themartins
Aquarium Advice Freak
Can you tell me the difference between a surface skimmer and a protein skimmer?
surface skimmer vs protein skimmer
- Thread starter themartins
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
dmolavi
Aquarium Advice Addict
surface skimmers pull the film from the surface of the water. traditional protein skimmers draw from deeper in the water column.
i don't believe that surface skimmers (like this one) actually get the proteins out of the water. If you agitate the surface (with a powerhead, etc), the film won't develop and the protein skimmer will take care of all of it.
some HOB protein skimmers also skim the film from the surface (like the Reef Octopus BH90).
i don't believe that surface skimmers (like this one) actually get the proteins out of the water. If you agitate the surface (with a powerhead, etc), the film won't develop and the protein skimmer will take care of all of it.
some HOB protein skimmers also skim the film from the surface (like the Reef Octopus BH90).
themartins
Aquarium Advice Freak
Thank you for the explanation. That makes sense to me.
dmolavi
Aquarium Advice Addict
No problem. I'm actually going to try to modify a HOB filter that I have to use as a surface skimmer on my 20 gallon nano. If it works, I'll post pix in the DIY section.
dmolavi
Aquarium Advice Addict
BTW, where in southern Maine? My parents live on Mt Desert Island, and I'm taking the family up there this summer to visit. It would be neat if I could find some additions for my tanks while I'm up there, but the transport back would be an issue.
