what do protein skimming really remove?

[EbiTank]

wanted some advice on what exact stuff are removed by protein skimming other than disolved wastes...

how about:

1) excess food

2) algae , phytoplankton,

3) bacteria plankton

4) additives eg iodine, strontium

anything else?

thanks and happy new year !

[Tanzy]

Don't think they pull out strontium. The blow phosphate away too into the air. Actually it will get rid of almost all suspended stuff. The only mechanical filtration I use is my skimmer.

[Achilles Tang]

Quoting Randy Holmes-Farley:

Strontium and molybdenum will not be skimmed out by themselves. The molybdenum may complex to organics and be skimmed out, though I've not seen anyone determine if this is significant. I'd argue the other way: if it is actively skimmed out, that's all the more reason to add more because the tank will rapidly become depleted.

I'm not sure what's in Kent iodine. Iodide and iodate will not be skimmed out, except perhaps inside of organisms that consumed it.