This month I’m deviating from my usual animal-related subjects and writing about something that is in my opinion ever critical to the successful
saltwater/reef system and the keeping of marine ornamentals: protein skimming. For those of you who are new to the marine side of things, I’ll describe the
purpose of and actual mechanical function of this exceptional piece of equipment. It’s something you won’t want to be without and also something you won’t
want to “skimp” on when you set up your system.
Protein skimmers, or foam fractionators, are simple devices that perform an invaluable service in assisting us in greatly reducing the DOC’s (dissolved organic compounds)
in our saltwater/reef systems. Protein skimmers perform the function that is implied by their name: they skim protein (protein = dissolved organics = fish waste, uneaten
food, etc.) out of your aquarium water. A high quality protein skimmer is a critical component of a successful saltwater/reef system. It performs a simple process. Water is
drawn by a pump into the column of the protein skimmer where the water is mixed with air via a venturi (air intake tube) on the pump to create micro bubbles in the column
of the protein skimmer (also known as the air/water interface). As the bubbles rise up into the neck of the skimmer, they collect protein (dissolved organics that stick to the
bubbles) from the water. As the bubbles reach the neck of the skimmer and lose water, they turn to foam which continues to rise up the neck where the bubbles begin to
burst. As they burst, the protein that was attached to the bubbles collects against the walls of the neck of the skimmer and ultimately overflows into the collection cup of
the skimmer in fluid form. You simply unplug the skimmer and remove the collection cup on a regular basis (preferably weekly or more frequently depending upon
need), empty and clean it, and return it to do its job again.
There are different types of protein skimmers from which to choose, including hang-on models, in-sump models, and external or in-line models. Hang-on skimmers
do just that; they hang on the back of your aquarium, and the pump to draw water into them sits down in the tank. In-sump skimmers literally sit right in your sump
below your tank. External or in-line models are hard-plumbed right into your aquarium plumbing, usually feeding right into the skimmer from your overflow. The size
and type of protein skimmer you choose will be dependent upon the size of your tank and relative bioload (number of fish present and generating waste in your system)
and the type of set up you choose (with or without a sump, etc.).
Protein skimmers are not all equal, so please ask us about a high quality skimmer for your system. As this is a critical part of your success, you
will want to select a suitable and high quality skimmer for your application. We have used many different skimmers and our favorite is the in-sump ASM G Series. It’s
simple to set up, performs well at any water level, and has a simple quarter-turn removal for the collection cup! Best around!
Thanks for visiting our website and reading our article. We hope you enjoyed it. Keep reefing, and we’ll see you at All-Reef!