PROTEIN SKIMMERS

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Protein Skimmers:

If you ask most aquarists, most will tell you that a protein skimmer is essential for the long-term success of a marine aquarium.  But what are they, and how do they work?

These devices remove harmful organic substances from your aquarium before they can cause the water quality to deteriorate.

Basically the skimmer produces fine air bubbles as it draws aquarium water into a pump.  Dissolved matter adheres to the air bubbles which float up into the "reaction chamber" where it falls away and collects at the top of the skimmer in the collection cup.  The cleaned water returns to the aquarium from the outer cylinder of the skimmer.

There are three main types of protein skimmers:

• Air-operated protein skimmers are mounted inside the aquarium and are well suited for smaller aquariums.  
• Venturi skimmers are high-powered units, operated by a water pump that draws water into the bottom of the skimmer through a venturi tube that draws in air to create a mass of bubbles.  
• Turbo skimmers have air injected directly into a turbo pump with a modified 12-blade impeller that chops up the air and water into a super-fine concentrated mix.

For a detailed look at setting up a nano reef aquarium, see our helpful ehow article.

In the next blog, we'll talk about Temperature Difference and follow up with External Filters.

Thank you for reading. Your comments are always welcome.

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