| A protein skimmer or foam fractionator is a device | | | | let's talk about how these products function. |
| used mostly in saltwater aquaria to get rid of organic | | | | To be as unscientific and as clear-cut as possible, let's |
| compounds from the water before they decompose | | | | just say that the air bubbles inside the skimmer's |
| into nitrogenous waste. | | | | body strip the water of undesirable waste |
| Next to primary biological filtration, foam fractionating, | | | | by-products. How the bubbles accomplish this is a |
| better known as protein skimming, is the next most | | | | neat trick that needs some explanation. |
| important aspect of any healthy marine system. | | | | It was discovered long ago in waste treatment plants |
| Although there are systems that claim to be | | | | that by injecting high volumes of air bubbles into a |
| "skimmer-free", for most of us dissolved organic | | | | column of waste water, the resulting effluent was |
| compounds, phenol oils, and other yellowing agents | | | | purer and much cleaner than before. And this is all |
| are a pain in the neck that only active protein | | | | down to surface tension. This is the interaction |
| skimming can get rid of. | | | | between the oxygen bubble and the surrounding |
| Protein Skimmers are an first-class accessory to the | | | | water which creates a kind of friction between the |
| marine fish tank. Protein skimming is the exclusive | | | | two. This friction in turn "charges" the molecules in |
| form of filtration that physically removes organic | | | | the water. |
| compounds before they start to break down, | | | | Playing on the old Physics Law of "opposites attract", |
| reducing the burden on the biological filter and | | | | the charged gunk molecules "stick" to the bubbles, |
| improving the water's oxidation-reduction potential. | | | | riding them up the column of water. Once the |
| The fundamental principle of protein skimmers is to | | | | bubbles reach the surface air they burst, depositing |
| effervesce or foam the water so that the muck and | | | | their hitchhikers into a collection cup. This collection |
| waste bi-products get collected and you are able to | | | | cup keeps the accumulated gunk from slipping back |
| dispose of it. | | | | down into the water column inside the reaction |
| There are many different types of protein skimmers | | | | chamber. |
| available on the market. The most widely used is the | | | | The larger the volume of air and the smaller the |
| needle wheel or pin wheel protein skimmer. This is a | | | | bubbles then the more surface area there is to |
| small connector which is placed over the water pump | | | | attract the proteins and the more efficient the |
| and churns the water to create the necessary foam. | | | | skimmer. |
| This is widely believed as the best form of foam | | | | So a Protein Skimmer really does help with keeping |
| fractionalisation. Other methods available are air stone | | | | your water quality to a good standard as well as |
| based or high pressure direction nozzles | | | | keep your fish healthy. |
| Before we look into the subject matter any deeper, | | | | |