| A protein skimmer is a filtration device used in marine | | | | aspirating/needle wheel skimmer that works, be |
| tanks (they do not work in freshwater) which | | | | prepared to spend 100s of dollars (and in the case of |
| employ a chamber with a column of fine bubbles. | | | | the ASM Protein Skimmer they REALLY work) |
| Surface tension attracts organic waste to the | | | | The ASM Protein Skimmer is the ONE skimmer in this |
| bubbles & carries it through the column (called | | | | category that I can recommend based on the high |
| foam fractionation); then it is "skimmed" into a | | | | end marine aquarists that use it. What differentiates |
| collection cup. This process Protein skimmers use to | | | | this aspirating skimmer from the rest is that has a |
| remove nitrogenous wastes (protein based organic | | | | unique "custom" impeller housed in the specifically |
| waste) is also called foam refraction. The protein | | | | modified Power Head that chops the bubbles very |
| skimmer collects this waste in a cup, where it is then | | | | finely. Another aspect of this aspirating skimmer is |
| emptied (either by hand or a drain as in larger "Pro" | | | | that it combines a venturi with its custom meshing |
| models). | | | | needle wheel pump. The negative to the ASM Protein |
| Protein Skimmers come in pump driven and air driven | | | | Skimmers is the price, as these units will retail over |
| models. Within the pump driven there are different | | | | $700 + dollars. |
| types: Venturi, Aspirating, Downdraft, and spray | | | | Downdraft |
| injection; the first two being most common. | | | | A downdraft protein skimmer injects water under |
| Protein skimmers generally only work in marine | | | | high pressure into tubes that have a foam or bubble |
| aquariums where they are very popular in reef | | | | generating mechanism then carry the air/water |
| aquaria, as they are often needed to keep nitrates | | | | mixture down into the skimmer and into a separate |
| below .20 ppm for the delicate marine invertebrates. | | | | chamber. This design is generally used in large |
| Venturi | | | | aquarium systems uses tubes with plastic media |
| Of the pump driven Skimmers, the co-current Venturi | | | | (often bio balls) inside to mix water under high |
| models are the most common and popular. This style | | | | pressure and air in the body of the skimmer resulting |
| uses a water venturi pump (sometimes referred to | | | | in foam that collects protein waste in a large |
| as an aspirator) which is used to introduce the | | | | collection cup. |
| bubbles into the water stream. The tank water is | | | | Spray Injection |
| pumped through the venturi, in which fine bubbles of | | | | The Spray injection skimmer ( a take off from the |
| the correct size and number are introduced then | | | | Downdraft Skimmers) uses a pump to power a |
| enters the skimmer body. | | | | spray nozzle, set a few inches above the water level. |
| However not all venturi skimmers are equal, some of | | | | The spray action entraps and shreds the air into very |
| the more basic designs such as the Bak Pak work | | | | fine bubbles in the base of the unit, which then rises |
| well, but the newer designs such as the V2 Skim by | | | | to the collection chamber. |
| Tropic Marine also has a patented Bubble Stop in | | | | The Spray Injection Skimmer is a fancy new name |
| which the skimmer is fed 'dirty' water from the | | | | for the Downdraft style Skimmers which work well in |
| aquarium as a means to re-circulate water within the | | | | the large industrial size environment in which they |
| skimmer multiple times before it is returned to the | | | | were originally designed for, however this design |
| sump or the aquarium. | | | | does not lend itself to small sizes well. |
| The Tropic Marine V2 Skim is one of the better ones | | | | This style skimmer also can clog with time; also one |
| with the latest in technology. This skimmer has a | | | | of the more popular models of this is sensitive to |
| venturi injection system which optimizes the perfect | | | | water levels and can be temperamental when used in |
| mixture of fine air bubbles and water and ensures | | | | a sump environment. |
| intensive, efficient skimming and the removal of | | | | These skimmers are really being hyped and over |
| proteins and other harmful toxins (waste) from the | | | | promoted, but personally I would recommend |
| aquarium. This Skimmer also has a Bubble stop | | | | steering clear of these units, not that do not work, |
| feature that essentially re-skims the water as well as | | | | however for the same price a V2 Skim will far out |
| prevents bubbles/foam from re-entering the | | | | perform it and for far less money you could probably |
| aquarium. For advanced Marine Aquarists (or even | | | | do just about as well with a Rio Nano Skimmer or a |
| beginners looking to step up) this is the Protein | | | | Via Aqua Multi Skimmer |
| skimmer I would strongly recommend. Each time | | | | Basic Skimmers, (Skimmer filter combinations) |
| water is re-circulated within the skimmer any air | | | | A couple of basic skimmers for beginners; Via Aqua |
| bubbles in that water sample are destroyed and new | | | | Multi Skimmer with small to medium aquariums is |
| bubbles are generated by the re-circulating pump | | | | relatively simple, with a mechanical filter cartridge, bio |
| venturi apparatus so the air-water contact time | | | | filtration ability, and most of all the Multi Filter has a |
| begins again for these newly created bubbles. | | | | built in UV Sterilizer combination. |
| For the money, this is the best Protein Skimmer you | | | | For a really simple protein skimmer for a Nano tank I |
| can buy unless you are willing to spend several | | | | recommend the Rio Nano Skimmer. |
| hundred dollars more for the ASM skimmer. | | | | Conclusion |
| Aspirating; Needle Wheel | | | | Please beware of claims of some high priced |
| An aspirating Protein Skimmer generally uses an | | | | skimmers such as Spray Injection models as these |
| impeller which consists of a mesh material that is | | | | units do not have the contact time (due to short |
| attached to a plate or central axis on the rotor. The | | | | small reaction chamber) to maximize protein |
| purpose of these modified impellers is to chop the air | | | | refraction. Although units such as these due have |
| that is introduced via a venturi apparatus or external | | | | excellent size and volume of bubbles, the small size |
| air pump into large amounts very fine bubbles. This | | | | of the reaction chamber minimizes effectiveness so |
| style (such as used in a model by Coralife) is gaining | | | | that one of these units may perform better than |
| popularity; however this style still has some bugs in | | | | similar size entry level skimmers such as the air driven |
| that not all of the impellers used by these always | | | | Lee's or the Rio Nano/Via Aqua Multi Skimmers |
| chop the air bubbles properly due to anomalies in the | | | | venture skimmers; the price at nearly $200 is |
| flow and impeller design. Part of the problem with this | | | | nowhere near the increase in effectiveness over a |
| style skimmer is that it does NOT lend itself to cheap | | | | Rio Nano Skimmer (or similar) that costs under $30 |
| low cost designs, so quite bluntly if you want an | | | | as a price vs. increase in effectiveness comparison. |