What is a protein skimmer?

Question

What is a protein skimmer, and can you only use them on marine aquariums?

10points for best answer... no links please....

Answer 1

You can use them in any aquarium, but they aren't very effective unless the tank is saltwater.

There are a few different designs, but the basic components are a pump (to move the water), a column or box chamber, a method if introducing fine air bubbles, and a collection container.

Their purpose is to remove small organic particles and dissolved proteins in the water. The proteins are the result of decomposition or digestion of food and dead organisms. These proteins have an "end" that's attracted to the air-water interface. So the particles are drawn into the chamber where a stream of fine bubbles is injected. The particles adhere to the surface of the bubbles and are pushed upward (by the bubbles beneath) into the collection cup, where they can later be removed. This prevents the organics from decomposing further where they can add to the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate inthe tank (and thereby reducing the nutrients available for algae growth).

The reason why these aren't as effective in freshwater is that the water density (specific gravity) is lower, so the size of the bubbles is larger, giving less surface area for the organic particles to adhere, so not as much protein can be removed.

Answer 2

A protein skimmer is in fact properly called a "Foam Fractionator" and it is a form of filter that works on the molecular level to remove substances from sea water that other filters can not.

Answer 3

In my adventure the Reef Octopus is by using a procedures the terrific product for the money in terms of cost and build high quality, and to the terrific of my understanding performs the terrific of those indexed. stay remote from purple Sea skimmers as they have a tendency to be of a extremely shoddy build high quality and don't carry out everywhere close to as nicely as their pricetag would justify, nor Coralife or modern-day us of a. i've got heard solid issues approximately viaAqua, and a few approximately AquaMedic, although the two a sort of tend to be extremely costly. If it became me i'd surely decide for the RO unit, regardless of if in the experience that your money can stretch to it, a Deltec or a Tunze are additionally impressive strategies.