All About Protein Skimmers & How They Work

Good water quality is paramount to the health of your saltwater aquarium, and one of the most important reef or fish tank supplies you can own for this purpose is a protein skimmer. Protein skimmers remove the waste and uneaten food that decays and pollutes water. These dissolved organic compounds are the waste molecules that skimmers are designed to remove before they have a chance to break down. If the purpose of filtration is to provide fish with clean water, a protein skimmer would be considered the foundation of that service.

What Protein Skimmers Are

If you’ve ever gone to the beach and seen foam sitting on top of the water, it was actually a gigantic system of natural filtration at work. The sea acts similar to a protein skimmer, but on a much grander scale. Using nothing but air bubbles and water, a skimmer extracts the waste and dissolved organics and injects high levels of oxygen into the water. There are only three components that make up a protein skimmer:

• The body, where most of the contact between the dissolved organic compounds and the water takes place
• The rise tube, where the foam is separated from the water
• The collection cup, where the foam accumulates until emptied

How They Operate

The water and the air mix together, causing a vortex that creates small bubbles. The waste adheres to the surface of the air bubbles, just like metal is drawn to a magnet. These bubbles rise to the top of the water and the protein skimmer pumps the polluted water through itself into a collection cup. Once in the cup, the bubbles slowly burst and the waste binds to the sides of the collection cup.

Caring for Protein Skimmers

Depending on the aquarium’s needs, protein skimmers need to be cleaned on at least a weekly basis. Cleaning is a simple process using nothing but clean tap water. The water inside the skimmer can be dumped into a toilet or down a drain. Using a toothbrush or other small brush while running the skimmer under water, brush the waste that has accumulated on the inside walls until all debris is removed. Take care to remove any debris on the outside of the cup before replacing it back in the aquarium.

Advantages of Using Protein Skimmers

There are numerous benefits to using a protein skimmer:

• Improves water clarity and slows down yellowing and aging by removing the dissolved organics
• Diminishes the presence of algae due to a phosphate reduction
• Promotes the pH stability of water 
• Increases oxygen levels and promotes proper gas exchange 
• Removes only surface waste so light penetration increases
• Allows the primary filtration system to perform more efficiently
• Enhances the health and vigor of the fish

At Aquatic Warehouse, we carry a wide selection of high-quality protein skimmers, but that’s not all. We also carry all the items you need to care for a fish tank as well as koi pond supplies if you have an outdoor pond. Browse our website, visit our store in Kearny Mesa, or give us a call at 858-467-9297.