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Protein SkimmerA protein skimmer, also known as a foam fractionator is a device used mostly in saltwater aquariums to help filter undesirable contents out of the water. What exactly it pulls out is still open to debate, though a large majority of it is proteins, but it clearly removes some plankton, amino acids and various undesirable proteins. The basic design consists of a main chamber where water from the aquarium is passed though at a static rate. Air is injected to the column causing small bubbles to form. The surface of the bubble collects proteins and other substances, and carries them to the top of the device, where a collection cup allows the foam to leave the main chamber, and collect. Here it decomposes to a liquid, which is removed as needed. A standard piece of equipment in modern saltwater fish tanks, the benefits of such systems are highly published. It has been suggested that protein skimmers remove a minuscule amount of waste, and a lot of it is beneficial. Popular use outweighs this clearly, and thus far tanks using a protein skimmers are successful. Skimmer types There are four basic ways of injecting air into the column, and there are vocal proponents of each way. This is a ceramic block with an air hose attached that runs to a small vibratory air pump. This method has been around for many years, but is not considered efficient enough for larger systems. Downdraft This method simply crashes a high volume of water though a smaller vertical column next to the main column, that contains a plastic media that shreds the water, entrapping air in to the stream. The premise behind these skimmers is that a venturi can be used at the input to pull air in to the water stream. The Beckett 1408 is a highly efficient venturi that is generally considered to be the best on the market at this time. Spray Induction This method uses a pump to power a spray nozzle, fixed a few inches above the water level. The spray action entraps and shreds the air in the base of the unit, which then rises to the collection chamber.
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