Protein skimmer The protein skimmer is a relatively new addition to the aquarium filter group, and is one of the main factors behind the increased interest in marine aquariums. The protein skimmer makes it much easier to remove organic waste from the aquarium. Marine creatures are usually very sensitive to organic waste, since they are native to the ocean where organic waste is immediately diluted by the enormous water mass.
A protein skimmer consists of a tall tube in which bubbles are formed. As the bubbles rise up through the tube, small organic compounds will become stuck at the surface of the each bubble and follow them up to the surface. As the bubbles reach the surface, they will collapse, and the organic waste is collected in a cup from where it can be removed by the aquarium keeper.
A great benefit with the protein skimmer is that is will catch organic waste before any decomposing process starts. Unfortunately, you can not go out and get a protein skimmer for your normal tropical freshwater aquarium, because the process that makes the protein skimmer work depends on salty water with a high pH value. If you on the other hand are planning to set up a saltwater aquarium, the protein skimmer is a very good investment. A vast majority of those who keep delicate saltwater aquariums, such as reef tanks, will have a protein skimmer, since it can be very difficult to keep the levels of organic waste products low enough without one.
Wet/Dry filter The wet/dry filter is basically a form of biological filter. The wet/dry filter is a way of encouraging colonization of aerobe bacteria. Aerobe bacteria needs oxygen to survive, and the wet/dry filter serves will create an oxygen rich environment in which this type of bacteria can thrive and break down waste products. You can choose between many different designs when you purchase your wet/dry filter, by they are all based on the same main principle.
In a wet/dry filter, water will be pumped from the aquarium. A rotating spray arm or a drip plate will then dispense the water over a material that is suitable for bacteria colonization. This is way the wet/dry filter sometimes is called "trickle filter"; water will trickle down over the colonized material. Bio-tower is another popular term for this type of filter. The colonized material is kept in a wet/dry filter chamber. As mentioned above, the aim of the wet/dry filter is to provide a good home for a thriving colony of aerobic bacteria and a high level of oxygen is therefore desirable. As the water trickles through the holes of the trickle/drip plate before landing on the colonized media, it will become heavily aerated and thereby contain high levels of oxygen when it reaches the bacterial colony. The aerobic bacteria will perform biological filtration, and the water is then pumped back to the aquarium.
A problem with the wet/dry filter is that it can easily become clogged by larger debris. You can avoid this by filtering the water before it reaches the wet/dry filter. You can for instance use a sponge, some filter floss or a micron filter to remove larger particles from the water before they reach the wet/dry filter. It is also common to place the wet/dry filter after a protein skimmer. The wet/dry filter is more popular among saltwater aquarium keepers than freshwater aquarium keepers, but it will work in freshwater.
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