Okay this is kind of a question that deals with freshwater but involves saltwater. I figured this would be the right forum to ask this on because it involves protein skimmers. I've always wondered this so here goes. Would a protein skimmer have a positive effect if you use it on freshwater. Would it still skim out dissolved organics or does it have to be used in saltwater. I've never heard of anybody using a skimmer on freshwater, but I'm curious.
So I'm curious about this
- Thread starter yellow tang
- Start date
Protein skimmers don't make small enough bubbles with freshwater to create any foam.
I have read some posts about freshwater skimmers but never saw any links for information about them or how they work.
I have read some posts about freshwater skimmers but never saw any links for information about them or how they work.
It is the salt that increases the surface tension and allows the foam to develop that makes protein skimmers work. Freshwater doesn't have enough surface tension to develop this foam, so protein skimmers won't work in a FW tank.
Yup.
There's actually some people that claim protein skimmers will pull some gunk out on VERY mucky FW tanks, but that leaves me wondering "Why would you let your tank get that dirty in the first place?".
So protein skimmers aren't of any benefit on FW.
I've seen protein skimmers do proper jobs for African Cichlid tanks.
Assuming the natural environment is imitated, there should be enough dissolved minerals in the water content for it to work.
Assuming the natural environment is imitated, there should be enough dissolved minerals in the water content for it to work.