug or dedicated waste collector placed safely inside your stand. If a change in water surface tension triggers an unexpected surge, the excess fluid drains safely into the auxiliary jug instead of onto your floor.