It All Becomes Clear Using a Red Sea Protein Skimmer

Everybody recognises there are 100s of alternatives when it comes to buying a protein skimmer for your fish tank. But narrowing your selection down does not have to be a difficult job. First of all, the protein skimmer is among the most important item of equipment you'll purchase. Don't skimp on this purchase. Buy the largest, branded, well performing skimmer you are able to afford.


While looking for a protein skimmer keep in mind that a lot of these are overrated for the size fish tank they can handle. It's recommended that you buy something that can cover more than the size of your aquarium. So for example if you've a 50 gallon fish tank, buy a skimmer rated for at least 70 gallons. This will save you many headaches long-term with being forced to buy another skimmer because you purchased one that was too small.


Needlewheel, Venturi, or Beckett? This is a common question and is not really that hard to choose between them. Many people are biased on the different methods and swear by what they've used. All of them perform very well if you purchase the right brand.


When you're ready to take the plunge make certain to research your purchase. Make sure you buy from a reputable company. Keep one's distance from company's that mass produce every type of aquarium product available as these products are usually inferior cheaply-made items. Go with a company who specializes in a few products and has proven results. Red Sea for example only produce a small range of skimmers and these are all high quality devices.


When organic wastes are deposited into your aquarium, the bacteria in your tank will then turn this waste into nitrogenous matter. This is something that can be extremely harmful to the fish that live in the aquarium and if it is not taken care of it can even be life threatening. The skimmer in your tank can just about get rid of this waste as quickly as it's formed, which means a a good deal healthier environment for your fish. Skimmers can also be useful in getting rid of other substances that can form in the tank such as carbohydrates, fatty substances, and even elements that can be contained in organic molecules.


Essentially, if you really want to have a successful tank a protein skimmer can be one of the most important purchases you'll invest in. Protein skimmers are available in a broad range of designs, sizes and prices - the more costly ones require less upkeep and are easier to install. Whatever the case, try to purchase a protein skimmer with a large collection cup. Also remember, the stronger the bubble generator, the more efficient is the protein skimmer.

As a leading innovator and manufacturer of quality products for aquarium hobbyists, Red Sea constantly strives to provide hobbyists of all levels with highly effective solution-driven products designed to make your fish-keeping experience as enjoyable and successful as possible. The Red Sea Protein Skimmer achieves just that.

The Red Sea Protein Skimmer

A protein skimmer or foam fractionator is a device used mostly in saltwater aquaria to get rid of organic compounds from the water before they decompose into nitrogenous waste.
Next to primary biological filtration, foam fractionating, better known as protein skimming, is the next most important aspect of any healthy marine system. Although there are systems that claim to be "skimmer-free", for most of us dissolved organic compounds, phenol oils, and other yellowing agents are a pain in the neck that only active protein skimming can get rid of.


Protein Skimmers are an first-class accessory to the marine fish tank. Protein skimming is the exclusive form of filtration that physically removes organic compounds before they start to break down, reducing the burden on the biological filter and improving the water's oxidation-reduction potential. The fundamental principle of protein skimmers is to effervesce or foam the water so that the muck and waste bi-products get collected and you are able to dispose of it.


There are many different types of protein skimmers available on the market. The most widely used is the needle wheel or pin wheel protein skimmer. This is a small connector which is placed over the water pump and churns the water to create the necessary foam. This is widely believed as the best form of foam fractionalisation. Other methods available are air stone based or high pressure direction nozzles


Before we look into the subject matter any deeper, let's talk about how these products function.


To be as unscientific and as clear-cut as possible, let's just say that the air bubbles inside the skimmer's body strip the water of undesirable waste by-products. How the bubbles accomplish this is a neat trick that needs some explanation.


It was discovered long ago in waste treatment plants that by injecting high volumes of air bubbles into a column of waste water, the resulting effluent was purer and much cleaner than before. And this is all down to surface tension. This is the interaction between the oxygen bubble and the surrounding water which creates a kind of friction between the two. This friction in turn "charges" the molecules in the water.


Playing on the old Physics Law of "opposites attract", the charged gunk molecules "stick" to the bubbles, riding them up the column of water. Once the bubbles reach the surface air they burst, depositing their hitchhikers into a collection cup. This collection cup keeps the accumulated gunk from slipping back down into the water column inside the reaction chamber.


The larger the volume of air and the smaller the bubbles then the more surface area there is to attract the proteins and the more efficient the skimmer.


So a Protein Skimmer really does help with keeping your water quality to a good standard as well as keep your fish healthy.

Red Sea is widely recognized as a leading innovator and manufacturer of quality products for aquarium hobbyists and strives to provide hobbyists of all levels with highly effective solution-driven products designed to make your fish-keeping experience as enjoyable and successful as possible, and the Red Sea Prizm Protein Skimmer achieves just that.