Why Do I Need a Protein Skimmer?

Protein skimmers are expensive and bulky. Many people wonder if maybe they can do without this saltwater aquarium accessory. Once the protein skimmer's function is understood, people understand how vital it is to having a healthy and beautiful salt water tank.

  1. What Is a Protein Skimmer

    • A protein skimmer usually resembles a tube. This tube can be small or quite large, depending on the size of the tank it is in. The skimmer pulls water through it and forces bubbles through the water so contaminants rise to the top. From there, the waste molecules are "skimmed' off the top and moved to a collection chamber, which needs to be cleaned on a regular basis.

    Why Use a Protein Skimmer

    • A protein skimmer removes large waste molecules from the water that would otherwise break down into toxic forms. Because the price of salt water is so much more than that of fresh water, it is much more cost-effective to outfit a tank with a a protein skimmer than to replace water when the tank is cleaned. In addition, the removal of large molecules can help increase the lifespan of other filters.

    Types of Protein Skimmers

    • There are two main types of protein skimmers: in-tank and out-of-tank skimmers. An in-tank protein skimmer is an enclosed skimmer that is placed in the tank. The out-of-tank protein skimmer is connected to the tank through a tube. Both are highly effective in cleaning the water of large proteins and molecules.

    Not Just Protein

    • Protein isn't the only molecule the protein skimmer clears. Any large molecule can be caught on the bubbles and brought up to the chamber where you'll later skim them off and out of the water.

    Another Name

    • The protein skimmer is also known as a foam fractionator because it creates a foam at the top of the tank to remove all large molecule impurities.