Saltwater Filtration: How Protein Skimmers Enhance Aquarium FiltrationWhat are protein skimmers for aquariums?
Protein Skimmers are supplemental filtration devices essential for successful marine aquariums. By effectively removing protein and other organic waste materials, protein skimmers maintain a healthy aquarium environment. Protein skimmers allow the primary filtration system to perform more efficiently and also provide numerous other benefits for superior water quality and clarity. How do protein skimmers help with active waste removal?
Protein skimmers rely on the chemical process adsorption to remove organic waste materials from the water column. Waste materials adhere to the surface of the air bubbles and are literally pulled out of the water. A vigorous mixture of air and aquarium water within the protein skimmer reaction chamber generates thousands of these protein-skimming micro-bubbles. As these micro-bubbles travel through the skimmer, waste clinging to the bubbles is condensed and transported into the protein skimmer collection cup. This active waste-removal process employed by protein skimmers allows mechanical, chemical, and biological filtration to work more efficiently. What is mechanical filtration in aquariums?
Mechanical filters improve water clarity by physically trapping and removing visible particles from aquarium water. While you may not see the trapped waste material, it is still part of the aquarium water column. If mechanical filter media are not cleaned or replaced in a timely manner, the trapped waste breaks down and various pollutants including ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate are released into the aquarium. What are the advantages of protein skimmers in mechanical filtration?
In contrast, protein skimmers extract organic waste material out the water column. The foamy waste material, or skimmate, contained within the collection cup, is completely removed from the water column, and cannot release pollutants back into the aquarium. What is chemical filtration in aquariums?
Similar to protein skimmers, most chemical filter media rely on the principle of adsorption. However, as the waste-binding surfaces fill up on conventional chemical filter media, the effectiveness of the media diminishes. In certain cases, the harmful chemicals leach back into the aquarium if the chemical media is not replaced. What are the advantages of protein skimmers in chemical filtration?
Since adsorption occurs on the surface of each bubble, a properly maintained protein skimmer provides a near endless supply of waste-binding surfaces. This continuous supply of waste-removing bubbles perpetuates efficient waste removal without need for replacement media or fear of pollutants leaching into the aquarium What is biological filtration in aquariums?
Biological filtration breaks down harmful nitrogen compounds by means of aerobic beneficial bacteria. Ammonia and nitrite are converted into the less toxic compound, nitrate. While nitrate is less toxic, sensitive reef invertebrates, including corals, do not tolerate nitrate even in low concentrations. Many saltwater aquariums do not have the appropriate conditions to facilitate efficient de-nitrification to render nitrate into harmless nitrogen gas. As a result, nitrate levels can build up to harmful levels. What are the advantages of protein skimmers in biological filtration?
Protein Skimmers are supplemental filtration devices essential for successful marine aquariums. By effectively removing protein and other organic waste materials, protein skimmers maintain a healthy aquarium environment. Protein skimmers allow the primary filtration system to perform more efficiently and also provide numerous other benefits for superior water quality and clarity. What are the secondary benefits of protein skimmers?
The many secondary benefits of protein skimmers improve the overall health and quality of water in your marine aquarium. In addition to efficient waste removal, protein skimmers also:
Question :
Why does my protein skimmer produce foam? Anwser :
Protein skimmers create thousands of fine bubbles to efficiently remove waste materials from the aquarium water column. The air bubbles attract and condense these waste materials into scummy looking foam and transport it to the collection cup for convenient removal Related Articles
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