What Kind of Protein Skimmers Are Out There?
There are a variety of protein skimmers available from a number of different manufacturers, but in general there are two types: in-sump protein skimmers and external protein skimmers. In-sump protein skimmers sit in the sump of your saltwater aquarium, which is usually a basin that also contains the aquarium’s main biological filter. External protein skimmers sit on the outside of your aquarium and typically hang on the side, taking water in through a tube and expelling cleaned water back into the tank via a spillway. Do I Need a Protein Skimmer? Protein skimmers are essential for any saltwater aquarium that contains live rock. Live rock is a porous stone that contains microorganisms like copepods that provide food for fish and invertebrates. Because of the high volume of copepod detritus, protein skimmers are essential for removing the resulting biological material before it can be broken down. Protein skimmers are also required for any aquariums containing coral or octopi, as both pr
