ETS's
Down-Draft Skimming
Also known as Down-Draft skimmers, these models use a
long tube connected to a sump with nothing more than an internal baffle
plate and a drain valve. Inside the long vertical tube, bioballs are placed
to diffuse the high velocity water that is injected at it's top. As the
water shoots down over the bioballs, it is smashed and resmashed on the
tower of bioballs. By the time the water reaches the sump at it's base,
the water is a white sea of foam. The baffle inside the sump creates dwell
time and allows the protein-rich froth to rise up into a wide-mouthed tube
with the collection cup mounted above it. These designs can process huge
volumes of water and are favored by big tank owners.
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Layperson's Guide to Protein Skimming