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3. Theory
Protein skimming is a method of physical water treatment. It uses a phenomenon known from our
daily experience: the adhesion of surface active substances to air water layers. If we add a drop of
oil to a water surface, a thin film is produced with a thickness of only one molecule. Surface active
compounds like proteins behave in the same way. The
Turboflotor Percula
uses its air bubbles to
create a large water surface for the waste substances to attach themselves to. These air bubbles
are forced into the reactor-pipe in a such a way that they undergo a long contact time within the
counter current. Enriched with organic substances, they rise to the top and form a firm foam, that
is dehydrated and pushed into the collection cup. This method removes organic wastes from the
aquarium water before they become part of the biological waste treatment cycle.
The venturi pump of the
Turboflotor Percula
draws the water out of the aquarium or the filter
chamber, mixes it in the pump housing with air, which is then cut into small air bubbles by the AB
Aqua Medic
needle wheel
. This water/air mixture is pumped into the reaction pipe where the
organic substances are taken up by the air bubbles. Foam is formed and is pushed into the foam
cup. The cleaned water flows to the bottom of the skimmer back into the aquarium or into the filter
chamber.
4. Set-up
The
Turboflotor Percula
designed for the use in the Aqua Medic Percula aquarium. Of course, it
can be used in any other well circulated filter chamber. For use directly in an aquarium, the
skimmer is not recommended, because the maintenance of the pump may be difficult. In the
percula aquarium, the skimmer is just placed in the firts filtration chamber of the filter – and can
be started.
5. Starting / Performance
The system can be started when the
Turboflotor
is correctly installed. After switching the pump
on, air is automatically drawn into the skimmer. To minimize the noise level, connect the air inlet
tube with the blue connecting piece of the silencer supplied. Fix the silencer with the holding device
on the aquarium or the filter system.
The needle wheel breaks the air into small bubbles. This method eliminates the greater proportion
of the noise. The quantity of drawn air should be adjusted so that 75 % of the reaction pipe is filled
with air bubbles. After the initial start, some hours may pass before the first foam is pushed into
the collection cup. This is due to a reaction between the surface of the acrylic glass and the
aquarium water. Equilibrium of electrical charges takes place. After a maximum of 24 hours, the
foam should push evenly into the collection cup. The quantity of liquid and organic substances is
dependent on the pollution of the aquarium.
Adjustments:
Due to the construction, air and water mixing is automatic and no adjustment is
required. It is, however, depending on the water level in the filtration chamber. In the percula
aquarium, this water level can be adjusted by means of the adjustment plate for the water level in
the inflow compartment to the trickle filter. This adjustment plate can also be used for the
regulation of the skimmer. If the water is heavily polluted, and the foam production is huge, the
bayonet socket (3) can be changed to the elongation piece (5). In this case, the cover of the
percula will not fit. After a short time, the foam production should be self regulated, so the short
bayonet socket can be used again and the elongation can be removed.
Air bubbles:
If the skimmer is added to an existing aquarium there may be a high concentration
of organic substances already dissolved in the water. This results in very tiny bubbles in the
skimmer. These tiny bubbles remove the organic substances effectively, however it may be that
some of these bubbles are drawn back into the aquarium. After a few days, the concentration of
organic substances will have decreased to such low levels that this effect will have gone and the
water flow is free of air bubbles.
Some types of frozen food may have the same effects. It is best to thaw and wash the food prior to
feeding it to the fish. The air bubbles will stop after a short period by themselves.
Wet foam:
With freshly prepared sea water, after using water conditioners or at extremely high
loading, excessive wet foam may be produced. This wet foam is forced into the cup, requiring more
frequent emptying than normal. After approximately one day the aquarium load will be normal, and
the skimmer will produce the correct foam.