Surface Skimmer/protein Skimmer

[Jer-]

Hi everyone

I was wondering whether Surface skimmers also remove protein from the tank?

cos from what i know, Protein residues tend to collect on the surface of the water yea? and if a surface skimmer can remove surface scum... then, does that mean a surface skimmer is also a sorta protein skimmer?

any opinions please...

thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

Most surface skimmers will NOT remove proteins. You need a true microbubble refractionator (skimmer) to remove organic proteins...

Organic proteins will accumulate at the air-water interface (water surface) but that is only a minor fraction of all the proteins dissolved in the system (<10%). A fully-functioning protein skimmer is needed to remove all dissolved organics

 

[Jer-]

thanks mate

but is it necessary to have a skimmer? its not eh?...

from what i know, skimmers allow u to be more lazy and perform water changes only once a month right?

thanks

 

[SkiFletch]

The choice of using a skimmer or not really should be made depending on tank size and inhabitants. Skimmers are beneficial with larger tank volumes (30g plus), when messy predators are kept, in highly stocked tanks, or when keeping moderately sensetive corals.