Quote:
Originally Posted by tmz
The water a protein skimmer pushes to the cup will pass along some small amounts of dissolved nutrients like a very small water change will as Jon noted.
The rising flow action in the skimmer will also push along bits of this and that algae detritus bacteria etc.
|
Very small particles like bacteria and phytoplankton are not pushed along but rather experience similar forces as molecules that adhere to the water air interface. Shine a black light on skimmate and you are likely to see it fluoresce due to all the phytoplankton chlorophyll. This amount of phytoplankton would not accumulate by entrainment of debris in the aquarium water. In addition, some of the solids or slime seen in the skimmate are likely material that has agglomerated or precipitated as a result being concentrated in the foam.