Protein Skimmer's?

[Joeyg2100]

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I have been reading articles online about what these things do. I am fairly new to fish keeping (just a little over a year). I have a 30 gallon planted tank with 1 Humpback puffer. I had been just using low lighting for this tank until about 3 days ago. Once I did this the plants just took off, I can tell already just in 3 days that the lighting is helping. I also have noticed since I put in the new light that on top of the water is kind of filmy and has big bubbles not just small ones.
If I was to get a skimmer for this tank would it get rid of the film and smell that is on top of the water.
If not, then what exaclly does a skimmer do? Should I get one for my tank? Any info or acrticles will help. THanks

 

[Opcn]

Protein skimmers (foam fractionation skimmers) work by sending little bubbles through the water column and collects them at the top, this is relatively easy in salt water, but a bit more difficult in freshwater as the surface tension is different, they only came out with fw skimmers a few years ago, and they are still on the pricey side (sw skimers are still on the pricey side) I recomend you just change your carbon, it does the same thing (remove DOC's).