A protein skimmer is a fairly specialist piece of equipment whereby if you don’t know what one is, you probably don’t need to know either. A protein skimmer isn’t some sort of modern diet tool, but instead is a vital piece of equipment in modern aquaria, particularly saltwater aquaria. Protein skimmers (sometimes also known as foam fractionators) work by introducing a stream of bubbles into the water, and those bubbles then attract away organic compounds that would otherwise decompose in the water, producing harmful phosphates and nitrates.

There are effectively two different types of method by which a protein skimmer may work, and various ways in which a protein skimmer can be situated within an aquarium.

The first way in which a protein skimmer may work (commonly called Co-Current) is by a collection chamber being placed at the top of the skimmer and introducing air at the bottom of the skimmer, which being air, rise and skims the water as it does so, collecting the organic compounds and leaving them in the collection chamber for later collection.

The second way in which a protein skimmer may work (commonly called Counter Current) is by pushing air against the flow of water by pressure. In theory this is a more effective method of organic compound removal than just by using air and gravity.

There are various questions that you will need to ask yourself before buying or upgrading a protein skimmer. The first is how easy is it to use? There is no point getting the most complicated model on the market with all the bells and whistles if it is too complicated for you to use. You need to be able to install, uninstall, and maintain it (and particularly empty the collection chamber) without undue fuss. The second question to ask is whether the model you are thinking of is sufficient for your needs. Again, there is no point buying a model of protein skimmer for a small tank that is designed for a large tank, it will struggle to do the job. Finally, there is the question of noise. You will want a model that is as quiet as possible but without trading off silence for efficiency. Protein skimmers are usually either sump-mounted or hang in the tank itself, and you will have to work out for yourself which is the most appropriate type for you.

A good example of a protein skimmer that works by the second method described above, is the AquaticLife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115. Retailing at approximately $60, this fits inside the tank, and is almost silent when operational, with the difference noticed within 24 hours. An example of the first type that can be hung in a tank can be found at http://www.aquariumguys.com/protein-skimmer-counter-current-small.html. This is a very simple, inexpensive and easily installed protein skimmer that is ideal for smaller aquarium tanks, and comes in three different sizes depending on the size of your tank.

It may seem at first that buying a protein skimmer can be a bit of a confusing minefield of jargon and methods. Hopefully this article will have simplified for you just how a protein skimmer works, as well as pointing you towards a couple of options for your protein skimmer purchase.