I am probably the strongest supporter of protein skimmers you will ever meet. I haven't always been this way. Remember, when I started this SW hobby over 20yrs ago, there weren't any protein skimmers. There were Undergravel filters, and maybe a canister filter, if you had big
$$$.
Times change and so does attitudes toward SW filtration. Now, good filtration almost has to include a protein skimmer (I know some Eco-Systems don't, but I'm not going there right now). For those of us who like to keep heavy bio-loads, the protein skimmer becomes an enormously important piece of equipment.
As it says in my signature, and I mention every chance I get, I run the
AquaMedic Turbofloater 1000 multi. This skimmer is rated for tanks up to 200-250g. Especially with the upgrade
AquaMedic Ocean Runner 2700 Pump with the patented needle-wheel impeller assembly. Without this incredible skimmer, I could not keep the amount of critters in my 58g tank alive, and quite healthy. I'll give you a list of the critters some other time, but for now, allow me to show you TWO DAYS worth of skimmate:
Without my
"skimmer on steroids" most of this gunk would still be in the tank, causing all kinds of problems. Is the skimmer pulling out any good stuff along with the bad? Probably. But, I am willing
to continue to put additives in the water and run my skimmer. *At least I know that my tank is good and clean.
Edit: Colors for clarity.
The Evolution of a Filtration System Part 1 
&&And a Whole Lot More..
