Protein Skimmer Question

Daddyrawg · 05/23/2018, 09:11 PM

Does it lower Nitrates?

Daddi0 · 05/23/2018, 09:15 PM

It removes waste which keeps nitrates down
Cheers! Mark

mcgyvr · 05/24/2018, 06:11 AM

It can remove organic matter (food/poop,etc...) before it breaks down into nitrates..

In a tank with 10ppm of existing nitrates a skimmer will not lower that number but can help prevent it going higher..
In general though its not very effective at what it does (I think someone has calculated like 30% efficiency at best)...

There are also some studies showing that it has a negative effect on bacterial counts over time...
It is absolutely not a necessary piece of equipment and many tanks do just fine without one..

05/23/2018, 09:11 PM	#1
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	Protein Skimmer Question Does it lower Nitrates?

05/23/2018, 09:15 PM	#2
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	It removes waste which keeps nitrates down Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

05/24/2018, 06:11 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	It can remove organic matter (food/poop,etc...) before it breaks down into nitrates.. In a tank with 10ppm of existing nitrates a skimmer will not lower that number but can help prevent it going higher.. In general though its not very effective at what it does (I think someone has calculated like 30% efficiency at best)... There are also some studies showing that it has a negative effect on bacterial counts over time... It is absolutely not a necessary piece of equipment and many tanks do just fine without one.. __________________ Who me?