2.2 Protein Skimmers
Description
This article is from the ReefKeepers FAQ, by several authors (see the Credits section).
2.2 Protein Skimmers
Required equipment. Don't undersize. Common wisdom is that you
can't overskim a tank. Many of the more available commercial
units are useful for tanks only in the 10-20 gallon range.
Anything shorter than about a foot tall is essentially useless.
Unfortunetly, there is no formula to determine the required size
of a skimmer. Amount of organic waste generating organisms (fish,
coral, live rock, etc.) will obviously be the primary variable.
All skimmers should be filled with TINY bubbles and have a milky
white appearance. Any skimmer that doesn't match that requirement
is not working optimally.
Two basic styles of skimmers exist: counter current air driven and
venturi driven. Both styles work fine, both have tradeoffs. Both
require tuning. Expect to spend some time over the first month or
so learning how to keep your skimmer tuned. Below is some
discussion about the two styles.
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