Should I use a protein skimmer on my Saltwater fish tank?

The protein skimmer is not anything new to the saltwater fish aquarium world. Although, they have gained in popularity over the past few years. There are many different brands and styles to choose from.
So what does a protein skimmer do?

The process of protein skimmering is very simple. Most skimmers work by pulling water into a long tube shaped cylinder and then injecting air into the water via a venturi valve. This will create a bubble vortex which will then remove the disolved organic compounds from you water. This is a very effective way of maintaining you saltwater tank.

There are several different styles of protein skimmers but we have found that the venturi driven skimmer is not only effective but also very affordable. Price ranges are anywhere from $50 - $500 online. When selecting a protein skimmer it is important to make sure you purchase one that will handle the capacity of your tank. I have seen successful setups that only run on a skimmer and nothing else. If this is something you are interested in doing, it can be very effective in combination with a tank that also has live rock and possibly a small standard filter to remove large debris.

Every aquarist will tell you something different so its vital to do your research before purchasing anything. There is a lot of information about this topic freely avaiable on the Interenet. You can also get lots of free tips and information online at http://www.fishtankarticles.com

Larry Blenn is a long time aquarist with many articles and websites on the subject. You can get lots of free saltwater fish tank articles and info at http://www.fishtankarticles.com