General Types Of Protein Skimmers And How They Work


In any aquarium, one of the important things to maintain is water purity. Doing so ensures that your fish lives in a clean and sanitary environment, which then ensures their health and longevity. For saltwater aquariums, one of the necessary devices used to achieve water purity is a protein skimmer.

A protein skimmer is a device that initiates the process of foam fractionation or protein skimming. Basically, this involves the process of injecting air bubbles into the water supply to remove dissolved organic compounds. When the air bubbles come in contact with the water, the impurities in the water stick with the air bubbles and rise up as foam on the surface. The foam can then be collected and removed from the water supply. The sludge and the scum that results from this can be removed through a collection reservoir designed for this function. This leaves the water in the aquarium clean and sanitized.

The main considerations in the effectiveness of a protein skimmer are the following: the amount of air bubbles, the size of the air bubbles, and the dwell time or duration at which the air bubbles come in contact with the water. More air bubbles is better because this means that the water is purified more effectively. The optimal size of the air bubble is also important; bubble sizes of 0.5 to 1 mm are the best for water filtration. As for the dwell time, the longer the water is treated by the air bubbles, the better. If you have all these three qualities in a protein skimmer, you can be sure that the water is effectively purified.

There are three general types of protein skimmers. These are: counter current, venturi, and turbo protein skimmers.

A counter current skimmer works by blowing air bubbles against the water flowing in a different direction. For this to work, you will need a separate water and air pump. You need a long tube to ensure full contact between the water and air bubbles. Since this is usually placed inside the aquarium, the length of the tube is decided by the height of the aquarium.

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Turbo protein skimmers, also called needle wheel skimmers, work by combining air and water then forcing them through a blade to create air bubbles. The water and air mixture are forced through the blade, then through a reservoir by a water pump. As the water is forced up through a tube, it creates more contact between the water and air bubbles for better water purification.

Aside from the three qualities of a good protein skimmer, you also need to consider its installation. You should look for one that can be easily integrated with your current filtration system. You also have to look at the additional equipment that you need to get, like water pumps or air pumps. Placement is also important, such as whether it’s in-tank or hanging out from the rim.

Another factor you must look at is the price. This will depend mostly on your budget. Though you can get a protein skimmer at $50, you should also expect that the quality is not that great. If you do have extra cash to spare, you should select the more expensive ones. In the end, your choice will depend on the size of your wallet by the time you need to buy one.

Guss Fitzgerald is an expert author and aquarist. He has gained a great understanding of aquarium protein skimmers and other aquarium products from his several years of experience keeping aquarium fish. To learn more about proper aquarium maintenance please visit MarineDepot.com.