Aquarium Filter | Protein Skimmer Aquarium Filter

Protein Skimmer Aquarium Filter

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One of the best mechanical aquarium filter methods around is the protein skimming method, also know as foam fractionation. Ammonia and nitrile compounds are extremely toxic to fish in the aquarium tank and protein skimming is used to prevent them. This type of aquarium filter will produce bubbles that create a foam where organic compound are trapped and remove into the collection cup. Being the only type of filter that will physically remove organic compound from the aquarium water, protein skimming is an important part of a salt water aquarium. To buy a protein skimming aquarium filter, it is recommended to buy a larger one as it is easier to underskim than overskim.

Types of Aquarium Protein Skimmers

Downdraft Protein Skimmers

Uses a motor to create a high pressured water stream that will be forced into a column. Within the column, there will be small little balls to convert the air in the water into small bubbles. The bubbles will then be released back into the aquarium tank.

Venturi Protein Skimmers

Create a mixture of tiny bubbles and water via the use of a venturi valve, hence the name. This type of aquarium filter will sometimes spin up a vortex to increase contact interval between bubbles and water. Without a column like the Downdraft model, venturi protein skimmer are small and can be hidden under the tank.

Counter Current Protein Skimmers

Counter current protein skimmers also know as air driven protein skimmers use airstone to produces small bubbles and water mix. The airstone are mostly made of wood or glass. This type of aquarium filter are quite maintenence intensive as you need to replace the airstone regularly. It is also a dual pump system that uses a air pump to drive the air stone and a water pump to drive the water through the protein skimmer.

Needle Wheel Protein Skimmers

As the name suggests, this type of aquarium filter uses a needle wheel to slice and dice the water into a mixture of fine bubbles and water. This will create a pseudo vortex a la Venturi Protein Skimmers that will maximise the time between the bubbles and water. A specialised pump is needed in this type of aquarium filter.

Which do you prefer?

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