Do You Need a Protein Skimmer?

Aquarium fish keeping has always been thought as an very satisfying and rewarding pastime. This delightful and fascinating activity is becoming progressively well-liked among the American public. If you love to keep fish as pets, then learning to maintain your fish tank or pond is of absolute importance for the well-being and contentment of your fish. Running a protein skimmer is one aspect of tank maintenance that must never be ignored.

A protein skimmer is a filter that removes unwanted proteins and other organic residue present in the water before they start rotting to become harmful and toxic nitrogenous waste like ammonia and nitrite. Skimmers are quite simple in design – it comprises of a glass chamber to store a column of water, a bubble generator and a waste collection cup.

Why Use a Protein Skimmer?

When a skimmer is installed, streams of bubbles from a bubble generator are pumped into the water column to create a huge water/air interface. This interface attracts most of the unwanted organic molecules due to their hydrophobic (water-repelling) nature. This accumulation of organic waste continues till the water/air interface gets thicker and foam formation starts. The foam forces the accumulated waste to the top of the water column, where it gets transferred into a waste collection cup and removed by emptying the cup. Therefore, a protein skimmer is sometimes called a foam filtrator.

What a Protein Skimmer Does

Other than getting rid of organic wastes and residue from the water, a protein skimmer also does the following:

- Remove some inorganic impurities like phosphates.

- Remove any toxins released by corals or invertebrates present in the aquarium.

- Ease the load on the biological filter.

- Restricts algae build-up and removes bacteria.

- Increases the oxygen level in the water.

However, it may also destroy natural food sources like plankton and trace elements like iodine, which are required for reef aquariums.

How to Use a Protein Skimmer?

Positioning is the one of main factors while using a protein skimmer. For maximum efficiency, it should be the first device in the filtration system. It can be placed inside the tank if space allows or outsidethe tank. Remember, for your protein skimmer to work efficiently, you need to maintain it from time to time – the larger the collection cup, less often the cleaning. A tiny collection cup may require emptying on a daily basis.

How to Select a Good Protein Skimmer?

Firstly, you must decide on its placement. Secondly, think about how much time you are willing to invest on its maintenance. Most importantly, how much money you are willing to invest and whether you want any add-ons like an ozonizer. Protein skimmers are available in a wide range of designs, sizes and prices – the more costly ones require less maintenance and are easier to install. Whatever the case, try to buy a protein skimmer with a large collection cup. Also remember, the more powerful the bubble generator, the more efficient is the protein skimmer.

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John Roberts is the webmaster of PondCreation101.com. Visit his site for more free tips on how to create your very own pond in your garden.