Skimmer question

[mikedelo]

What is the difference between a protein skimmer and a recirculating protein skimmer?

 

[mr_X]

there are different types of skimmers. all are called protein skimmers, but some use 2 pumps, 1 as a feed pump, and another to take water that's inside the skimmer and mix it with air bubbles. that's a recirculating skimmer. the conventional skimmer is fed by the same pump that pulls the air and mixes the two together. it pulls the water from outside the skimmer body and expells it in the skimmer body.

 

[JohnS_323]

We have a recirculating skimmer that we used the "correct" way for years. All it seemed to do was add to our electric bill by needing a second pump to run it. We've recently bypassed the recirc part and are using it as just a normal beckett skimmer and works just as well. We were able to tie it direcly into our main pump, saving another pump. Pulling those two Iwaki's off line have a saved way more electric than I would have thought.

 

[Nickjr000]

Iwakis eat electric , but they are a work horse!