Marine Advice: Marine Aquarium Filtration and Reactors

Why is a protein skimmer essential?
A protein skimmer is an essential piece of equipment for the marine and reef aquarium. In the aquariums filtration, nitrification of protein waste is carried out a great deal faster than the de-nitrification process leading to elevated nitrate levels.
Elevated levels of nitrate can be detrimental to fish and lethal to invertebrates.
A protein skimmer is designed to remove these proteins before nitrification and de-nitrification occurs, therefore decreasing the rate at which nitrate is produced in the aquarium.
It is always a good idea to purchase a protein skimmer that is designed to filter an aquarium three or four times the size of what you require.
Try not to clean the collection cup neck too often as it impedes the skimmers efficiency. Empty collection cup contents weekly and make certain the contents never return into the aquarium.
Is adding calcium vital for reef aquariums?
The addition of calcium to a marine or reef tank is vitally important to the growth and well being of invertebrates. Calcium carbonate is used for the construction of coral skeletons; this is how coral reefs are formed. Calcium levels should be maintained at 420 mg per litre. Calcium is removed by aquarium inhabitants therefore it has to be replaced and there are various ways of doing this.
Liquid calcium additives: This involves adding liquid calcium as directed on the packaging to the aquarium, these are widely available see our marine and reef additive sections.
Calcium Reactors: This is a diffusion chamber filled with calcium carbonate granules. Water is circulated from the aquarium into the diffusion chamber. Carbon dioxide is also injected into the chamber creating a localised drop in pH level; this then dissolves the calcium carbonate into solution and is then returned to the aquarium.
Kalkwasser Stirrers: Calcium carbonate powder is added to freshwater stirred and dissolved into solution ready for addition to the aquarium when replacing evaporated aquarium water. This method is ideal when used in conjunction with a R/O unit (reverse osmosis unit) and an osmolator (automatic top up unit).
What is the Berlin method?
The Berlin Method requires:
The correct amount of live rock for biological filtration. Strong lighting i.e. metal halide, T5 or a mix of both.
Strong water circulation i.e. Wave maker with pumps or powerheads.
A large protein skimmer at up to three or four times the size recommended for your aquarium.
Calcium should be added using kalkwasser, which has an added benefit of precipitating phosphates out of solution therefore lowering phosphates in your aquarium.
Trace elements, strontium and iodine should also be added.
Water changes should be done at a rate of 25% on a monthly basis.
What is Ozone and how do I introduce it into my aquarium?
When oxygen is passed through an electric field it alters the atomic structure so it becomes "trivalent", this means the oxygen molecules takes on an extra atom to form an unstable gas known as ozone. Ozone is poisonous and has the ability to split organic molecules. One of the properties of this gas is its smell it is pungent and refreshing. In large quantities it is lethal to fish and even humans.
Ozone is used for its excellent oxidising capabilities as regards to organic waste. It has the ability to remove phenol by splitting its molecular structure making it available for treatment by a protein skimmer. It can be connected directly to a protein skimmer to improve efficiency.
The continuous administration of ozone to the aquarium can affect the redox potential there for a redox controller must be installed to ensure safe and accurate measurement and dosage.
The risks involved in the use of this device must not be ignored. If you are not confident with the use of this device a solution would be to install a larger skimmer right from the start.
Ozone under no circumstances should be introduced directly to the aquarium.
The Ozone- unit is connected with an air hose of 6 mm ( ¼“) diameter with the air inlet of a protein skimmer. The hose has to be ozone proof (silicone tube). Depending on the type of the protein skimmer, there are 2 possibilities:
- Protein skimmer with air stones or wooden blocks:
The air is pressed from the air pump through the Ozone unit to the protein skimmer.
- Protein skimmer with electric powerhead pump:
The injector can be connected directly with the ozone outlet. The air is then sucked through the Ozone unit. If the injector has a very high capacity, the Ozone unit has to be connected in a bypass.
The Ozone unit has to be set up dry. Water entering the unit has to be prevented, in case of power failure or breakage of the membrane pump. There are 2 possibilities of set up:
- above the water level.
- below the water level. In this case, a good non return valve should be placed into the air line and a hose loop should be installed, reaching 20 cm above the water level to prevent a backflow of water.
The unit has to be set up in a way, that there is always access to the mains plug.

If you would like to ask a specific question please contact us

Registered Address: Swell UK Ltd, Unit C SK14 Industrial Park, Broadway, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 4QF