Protein skimmers are an important piece of equipment that most people use on saltwater tanks.
They are very effective in removing organic waste and improving the overall health of your system.
Of course, like any piece of equipment, they are only effective when working properly.
Protein skimmers will produce foam as microbubbles deliver waste to a collection cup where they can be removed.
If the skimmer is not producing foam properly, it will underperform and be less effective in keeping your tank healthy and clean while removing organic waste.
6 Reasons why protein skimmers have poor foam production include:
- Poor design
- Break-in period
- Low bioload
- Air adjustment
- Dirty/clogged components
- Bubbles not reaching the cup
#1. Poor Design
The actual design of the protein skimmer plays an important role in its effectiveness.
The purpose of the skimmer remains the same regardless of the design but how well it works depends greatly on its design.
There are higher-end protein skimmers that are more expensive and have better design features than cheaper skimmers.
A high performing protein skimmer is what we all want to have on our tanks.
A skimmer that has a poor design will underperform and produce less foam regardless of the settings we set.
Read: 13 Reasons why you need a protein skimmer
#2. Break-In Period
All protein skimmers when new will go through a period of time where they need to dissipate any contaminants from manufacturing.
This break-in time will vary depending on the skimmer itself. They are all different. Some will have a very short break-in period and others will be longer.
During this time it is common for a protein skimmer to not produce foam. It will mostly overflow water and microbubbles until it settles in.
#3. Low bioload in your system
If you have a lower level of dissolved organic compounds in the water, the less foam the protein skimmer will produce.
The opposite will happen if you have a high bioload and high levels of organic compounds in the water.
Low bioload = less waste and less foam produced by the skimmer
High bioload = more waste and more foam produced by the skimmer
#4. Air adjustment
The right amount of fine-tuning and air being allowed into the skimmer is crucial for its overall performance.
All protein skimmers rely on the proper amount of air being allowed to mix in the chamber to produce microbubbles.
If you have too much or too little amount of air, the skimmer will not produce the right amount of foam and it will not be effective in removing waste.
Many skimmers require a fair amount of fine-tuning to get it set just right. But once you find the sweet spot, it will perform great.
#5. Dirty and clogged components
All pieces of equipment will require maintenance and cleaning over time.
Protein skimmers should be cleaned often to prevent components from clogging up which will decrease their performance.
Saltwater tanks are famous for salt to precipitate on and in certain tubes, pipes, valves, etc.
The collection cup will become dirty including the neck which will need to be cleaned regularly.
Also algae, calcium can form inside these components causing a reduction in foam production from the skimmer.
Once cleaned, the skimmer will return to the normal amount of foam being produced.
#6. Bubbles not reaching the collection cup
It goes without saying that if the microbubbles don’t reach the collection cup, waste can not be removed.
Foam production by the skimmer won’t happen unless microbubbles reach the cup and overflow into it.
You can adjust the amount of air going into the skimmer which will allow the microbubbles to reach the collection cup.
If too many bubbles rise to the top of the skimmer neck, less foam and more liquid will be produced.
If not enough bubbles are allowed to rise to the top of the neck, less foam will be produced as well along with no liquid. This is not effective.
You will need to find the proper setting for your skimmer to allow the right amount of air bringing microbubbles to the top of the skimmer cup neck which will then release foam into the cup for removal.