A protein skimmer, also known as a foam fractionator, is an excellent nutrient export tool for the saltwater aquarium. This is the main reason it has become so popular. They work 24/7 and constantly remove unwanted organics, oils and proteins that will otherwise lead to unwanted problematic algae outbreaks taking over your tank. These organics, if allowed to accumulate, can also kill corals or at least make it very difficult for them to grow and thrive.
How Does It Work?
The main principle upon which protein skimmers work, is that the bad/unwanted organic molecules are polarized and thus they like to stick to the water surface - think pond scum. If you've ever been to a waterfall, you've seen the brown foam that collects at the bottom - usually off to one side of the waterfall. Or perhaps you've been to a beach with crashing waves and seen the brown foam that gets pushed up on the beach. This brown foam is the concentrated organics, oils and proteins, that stick to the very small air bubbles of a waterfall or waves on a beach. You can think of these tiny air bubbles as little magnets for organics, oils and proteins. Skimmers are simply copying this natural phenomenon.
Why Do I Need A Protein Skimmer?
Here are some of the reasons to use a skimmer on your saltwater aquarium, whether it is a fish-only saltwater aquarium or a reef tank.
- lower nutrient loads (nitrates, phosphates, organics, etc.) which otherwise lead to disease outbreaks
- prevent unwanted algae growth and/or outbreaks
- prevent disease outbreaks for fish and for corals and other sensitive invertebrates
- improve dissolved oxygen
- off-gas or prevent build up of unwanted carbon dioxide (CO2) that suppresses pH
- improved water clarity
How Do I Use It?
The way you use a protein skimmer is the same, no matter what type of skimmer you have (no matter the brand or manufacturer either). The way you use it, is as follows:
- it operates around the clock 24/7
- clean it at least once a week (the more often it is cleaned, the better it will perform)
- clean the foam tower, collection cup, air intakes, pump impellers once a week. The more often the better.
- maintain maximum density of the smallest air bubbles possible - this is primarily done by keeping the air intakes and pump impellers clean
- do not allow any air bubbles leaving the protein skimmer to be sucked into your main pump, as this can lead to supersaturation and may even kill fish.
- adjust the skimmer to produce a dark foam, also known as "skimmate" (the name for the waste removed by the skimmer). If your skimmate is clear or only light yellow, then the foam height needs to be lowered a touch.
- if using your protein skimmer in a sump or attached to a sump or refugium, locate your protein skimmer at the opposite end of the sump from your main pump intake, and as close as possible to the water coming from your exhibit tank overflow - the dirty water.
- two keys to the effectiveness of a skimmer is bubble size and contact time. The smaller the bubble size the better, because this means more surface area to remove waste compounds. And the longer the incoming water has contact time with the bubbles, the more waste it will remove.
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