Tip of the Day – 12/18/2013

When it comes to aquarium filtration, one might assume that going with the largest and most powerful water treating device would be ideal. While it is true in some cases, going bigger can have its drawbacks, especially when it comes to protein skimmers. Many hobbyists intentionally go with a skimmer that has a tank rating larger than their tank’s actual volume. This allows for the aquarium, or at least its bioload, to grow over time with the skimmer still being able to keep up. Some hobbyists, however, go way too big, which presents a particular set of issues. For protein skimmers to operate efficiently, they need to maintain a steady foam head. If the skimmer is too large, it will remove waste in bursts instead of at a constant rate, which means that more waste will be accumulate in the aquarium before it is removed. Of course, all of this is moot if the skimmer isn’t properly rated. On occasion, manufacturers are a bit generous with their figures.