Protein skimmer

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

I was just wondering if you could use them for freshwater or are the only for saltwater.

I figure maybe they aren't used because of the ease of water changes for fw and their high price.

 

[Teelie]

They have absolutely no use in the average freshwater aquarium. Brackish maybe but AFAIK, no real use in fresh.

 

[Sky042]

actually you still get protein buildup on the surface of a freshwater tank. So yes they have a use. However they have rather a high price to do it right.

Personally on the 54 Bow that I plan to stock densely I'm using a protein skimmer but it's hooked to a Amiracle Mr-300 wet/dry filter with about 4 gallons of Bio-Balls. I'm using that setup because it came with the tank(got it used) Though I still need to add a cannister filter for mechanical filtration. But for biological the wet/dry is going to be a monster and should do VERY VERY well plus the protein removal from the top of the water will help in oxygenation which will be important in a densely stocked tank.

If I were going to buy this new I wouldn't get the wet/dry since it costs about $300 USD plus the cost of the rio 2100 sump I'm using as a return sump.

 

[CFC]

Protein skimmers dont work in FW though, i dont know the exact terms but basicly the bubbles arent small enough in FW to make the skimmer work properly (to see this for yourself just try using a wooden airstone in a FW tank). We tried it in the LFS and we couldnt get the skimmer to work in anything but the strongest brackish water (SG of 1.015) and of course marine tanks.

 

[EddieW]

Actually they have developed FW protein skimmers now, not sure exactly how they work but they are specifically for FW.

Have a look here.

HTH, Eddie

 

[Stryker]

I have a kind of skimmer in effect on my brackish tank. I use an overflow to a sump, the overflow has the toothed weir type arrangement.

I'm new to this idea but there seems to be benefits for any tank type when used in this way.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I'm sure there may be specific purposes where a skimmer may help, but in general they are a waste of money for fw.

 

[Wannaknowaboutsand]

Just thought I'd ask.


I saw a couple of Protein Skimmers for FW. THey were about twice the price of the SW skimmer.

I thought I 'd ask just for kicks.

 

[Teelie]

IMO it's not worth it even if you get a slight protein build up. Quick, cheap solution? Get a fish net and run it over the surface.

 

[luxum]

Eheim makes a "surface extractor" that might work for you.

 

[Sky042]

the setup I'm using works nicely as a protein skimmer though I think it's more of a by product of the way the system works. I is basically an overflow siphoned to a wet/dry then back to the tank with a sump.

 

[CFC]

Actually they have developed FW protein skimmers now, not sure exactly how they work but they are specifically for FW.

Have a look here.

HTH, Eddie

Well i never!!!! Theyve actually found a way to get a skimmer working in FW, i can see one or two (or three ) of those heading in my direction soon. Cheers Eddie.

 

[EddieW]

No probs mate. Don't know whether they are effective though, and from what I have seen they are very expensive.

Cheers, Eddie