robbie6467@hotmail.com

will a protein skimmer help remove ammonia

diver28

Hmm, I think it will help prevent ammonia by preventing nitrates and nitrites to form however once ammonia is being generated I'm not sure how effective it is at taking out ammonia.

But the right protein skimmer IMO is a must for filtration.

GreenMan13

Thats right. Skimmers will not take out ammonia they only remove stuff that turns into ammonia. They are a must for almost every saltwater tank.

sirdarksol

Why you need a protein skimmer

Check this thread out. The stuff in that jar would eventually break down into ammonia (which would, in turn, break down into nitrites, and then nitrates, all of which can harm your tank)

Peterpiper

diver28,
You are on the right track. All organic matter will break down to ammonia, the bacteria then uses the ammonia for food and transforms it to nitrite. Other bacteria uses the nitrite for food and transforms it to nitrate.
Once our tanks have been cycled, we do not see the ammonia or nitrites. This is thanks to all the bacteria, what we do see is nitrates.
What we aim to do is reduce organic matter before it breaks down to ammonia.
By using a protein skimmer, you are removing organics before they break down to ammonia.
Once the organics have broken down to ammonia, the skimmer will not remove them, but the bacteria will transform then to nitrates.