A protein skimmer is in essence a reaction chamber in which a mixture of water and very fine bubbles are injected. The bubbles have a weak electrical surface charge due to the orientation of the molecules that compose them. The purpose of these bubbles is to adhere to dissolved and particulate organic matter in the water column (which come from fish and invertebrate waste, tapwater, uneaten food, and many other sources, and which have an electrical surface charge opposite that of the bubbles) and remove it by forcing this material up through a column and into a waste receptacle, which is emptied as needed by the hobbyist. Dissolved and particulate organic matter are a major source of the nutrients needed by microalgae (“hair algae”) and cyanobacteria (“slime algae”) to grow and reproduce, thereby covering every non-mobile object and animal in the aquarium in a sheet of waving hair or oily slime, respectively. Elevated concentrations of latent organic matter in an aquarium are an indication of a poorly maintained system in which few desirable life forms will thrive. So, the goal is to get these organics out of the water; this is why a protein skimmer is essential.

The Kent Marine Nautilus TE protein skimmer has some unique features that contribute to its’ remarkable operating efficiency. The Turbo•Eductor fitting mounted on the pump intake mixes air with the incoming water; this air is obliterated into millions of miniscule bubbles, and the water/air mix is pumped into the skimmer. Although the water and air inflow to the skimmer changes directions within the unit, flow is essentially laminar thanks to attention to details that eliminate turbulent areas; the result is that the bubbles don’t have a chance to congregate and become larger (larger bubbles decrease skimming efficiency). The water/air mix is injected into the reaction chamber tangentially. In essence this means that the angle at which the mix enters the chamber causes cyclonic rotation, which maximizes reaction time and greatly aids the efficiency and effectiveness of the unit. The reaction chamber in itself is a great feature of the Nautilus TE, with an overall volume of approximately 295 cubic inches! Compare this with the reaction volume of many skimmers considered to be in the same class and you’ll quickly see that the Nautilus truly is in a league of its’ own! The water/air mix spiral up through the reaction chamber, appearing as a milky-white fog of bubbles, culminating at the collar atop the chamber. From there, they are pushed upwards through the foam rise tower, all the while becoming drier as the proteinaceous compounds adhering to the bubbles rise further from the turbulent froth below.

Because the exhaust of the skimmer is protected by a baffle, few (if any) bubbles escape from the reaction chamber, meaning no bubbles make it back into the sump or main aquarium as a result. The actual exhaust assembly is height-adjustable, allowing the hobbyist to tweak the height of water in the reaction chamber and produce the darkest, driest, dirtiest foam possible depending on conditions within the sump; this equates to much greater efficiency and less water being wasted as skimmate (the material that empties into the foam collection cup). The overall performance of the Nautilus is easily on par with many more expensive skimmers on the market today.

But what about the actual construction of the unit? Materials were chosen to be impact-resistant while maintaining a professional appearance and smooth, sleek features. The reaction chamber and tubes are composed of crystal-clear, high grade acrylic, which allows the hobbyist to see the density of the bubbles in the reaction chamber and adjust the height of water as needed. The molded pieces are composed of black ABS plastic, giving the unit style and performance features not possible with hand-cut plastic. Unlike many foam collection cups made of cheap, brittle polystyrene, the Nautilus TE utilizes clear ABS plastic, which is extremely durable! Say good-bye to replacement cups when you drop yours on the floor by accident; this one will stay in one piece!

Other features of the unit are replaceable input and exhaust tube assemblies; should one break on your unit, contact us and we can replace it for you (for the cost of the item plus shipping), rather than having to trash the entire skimmer or rig something that looks cheap or doesn’t work properly. In addition, the Nautilus TE comes with everything you need except for a pump! Just purchase a pump that has a flow rating of 600-900 gph (we recommend the Mag Drive 700 and/or the Rio 2100), hook it up and plug it in and you’re done! This unit is as close to “plug-n-play” as you can get!

Overall, the features and benefits of the Nautilus TE will make quite a positive difference to your marine aquarium system. Because it’s Kent Marine quality, you can be assured that you’re getting one very impressive piece of aquarium filtration. Our goal is to help you become the most successful aquarium hobbyist you can be!