Protein Skimming, also know as Foam Fractionation, is a very important method of water filtration. Basically it works like this, large volumes of water are pumped into an acrylic cylinder along with equal amounts of air and as the air and saltwater mix foam is produced. Proteins such as wastes rise to the top of this foam and are then removed from the system. The greatest benefit of skimming is that you remove the waste from the system before bacteria degradation takes place thus preventing excessive nitrate production.
Over the years skimmers have become complex and in many instances quite expensive. Cheaper skimmers can be a waste of money becasue they just don't work well but you do not have to buy the most expensive models to get a good quality skimmer. Generally I have had good luck with the traditional downdraft style skimmers. Many of the newer recirculating needle wheel skimmers are excellent too. My best advice would be to ask some other hobbyists in your area about the brand of skimmer they have and their opinions on how well it works for them. A local reef keeping club is an excellent source for such information.
Regardless of the exact brand you choose, a good quality skimmer is a very valuable piece of equipment and should be chosen wisely. It is the single most important piece of equipment that will produce the best results in keeping your aquarium clean.
To maximize the power of your skimmer keep it clean, I clean all of mine on a daily basis. A simple wiping of the top interior part of the skimmer is all that is usually needed on a daily basis and once a month it should be dismantled and cleaned thoroughly. When shopping for a skimmer be aware of the ease of cleaning for each model, some models are very difficult to access for cleaning and should be avoided. A dirty skimmer will not work at peak efficiency and can result in deteriorated water quality in your aquarium.  | 
01-02-2007, 04:41 PM
