General Types Of Protein Skimmers And How They Work
In any aquarium, one of the important things to maintain is water purity. Doing so ensures that your fish lives in a clean and sanitary environment, which then ensures their health and longevity. For saltwater aquariums, one of the necessary devices used to achieve water purity is a protein skimmer.
A protein skimmer is a device that initiates the process of foam fractionation or protein skimming. Basically, this involves the process of injecting air bubbles into the water supply to remove dissolved organic compounds. When the air bubbles come in contact with the water, the impurities in the water stick with the air bubbles and rise up as foam on the surface. The foam can then be collected and removed from the water supply. The sludge and the scum that results from this can be removed through a collection reservoir designed for this function. This leaves the water in the aquarium clean and sanitized.
The main considerations in the effectiveness of a protein skimmer are the following: the amount of air bubbles, the size of the air bubbles, and the dwell time or duration at which the air bubbles come in contact with the water. More air bubbles is better because this means that the water is purified more effectively. The optimal size of the air bubble is also important; bubble sizes of 0.5 to 1 mm are the best for water filtration. As for the dwell time, the longer the water is treated by the air bubbles, the better. If you have all these three qualities in a protein skimmer, you can be sure that the water is effectively purified.
As mentioned, there are several methods in having the air bubbles clean the tank’s water supply. There are three main methods or protein skimmer types that you can choose from. These are counter current, venturi, and turbo protein skimmers.
Counter current skimmers work by forcing air bubbles through water flowing in the opposite direction. Air bubbles are created through an air pump, while the water is forced through by a water pump. The contact between the air bubbles and water induces the filtration process. These types are usually in-tank, so they can obstruct your view of the aquarium and take up some space.
The venturi protein skimmer use water pressure and a venturi tube. Water is injected to a venturi tube in high pressure through a water pump. Since the venturi tube is constricted in the middle and has an air intake tube near the bottleneck, the change in pressure creates a vacuum, where air is sucked in from the intake tube that creates the air bubbles.
The turbo protein skimmer works by forcing pressurized water and air through a blade called an impeller. The blade chops the air bubbles into smaller bubbles for more thorough filtration. The water and air bubbles are then forced up a tube for better dwell time, and the foam is collected at the top of the tube. The clean water is then returned to the tank through a return valve. Turbo protein skimmers are also called needle wheel protein skimmers.
Your first consideration is the placement. Some types are placed inside the tank, while others can be placed on the rim of the tank. Some also require separate air and water pumps, while some can be integrated into your current filtration system.
The other consideration is price. With protein skimmers, the more expensive, the better the quality. It depends on the amount that you can spare for a protein skimmer. Remember that having a protein skimmer is a good investment in keeping the water in your aquarium clean and your fish healthy and happy.
Guss Fitzgerald is a professional author and aquarist. He has gained a great understanding of aquarium protein skimmers and other aquarium products from his several years of experience owning aquarium fish. To find out more about proper aquarium maintenance please visit MarineDepot.com.
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