Protein Skimmers
Essential to every tank, skimmers remove waste substances with millions of tiny bubbles – essentially removing waste before it becomes biologically active.
About Protein Skimmers
- Internal Filter Unit -
Protein skimming is a mechanical process for removing waste and substrates from saltwater at a primary stage, long before they can be treated biologically or chemically.
Basically a protein skimmer creates a huge water/air interface area by producing millions of tiny bubbles in a confined space to which the surfactants become attracted. As the bubbles rise naturally, an oily scum is produced at the surface which is continuously pushed up by the pressure of the foaming column below it overflows into the waste collection cup. Here the bubbles burst and a liquid residue is captured, ready for disposal. Its colour may vary from dark brown to yellow.
It follow that the more bubbles there are, and the longer they are kept in suspension the more efficient the skimming process will be. Studies on the most advanced models indicate that up to 80 percent of all organic waste can be removed from the aquarium fitted with a protein skimmer.