Protein Skimmers In Saltwater Aquariums
Saltwater aquariums contain uneaten foods and waste products like fish urine and feces. If you do not like the thought of this think about how your tank inhabitants feel, they must swim, eat, and drink in this dirty water that you have them living in, and they cannot escape, it you should be ashamed of yourself !
Excessive waste and food will eventually break down into unhealthy organic compounds such as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Since waste eventually break down into un-desirable substances that build up in the aquarium over time, it is a good idea to remove them before they build up and. The best protein skimmers for sale will easily remove such substances before they build up. Because protein skimmers are so important in saltwater reef aquariums you should check out the best protein skimmers you can afford before you buy.
Please note that protein skimmers do not work with freshwater aquariums because the surface tension of freshwater is too low. Protein skimmers have become an extremely important part of most healthy saltwater fish, and saltwater reef aquarium.
To understand how they work you must first understand about the molecules that they are designed to remove. Each individual, complex, organic molecule often will have an end that is water soluble and that is attracted to water (hydrophilic) and an end that is not water soluble and is repelled by water (hydrophobic.) When saltwater aquarium water inside the protein skimmer is mixed with thousands of tiny air bubbles, the hydrophobic part of the organic molecule is attracted to the air inside the bubble. The hydrophilic part is attracted to the water outside the bubble. Thus, the organic molecule is stuck to the air-to-water interface of the bubble. On windy beaches, this substance washes up as sea foam. In the saltwater aquarium, these dirty bubbles end up in the protein skimmer’s collection cup.
On windy beaches, this substance washes up as sea foam. In the saltwater reef aquarium, these dirty bubbles end up in the protein skimmer’s collection cup.
The best protein skimmers remove more than just organic molecules. They also remove small amounts of several other harmful substances. In fact if you are adding additives to your saltwater aquarium if is sometimes recommended that you turn the skimmer of temporarily so the additives are not removed by it.
In addition to cleaning the water your protein skimmer will add oxygen to the saltwater aquarium.
The more the bubbles and the smaller they are, the more effective the unit will be. Also, the longer the bubbles stay in the skimmer contacting water and organic molecules, the more effective the unit will be.
Small skimmers that hang on the back of aquariums are desirable because they can work in small saltwater aquariums that do not have a wet dry filter sump area.
Various manufacturers, including Red Sea and others make some of the best protein skimmers that hang on the back of the tank. Manufactures even provide tiny protein skimmers for nano reef tanks.
More powerful mid-sized, larger, and even massive protein skimmers sit in the sump under the tank.
You check out some of the best protein skimmers for sale here.