| Protein skimmer The protein skimmer is a relatively | | | | filter serves will create an oxygen rich environment in |
| new addition to the aquarium filter group, and is one | | | | which this type of bacteria can thrive and break |
| of the main factors behind the increased interest in | | | | down waste products. You can choose between |
| marine aquariums. The protein skimmer makes it | | | | many different designs when you purchase your wet |
| much easier to remove organic waste from the | | | | dry filter, by they are all based on the same main |
| aquarium. Marine creatures are usually very sensitive | | | | principle. |
| to organic waste, since they are native to the ocean | | | | In a wet/dry filter, water will be pumped from the |
| where organic waste is immediately diluted by the | | | | aquarium. A rotating spray arm or a drip plate will |
| enormous water mass. | | | | then dispense the water over a material that is |
| A protein skimmer consists of a tall tube in which | | | | suitable for bacteria colonization. This is way the wet |
| bubbles are formed. As the bubbles rise up through | | | | dry filter sometimes is called "trickle filter"; water will |
| the tube, small organic compounds will become stuck | | | | trickle down over the colonized material. Bio-tower is |
| at the surface of the each bubble and follow them | | | | another popular term for this type of filter. The |
| up to the surface. As the bubbles reach the surface, | | | | colonized material is kept in a wet/dry filter chamber. |
| they will collapse, and the organic waste is collected | | | | As mentioned above, the aim of the wet/dry filter is |
| in a cup from where it can be removed by the | | | | to provide a good home for a thriving colony of |
| aquarium keeper. | | | | aerobic bacteria and a high level of oxygen is |
| A great benefit with the protein skimmer is that is | | | | therefore desirable. As the water trickles through the |
| will catch organic waste before any decomposing | | | | holes of the trickle/drip plate before landing on the |
| process starts. Unfortunately, you can not go out | | | | colonized media, it will become heavily aerated and |
| and get a protein skimmer for your normal tropical | | | | thereby contain high levels of oxygen when it |
| freshwater aquarium, because the process that | | | | reaches the bacterial colony. The aerobic bacteria will |
| makes the protein skimmer work depends on salty | | | | perform biological filtration, and the water is then |
| water with a high pH value. If you on the other hand | | | | pumped back to the aquarium. |
| are planning to set up a saltwater aquarium, the | | | | A problem with the wet/dry filter is that it can easily |
| protein skimmer is a very good investment. A vast | | | | become clogged by larger debris. You can avoid this |
| majority of those who keep delicate saltwater | | | | by filtering the water before it reaches the wet/dry |
| aquariums, such as reef tanks, will have a protein | | | | filter. You can for instance use a sponge, some filter |
| skimmer, since it can be very difficult to keep the | | | | floss or a micron filter to remove larger particles |
| levels of organic waste products low enough without | | | | from the water before they reach the wet/dry filter. |
| one. | | | | It is also common to place the wet/dry filter after a |
| Wet/Dry filter The wet/dry filter is basically a form | | | | protein skimmer. The wet/dry filter is more popular |
| of biological filter. The wet/dry filter is a way of | | | | among saltwater aquarium keepers than freshwater |
| encouraging colonization of aerobe bacteria. Aerobe | | | | aquarium keepers, but it will work in freshwater. |
| bacteria needs oxygen to survive, and the wet/dry | | | | |