Contrary to what some people would like you to believe, protein skimming ain't rocket science. Skimming is no more than injecting air bubbles into a water column, twirling them around for a bit, then skimming off the crud (proteins) that they collect. Exactly how different protein skimmers do this is a bit of an art, however. Here are the simple nuts and bolts of protein skimming. Understanding the principles makes it easier to find the right skimmer for your saltwater aquarium.

More: Top In/On Tank Protein Skimmers If you are planning to install a protein skimmer in or on your aquarium, these are the ones you will want to see. Compare Prices and save $$.

More: Top In/On Sump Protein Skimmers Compare prices on these state of the art sump mounted protein skimmers.

Some aquarists believe a QT is a waste of time and money, thinking that fish can stave off disease, parasites or infections on their own. Most experienced aquarists would disagree, having seen entire aquarium systems wiped out by the introduction of a new critter which brought a disease with it. You can decide for yourself if a QT is worth it.

More: Cheap, Easy DIY Quarantine Tanks. QT's don't need to be fancy or cost a lot of money, they just need to work.

Flash View the Top Cup & Sun Coral Species Photo Gallery, submitted to About Saltwater Aquariums for display in the Gallery, on coral photo pages and for entry in About Saltwater Aquariums Reef Tank Photo Contests.



Forums: Coral suggestions: I looking for some suggestions for corals to add to my tank. I have used up all of the real estate on the top of my rock formation, but there are lots of partial shade and full shade sports along the front of my rock wall....

Photo By Robert Bailey

When you start seeing those little white spots on your fish, quickly determining if it is Velvet (Oodinium) or White Spot (Cryptocaryon) Disease makes all the difference in the world if you want to cure it. Learn the difference between these two types of saltwater Ich, how to diagnose and properly treat each one.

More: Top Saltwater Ich Medications Which treat Ich and other parasitic infestations. Some of these are reef safe, others are not, so read the reviews carefully. You might want to keep this in your Aquarium First Aid Kit for immediate treatment when an outbreak occurs. Rapid treatment of Ich is best for a rapid and complete cure.

More: Saltwater Ich (Cryptocaryon) Life Cycle Shows when the Ich parasite can be treated.

More: Osmotic Shock Therapy A simple, effective, chemical free treatment for Saltwater Ich.

Forums: DF Puffer with Ick? My Dog Face Puffer has all of a sudden shown signs of ick. He has tiny white spots on ...