Protein Skimmer Article/ Data

[Nick James]

I came across this article which is very long (I skipped the math equation sections o.0)

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/1/aafeature

I know it is 6 years old but it highlights some important information regarding protein skimmers.

What I have concluded based on this article is that they are saying:

1. protein skimmers really are not that great at removing total organic carbons 30-35% from our tank water.

2. Some of the cheaper brands work better than some of the expensive brands. Ie. Precision Marine at $160 out performed Bubble King and Royal Exclusiv at $500-700.

3. The volume of water a skimmer can hold drastically effects their efficiency at removing TOC. Bigger the better.


I thought about posting this bc in my reading I always see "what's the best protein skimmer?" And the answers are all over the place. In the end, they are all nearly the same at doing their jobs, kinda.. Other methods of removing organics appear to be more efficient than skimming.

If I have misinterpreted this article or if anyone has contradicting or different information please post it. I'd love to do some more reading.

 

[Nighthawk26]

What other methods for removing organics are you/this article suggesting to be better?

Aside from that, it's human nature to say whatever you bought is the best. Just the way it is. Unless you have a horrible experience with a product, and even then people tend to defend until there is nothing left to defend.

 

[Nick James]

What other methods for removing organics are you/this article suggesting to be better?

I am not suggesting anything. Just read the article and was posting it for everyone to read and discuss.

It doesn't mention what would be better I suppose because they were only testing skimmers. If anyone has insight or tests/articles on other methods please post.

 

[Skim]

Activated Carbon will remove 60 - 90 % of Organics. Purigen would be another good choice, after reading that article and some others and some of my own observations I believe Skimmers are just another filter that removes Particulate and Oxygenates the water. If you go to there site they have articles on Carbon and Analyzing Skimmate. Most of what is in Skim is poop, Algae, uneaten food, Micro Crustaceans which is what they think is why Calcium and Mag. levels were so high in the skimmate. Diana Riddle did a report on Nitrates, and her main question was where do they go. High levels of Nitrate go ragging up from the depths along the Outer Reef to the Crest and by the time the water go across the Reef Flats, Nitrates are almost totally gone, so where did they go, No waves no large Algae forests. But lots of LPS and Sponges, apparently Sponges are the Livers of all Coral Reefs. I can't remember how much, but the amount of water that even 1 Large Sponge filter is hard to believe( OK I just looked it up and one example was 1,000 L /Kilo of Tissue per day ). This says it much better.

 

[BigReefer]

can i put a bag of carbon in a bottum of a sock???

 

[Skim]

NO! Not to one that is filtering your water entering your sump as it will pulverise it and your skimmate will be black and Corals may not be happy. You can put it in a bag and add to the sump where there is good flow. This is a passive use but still can be quite effective.

 

[Nick James]

can i put a bag of carbon in a bottum of a sock???

Make sure you get the grass stains out first!