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From a historical perspective, the invention of the protein skimmer or foam
fractionator may be the single most important advancement in reef husbandry.
Before the invention of the protein skimmer, reef aquariums were nearly impossible
to maintain. The water would quickly foul and the inhabitants would die off
in a matter of days. Only recently have other methods surfaced that are remotely
comparable at maintaining consistently clean water. A protein skimmer is actually
a simple device consisting of a mixing tower, a circulation pump, and some method
of air mixing. The effectiveness of a protein skimmer relies on its ability
to create a thick flow of tiny air bubbles in the mixing chamber. Dissolved
organic compounds adhere to the bubbles and are collected towards the top of
the skimmer unit. The removal of the dissolved organic compounds acts as a preemptive
filter of sorts. The dissolved organic compounds are removed before they have
a chance to break down into nitrogenous waste products.
There are several technologies that produce foam consistently. The more popular
methods today include air-stones, venturi valves, downdraft designs, needle
wheels, and foaming fountain jets. On Internet message boards, there is an active
debate on which technology produces the best foam. Having personally used all
the above technologies, all I can say is that they all work. If you feel more
comfortable using one method over another, by all means use it. The performance
difference between the different methods is negligible, but there are other
factors to consider such as ease of maintenance, noise, and the electrical efficiency
of the pump. For example, downdraft skimmers and fountain jet skimmers (Beckett
skimmers) require significantly large pumps compared to the other designs. Airstones
while by far the most electrically efficient require more in the way of maintenance.
As algae builds up on the air stone, the skimmer's ability to make consistent
foam is greatly diminished.
If you are starting into this hobby, we recommend the use of a protein skimmer
before attempting any other method of filtration. Skimmers come in all shapes
and sizes. Their cost also varies substantially from model to model. We believe
that it is better to purchase a more expensive skimmer that is known to work
over a less expensive model with mixed reviews. The quality skimmer may cost
up to three times as much as the bargain skimmer, but the difference in performance
is significant.
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