Stupid Skimmer Question????

[JeepersReefers]

I feel like a moron for asking this but can a protein skimmer work on a fresh water tank?

I was talking with a co-worker this morning that is setting up a 65g fresh water tank. He was asking what filers, heaters ect. that I had on my systems. When saying how much waste a skimmer removed he was very interested... but now I don’t even know if it will work for him?

 

[Witfull]

yes it will work,,,but getting it to work is another story. personally i have skimmed freshwater but it wasnt in a normal environment. it was a 600g goldfish system that housed appx 5-6 thousand feeder fish, with that much waste and slime in the water it was do-able. dual venturis and a huge iwaki pump. it was 10'tall and worked effectively.

now on a regular freshwater tank, there is not enough density to create a foam.

this is where theory and practicality conflict.

 

[Cougra]

Skimmers were originally designed for Koi Ponds, however they are extremely inefficient. The problem with skimming freshwater is getting a fine enough bubble that will remain stabble at the surface to allow the protein to stick to it. Freshwater bubbles tend to be larger then saltwater bubbles.

 

[JeepersReefers]

Thanks Wit and Cougra,

So it can be done, but not well.

Thanks again

 

[Spooda420]

Ive tried it on a 125g african tank with about 60 babies in it and not one drop of skimate over a week. bubbles are too large and not enough debris in the water. so in theory it might work but not with the skimmer I had.


HIH

 

[luistwentyone]

sorry guys, but one more question, how do you remove the waste from a freshwater tank ?

 

[Witfull]

mechanical and biological filtration. gravel cleaning, waterchanges, live plants.

 

[Spooda420]

ditto. the cheaper way!