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What is a Protein Skimmer and what does it do?
“Protein Skimming” or “Foam Fractionation” is a process of removing Dissolved Organic Compounds (DOC’s) from seawater by way of ionic attraction and adhesion. DOC’s are ionically attracted to the surface of the tiny bubbles created by the skimmer pump or airstone.
As the bubbles rise in the skimmers “Reaction Chamber”, their surface becomes coated with these DOC’s and when they reach the top of the skimmer, they condense in a frothy head called “Foamate”, much like the billows of foam you might find on the seashore after a storm. The foamate is pushed over the “Neck” of the skimmer where is falls down into the "Cup" and liquefies (like beer when it over-foams in a glass). This concentrated liquid is called “Skimmate” and is a collection of DOC’s, algae, miscellaneous floating particles, and water.
The removal of this DOC’s is critical in providing optimal water quality in closed marine aquarium systems. If the skimmer is correctly sized for the system, it will be able to remove most if not all of the DOC’s before they become oxidized by nitrifying bacteria. Since the job of these bacteria is to convert DOC's into Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate, subverting this process is ideal since the goal is to limit the accumulation of Nitrates and other toxins in the system.
How to choose the right skimmer for your aquarium
Choosing the right skimmer for your aquarium is all about what we call the "Bio-Load".
When a skimmer can handle the bio-load of the system, it will actually “idle” when the level of DOC’s drops low enough to limit fractionation. i.e., there aren’t enough DOC’s to form a stable head of Foamate.
When a skimmer cannot handle the bio-load, it will continuously be creating foamate and skimmate and never “idle”. This is a clear indication that the skimmer is undersized for the system and should be upgraded or modified to handle the existing bio-load.
Most skimmer manufactures base their system rating or capacity on one simple premise: Economy
While this rating system makes it look like you are getting more bang for your buck, in most cases it will do little to actually achieve the purpose of a protein skimmer! To get the most out of a skimmer and optimize your investment dollars, you must purchase a well engineered, properly rated protein skimmer. At Euro-Reef Aquarium Systems, that's exactly what we do.
We were THE FIRST manufacturer to publish realistic ratings for our protein skimmers and we continue that tradition and conviction to this day. We offer both "Realistic" and "Comparative" ratings for all of our products so that you can properly compare them against the competition.
To learn more about choosing the right skimmer for your aquarium, look here for the complete article. Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions about choosing the right protein skimmer for your aquarium system, we'll be happy to help!