Ira Posted August 19, 2002 Report Share Posted August 19, 2002 Just had a stray thought, I know skimmers are used on marine tanks but I was wondering...Why can't they be used on freshwater tanks? If I'm understanding how skimmers work they basically stir up the water so all the garbage turns into a foam then skims off the foam? Does this not work with freshwater or is it just much easier and cheaper to do a water change? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeta Posted August 20, 2002 Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 The bottom of this page http://www.reefers.dk/html/hvad_er_ozon.htm explains it pretty well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted August 20, 2002 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2002 Ah, so in freshwater the bubbles are too larger which makes it too inefficient? Hmmm...Ok. Now I'll have to try and figure out why saltwater bubbles can be smaller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted December 14, 2002 Report Share Posted December 14, 2002 Hi Ira Saw that too. Maybe we have to put it first through a strainer to make the bubbles smaller. . The ads I read about them say it can be used for fresh OR/AND seawater. Have to read up on their principal and uses. I saw one in the LFS. Nearly 2 foot tall. Not too expensive. And it said, freshwater and marine?!! So there you go John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted December 15, 2002 Report Share Posted December 15, 2002 Ira said... > Why can't they be used on freshwater tanks? They are sometimes used as a way of adding ozone to tank but in general, as has been said, PSs are generally much more efficient on saltwater tanks. If you've got enough crud in your freshwater tank that the PS is doing much, then you'd be much better off doing lots of water changes. I have seen a PS used to remove brown staining from a tank that had too much badly prepared driftwood in it. It kind of worked, eventually, but pre-soaking the wood would've been a much better way... Andrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted December 16, 2002 Report Share Posted December 16, 2002 Hi all The LFS I rang up, told me they are for marine only. I looked at a site, where an industrial chemist working for a whatever company says. They can be used in freshwater, BUT are a must in a marine tank. By the way, they don't really do much in a freshwater aquarium. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 you can get skimmer made for freshwater. I have seen a few on the net. however there is no demand in new zealand, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 Hi David I don't think there is a demand ANYWHERE. Because they are expensive and do little or nothing in a freshwater tank. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted February 23, 2003 Report Share Posted February 23, 2003 Protein skimmers work on Marine tanks because saltwater is more sticky than freshwater. The dissolved mineral content and it make-up create an air bubble that is very sticky compared to a freshwater bubble. The protein sticks to the surface of the bubble and collects at the water surface. As previously said, by the time freshwater accumulates enough rubbish you are better off doing water changes. At this stage your freshwater fishes health will be in jeopardy anyway. They may have some effect in certain cases, but for the general freshwater aquarium they do not work efficiently enough to make them viable. You can buy a lot of activated carbon for $1000, about the cost of a protein skimmer good enough to be a little effective in freshwater.. At cheap one will not work at all in freshwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peety Posted February 23, 2003 Report Share Posted February 23, 2003 We had a really long think on this the other night.... (bear with me) What ya need is to feed your tank water into a holding tank with salt water added and a skimmer, this removes the extra nutrients. It then gets fed to a thermal water purifier where the salt gets left behind but the pure water goes back to the tank. It would work really slowly but would use the skimmer. Hmmmm maybe you're right, a straight bio filter would be best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted February 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 But, you could skip the adding salt and the skimmer and just use the purifier, why add all the extra steps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Exactly, but a purifier big enough to purify aquarium water would be relatively expensive to buy and run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Hi What is wrong with the good ol' filtersystem? Worked for years. A protein skimmer is a waste of money and space in a freshwater aquraium, because as Warren said, it does very little or nothing at all. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 The money it costs to buy a good skimmer would get a hell-of-a filter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Hi Not only would I get a hell-of-a-filter but also a good Digital camera on top of it. Do you really need it? To find out the dissolved oxygen, you have to fork out about $700.00. Then it gives you a figure. What do you do with it???? Nothing. But you can tell all your fishfriends you have a Dissolved Oxygen Meter. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 I was reading on www.reefcentral.com a few months ago about people using skimmers in freshwater setups. A large number of people used them for very large freshwater tanks to remove the 'skim/film' from the top of the water if it became present. But they were slightly modified to better suit that purpose... ? Not sure if its a good idea or not, seems like easier ways to do that, but the common thing was very large tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Has anyone tried one of those fittings for canister filter intakes, which draws in water from the surface as well? Can't remember what they were called but I've seen them at $28-$35. Do they work well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Hi Kriber I cannot imagine having an intake for the surface as well, or only. Think about it, air will also get in it. Your cannister will NOT like it. Try to take the inlet and lift it towards the surface and let air in. Chances are, the Flugal or Eheim will just gurgle a bit then stop. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 I have a surface skimmer. It draws about 25% of its water from the surface and the rest from the bottom. It is specially constructed to stop air being sucked in. Its not to be confussed with a protein skimmer however. It is completely different. It does a very good job of removing surface scum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted February 24, 2003 Report Share Posted February 24, 2003 Hi Warren It is specially constructed to stop air being sucked in. Now, that explains it a bit better. I love good and logical explanation. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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