Protein Skimmers?

Question

On the internet i've heard a lot about protein skimmers, but not a lot about exactley what they do or how they work. I've read of people who make their own, and i've seen their plans but i can't figure it out. What importance are they to the aquarium?

Answer 1

Protein skimmers remove nitrogenous wastes (protein based organic waste) via foam refraction. The protein skimmer collects this waste in a cup, where it is then emptied. There are pump driven and air driven models. Protein skimmers generally only work in marine aquariums where they are very popular in reef aquaria, as they are needed to keep nitrates below .20 ppm for the delicate marine invertebrates. The advantages are that they remove nitrogenous waste before they can go thru the nitrogen cycle and become nitrates. The disadvantages are they are messy, take frequent adjustments (at least on many commercial models), and in my experience, over rated especially for marine fish aquariums. I also have kept many reef aquariums successfully with and without protein skimmers although I do recommend protein skimmers for reef aquariums (I believe lighting such as metal halide is more important to a successful reef aquarium than a protein skimmer).
This all said they are basically useless in freshwater.

These devices are one the devices available in the aquarium hobby that has a lot of anecdotal opinions around it that are not always backed up by facts.
I have maintained 1000s of tanks commercially many of these marine with and without Protein Skimmers and the statistical facts due not always support the opinions.

For more filter information (including protein skimmers), please read this article:
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Filtration.html

Answer 2

Protein skimmers use an air pump to create millions of tiny bubbles, like a foam. These bubbles trap organic solids to prevent nitrate buildup in saltwater aquariums, but only in saltwater. The companies that make protein skimmers claim they work for saltwater, but anybody who has ever tried it did not notice much of an effect if at all. Protein skimmers rely on the high hardness of saltwater to create the foam. Freshwater does not have a high enough hardness for the bubbles to be strong enough to make foam, rendering the protein skimmer useless.

Answer 3

they're very important to saltwater tanks but unimportant/unnecessary to freshwater tanks.

"A protein skimmer is one of the most important components of an aquarium. It removes organic pollutants before they break down (which, in turn, helps to keep a higher water quality for your fish and thus reduces the frequency of water changes required)."