FAQ
How does a Protein Skimmer work?
Protein skimmers, also called foam fractionators, remove excess protein waste from Salt Water aquariums by forcing air through a moving column of water. The proteins attach to the air bubbles and rise to the top of the water as foam. They are carried up to a container to catch foam. This container can then be removed and cleaned.
Protein skimmers can mount inside the tank, hang on the back or rim of the tank, be integrated as part of a power filter, be separate and external to the tank, or can even sit in the sump of a trickle filter. As a general rule it is best to purchase the best possible protein skimmer possible within your budget. Generally speaking the higher end units provide better quality. Check out our reviews area to see specifications and rating for different types of protein skimmers.
Is there such a thing as a Freshwater Protein Skimmer?
Yes. There is. But, I must say that protein skimmers work best in Salt Water tanks. This is not to say that protein skimmers can’t be used in Freshwater Tanks, you just need to have the Freshwater Protein Skimmer under very high pressure.
The reason for this all has to do with water surface tension. Two things affect the surface tension of water; salinity and pressure. Freshwater tanks, as the name hints at, have little salinity therefore pressure must be used to protein skim a fresh water tank…and we mean a lot of pressure.
Do I need a Protein Skimmer?
This depends on your tank. For Freshwater I say no. You can keep a freshwater tank with just a good standard filter and be fine.
For a Marine or Reef tank, I say yes. It is definitely a recommended piece of equipment for beginners. This is because a protein skimmer helps greatly with removing the dissolved organic matter before it has a chance to break down into items that are more harmful to the tank environment. A good protein skimmer provides a level of stability, which is harder to achieve when new to the hobby or have a new tank.
If you are going to move to a system without a skimmer then definitely do your research and a lot of testing of the water until you have a mature tank.
How much should I spend on a protein skimmer?
This may sound funny but spend as much as you can afford to. I know it isn’t much of a real answer but, a bad protein skimmer is better than no protein skimmer at all.
If you can spend $100, look for the best $100 protein skimmer you can find. If you have $1000 to spend, same thing, look for the best $1000 protein skimmer that you can find. Our review section can definitely help with the selection.
What is a good brand of Protein skimmer?
There are tons of good brands out there, AquaC, ASM, Precision Marine, Tunze, Red Sea, Vertex/Royal Exclusiv, etc. Check out the review section to see the specifications and reviews of the protein skimmers.
How are the bubbles generated?
There are many ways the bubbles in protein skimmers can be generated. Some methods include:
- Airpump with a wooden airstone. Typically a limewood is used as limewood airstones provide a much finer bubble size than a ceramic airstone.
- Venturi Valve where water passing a constriction in pipe diameter produces a reduction in pressure allowing air to be sucked into the water the water stream where it is then broken by turbulence into small bubbles
- Aspirated Water Pump where an air inlet is inserted to the intake side of a water pump. Air is drawn into the water stream by means of the venturi principle, and broken into small bubbles by the pump impeller. Some pumps working on this principle utilize a needle wheel impeller, said to assist in bubble size reduction.
- Foam Jet which is also operating on the principal of a venturi valve, foam jets are nozzles designed for producing a foaming stream of water for use in pond water features or fountains, the most well known brand being the Beckett nozzle. Adopted by aquarists, these devices have given birth to a whole new breed of skimmers, often referred to as Beckett skimmers.