Dallas Aquarium Experts Recommends Protein Skimmers on Saltwater Aquariums and Reef Tanks
Protein Skimmers
Have you ever noticed the foam left when waves crash on the shore as you walk along the beach? The foam is composed of protein and waste. Protein skimmers attempt to mimic the action caused by these aerated crashing waves. Protein skimmer physically removes dissolved organic compounds and other substances from a saltwater aquarium and are an important part of aquarium filtration and saltwater aquarium maintenance. These organic compounds are products of uneaten fish food, fish waste, and decomposing matter. Protein skimmers remove the wastes before they are broken down into nitrates. This means higher water chemistry for your saltwater aquarium.
Choosing a Quality Protein Skimmer
Here is what you need to know when choosing a protein skimmer. The size of the bubble is very important. Smaller bubbles rise more slowly in the water column than larger bubbles, giving them more time for organic compounds to attach to them. Smaller bubbles also have more surface area to which organic compounds can attach.
The water column in your protein skimmer should be almost white with bubbles. This means there will be millions of bubbles in the water column. If there is a lot of water with just a few bubbles in the water column the skimmer will not efficiently remove organic compounds.
An efficient protein skimmer will have thick, dark colored waste in its collection cup. If the waste is watery and pale or yellow in color adjust water level.
A skimmer that is too small will not operate effectively and will require more maintenance than one that is sized correctly for the gallons in the aquarium. Skimmer sizing on retail packaging can be general, and it may be prudent to purchase a skimmer that is rated for a larger aquarium if space and budget allow.
Here are two proteins skimmer we recommend to our saltwater aquarium service clients.
Quantum 160 Skimmer
Made in Germany
High performance skimmer for tanks up to 250 gallons
Built to perform
Extreme performance. Very smooth operation. Low power consumption. Easy to maintain.
Extreme performance
Performance, performance and once again performance. NYOS® Quantum® is characterized by high skimming performance as a result of the large amount of air in combination with and optimum air-water mixture.
Very smooth operation
Aquariums should be seen and not heard. That is NYOS® Quantum® is especially silent when running and therefore can hardly be heard.
Low power consumption
NYOS® Quantum® is conceived to be especially energy efficient and uses a minimum of power, despite its huge performance.
Easy to maintain
Consistently strong skimming and simple settings are a joy. For this reason, NYOS® Quantum® is especially easy to maintain and provides the same consistent level of performance over a long period of time. Reliable pump starts are a matter of course.
7 Great Features
1. The new NYOS® Hybrid Wheel
The heart of every skimmer is its propulsion. That is why we have developed a new high-performance drive for the Quantum®: the Hybrid Wheel. This especially precisely manufactured impeller, built with superlight materials, combines the advantages of a needle wheel and a lattice wheel. The Hybrid Wheel is characterised by its lattice-shaped base, on which numerous very narrow needles are mounted. This structure ensures that countless extremely fine micro air bubbles are generated. The greatly reduced weight and the high precision lead to lower maintenance and at the same time low energy consumption.
2. NYOS® Clear-View Reactor (not available on Quantum 120)
The hybrid wheel needs a pump chamber that is specially adapted to it. That is why we have developed the NYOS® Clear-View Reactor. The Clear-View Reactor is a transparent, performance-optimised large-volume reaction chamber in which the water-air mixture is generated. In combination with the hybrid wheel and the adapted venturi nozzle, it produces an extreme air performance with an optimum air-water ratio. Its transparency means that any foreign bodies can be identified easily. At the same time it is possible to see the huge performance of the pump in operation. Stylish and practical!
3. The NYOS® Twister
Extreme air performance and the finest bubbles are one thing. But in order to achieve optimum skimming, the bubbles that are generated must also remain in contact with the water for as long as possible. That is why, in addition to our normal bubble plate, we have developed the saw-blade shaped Twister. This gives the bubbles an additional spin and swirls them further in a vortex. This greatly increases the contact time of the air bubbles in the water column.
4. Combination of form and function: the Sinus design
Water doesn’t like corners. That is why we have developed a flow-optimised, protected double-S form. In this so-called Sinus design the air bubbles can rise without hindrance and completely free, ergonomically so to speak, without the formation of poor-flow zones at disruptive corners.
5. Precision and details
A good idea must be implemented perfectly to the very last detail. Each Quantum® is therefore characterised by the following: 1. Extremely non-breakable high-performance waves from zirconium dioxide (strength 1600 MPa Vickers hardness) 2. Nine sea-waterproof screws from pure titanium grade 2 3. Precise micro-adjustment screws to fine-tune the water level 4. Full decoupling by means of silicone feet 5. Skimming pot with twist-lock seal 6. Ready-to-use plug-and-play device
6. Optimised, variable setting options
Each aquarium is different. That is why NYOS® Quantum® can be adapted individually to all aquarium conditions: water quantity and air quantity can be set separately and independently of each other. An approximate setting of the water level is achieved by means of the water setting pipe, while the especially precise micro-adjustment screw, which is also included, allows an additional fine-tuning of the water level.
7. Compact construction yet can be dismantled completely
We represent compact, well thought-out solutions. NYOS® Quantum® deliberately does not use any externally mounted, bulky pumps. For us it is self-evident that the device must be able to be dismantled completely.
Technical Details
- Pump: Quantum® 3.0
- Air max.: 1500 l/h
- Power: 18 W
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 7.29" x 9.85" x 20.87" (18.5 x 25 x 53 cm)
- Tank Size: 100-250 Gallons (250-1,000 litres)
- Recommended Sump Water Level: 8"-10"
- Made in Germany
Classic 150-SS Protein Skimmer 210g
Features
- Small Footprint - Big Performance
- Removable Turbulence Reducing Bubble Plate
- Disassembles for Cleaning
- Quiet Operation
- Latest Output Design for Bubble-Free Cleaned water
- Solid Construction
Filtration Handling
- 210 Gallon – Light Filtration Demand
- 180 Gallon – Medium Filtration Demand
- 120 Gallon – Heavy Filtration Demand
Technical Specs
- Body Size: 6"
- Footprint: 7.3" x 9.45"
- Total Height: 20.8"
Output Size: 1.25” - Note: Recommended Sump Water Depth: 7.5”-8"
- Aquatrance 1800s Pinwheel Pump
- Wattage: 11w
- Air Draw: 480 lph / 17 SCFH*
- Water Draw: 140 GPH*
- *Air and water results will vary depending on aquarium setup
Warranty
2 year manufacturer’s warranty on pump/1 year on rotor/impeller and 1 year on skimmer body