Marine Aquarium Society of North America

Tip of the Day, Aquarium Advice, Aquarium Tips | AquaNerd

Tip of the Day – 9/23/2012

By: Brandon Klaus

Protein skimmers are arguable the single most important piece of filtration equipment on our marine and reef aquariums, and in general they are rather efficient at removaing dissolved organics and easy to set up and maintain. Unfortunately, they do have an Achille’s heel, so to speak. Protein skimmers are very reliant on air and water flow through their pumps in order to perform properly. And because even the slightest things can alter the volume of air and/or water the pump draws, a protein skimmer can work very poorly if not placed at the manufacture’s suggested water depth and if it’s not cleaned and maintained regularly. So, to get the most out of your protein skimmer, monitor it daily and be sure to take it offline every few months for a thorough cleaning and inspection.


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