Patent ID: 8268166

Claim:
A protein skimmer for fluid connection to a source of organic loaded water, the protein skimmer comprising an upright housing including an open topped body and a manually removable foam collection cup for sealing mounting on said body, said body having an inside surface, a bottom surface, a main inlet for sealing flow communication with the source of organic loaded water for providing an incoming flow of organic loaded water, a reaction chamber for foam fractionating said incoming flow of organic loaded water for forming organic free water, and a main outlet for providing an outgoing flow of organic free water, said foam collection cup having an uppermost rim and encircling an upright generally cylindrical foam collection duct having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an uppermost rim beneath said foam collection cup's uppermost rim, and a lowermost rim, said foam collection duct being in flow communication with said reaction chamber on sealing mounting said foam collection cup on said body whereby organic loaded foam spilling over said foam collection duct's uppermost rim slides down into said foam collection cup, said foam collection cup encircling said foam collection duct except for a recessed inspection window exposing an area of said foam collection duct's exterior surface thereby affording an aquarist a generally horizontal line of sight to inspect said foam collection duct's interior.