Red Sea Reefer Skimmer Mode D'emploi page 8

RED SEA REEFER™ Skimmer
Introduction to protein skimming
Protein skimming (also called foam fractionation) can be considered as a
form of fine mechanical filtration since it is a physical process of removing
substances from the water. Whilst a mechanical filter removes large
particles such as uneaten fish food, a protein skimmer removes suspended
or dissolved organic waste and invisible particles from the aquarium water.
The advantage of protein skimming lies in the fact that waste material
is continuously removed, separating it from the water flow. The waste,
suspended in foam, is then collected into a cup where it is no longer
in contact with the aquarium water. In contrast, the dirt collected in
an ordinary mechanical filter stays in contact with the water flow. A
mechanical filter should therefore be cleaned very regularly; otherwise
bacteria will decompose the collected dirt into harmful dissolved organic
material.
A successful reef aquarium should have both a regularly cleaned
mechanical filter and an efficient protein skimmer as the first and second
stage of the water treatment process.
Why is protein skimming important?
Protein skimming plays a very important role in reducing the amount of
dissolved organic material in your aquarium water. This material consists
of protein, carbohydrate and fat fragments together with other waste
produced by the living organisms in the aquarium.
Since these could break down to potentially harmful materials to the
aquarium inhabitants, rapid removal is essential.
Efficient removal of dissolved waste also helps to:
• Limit the build-up of harmful organic compounds including dissolved
organic carbon, nitrogenous components (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)
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and phosphates.
• Reduce the quantity of harmful floating bacteria, since bacteria need
dissolved organic material in order to grow and reproduce.
• Increase ORP (Oxidation, Reduction potential also known as REDOX) and
dissolved oxygen levels.
• Prevent the development of slime algae (Cyanobacteria or blue green
algae). The main food source of these primitive algae (dissolved
organic material, nitrate and phosphate) is kept at a very low
concentration.
REEFER Skimmer Ratings
™
The REEFER Skimmers are rated according to Red Sea's REEF-SPEC
™
criteria that includes a water throughput, water to air ratio and contact
time necessary to efficiently strip pollutants from the water. Powered
by the Sicce PSK pumps, the stated air and water flow rates are actual
measurements of these pumps when running on the REEFER
Model
SPS rating (L/Gal)
Mixed Reef rating (L/Gal)
Fish Only rating (L/Gal)
Pump (Sicce)
Air flow (lph/gph)
Water flow (lph/gph)
Total Height (cm/inch)
Recommended Water Height
®
Skimmers.
™
RSK-300 RSK-600 RSK-900
300 / 80 600 / 160 900 / 240
600 / 160 1200 / 320 1800 / 500
900 / 240 1800 / 500 2700 / 740
PSK-600 PSK-1000 PSK-1200
500 / 130 750 / 195 900 / 235
1000 / 265 1500 / 400 2000 / 530
53cm / 21" 56cm / 22" 59cm / 23"
16-20cm 18-20cm 20-24cm
6-8" 7-8" 8-9"