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Water Quality (page 4)
Protein Skimmer: Protein skimming is the other component along with live rock that has dramatically improved the success rate of the hobby
by providing a better means of removing waste and thus providing clean water for corals and fish that come from water
that is almost devoid of nutrients. Protein skimming utilizes the hydrophilic and hydrophobic aspects of various compounds
in saltwater to remove unwanted compounds from the aquarium. There are several types of skimmers on the market including
counter-current, venturi, downdraft and hybrids of these various methods. Regardless of what type of skimmer is employed
they all work by producing air bubbles and having the water from the tank come into contact with these bubbles. When these
bubbles come into contact with saltwater, electrochemical factors come into play that cause surface active compounds to
adhere to these bubbles and be removed in the foam.
These compounds not only include proteins and amino acids but also include molecules containing copper, magnesium, calcium and manganese as well as detritus, phenols, micro algae and plankton. A properly functioning skimmer will remove much of the waste from the water before it is broken down by the bacteria on the live rock. By having a good protein skimmer and adequate live rock the water quality of a reef tank can be maintained a high level without the need for much other filtration equipment. The skimmer chosen should be matched to the size of the aquarium. It is generally preferred that the skimmer be slightly over rather than undersized for the aquarium it will be used for. This will allow for heavier stocking, which we all usually do, and will also allow for a greater margin of error should something die in the tank. The skimmer should be run continuously and during the curing of the live rock it may have to be emptied daily until the large amount of organics released from the rock are removed. If there is one piece of equipment not to skimp on when setting up a tank it is the protein skimmer. |
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