Skimmers in Freshwater

[tayhonglee]

hi guys,

im looking for some information on whether skimmers work well in fresh water tanks. i did a search but can't find any information.

can anyone point out any links or provide any info? my friend is trying to set up a very heavily stocked aro tank.

thanks!

henry

[blueheaven]

It may work but not as well

I've read that the bubbles tend to enlarge faster in FW than in saltwater and that may be he reason why it is not as effective

[olezontie]

There are fresh water skimmers but almost all are for commercial aqua culture purposes. The technology is not viable for consumer applications. There was a fresh water model by one of the german manufacturers, but I don't think anyone brought them to singapore.

[weileong]

Proteins dissolve better in freshwater, that is why skimmers don't work as well as it does in saltwater.

You could still use your skimmer in freshwater but need to tune the skimmate very wet.

[tayhonglee]

that's a pity. most aro tanks i have seen are bare bottom with almost no decorations of any type....seems like strong flow at the bottom will stir up aro crap easily and heavy skimming can clear the crap out real quick. looks to be much better and easier than the complicated filter pools normally used.

i will try to post pictures later of the tank he has bought. its a fibre glass tank with one glass viewing panel, about 8ft X 4ft X 4ft.

[olezontie]

For the size of the bubble produced with the current marine protein skimmers, you probably spend less and get an air pump with a airstone.

Freshwater skimmers does not rely on the bubble density and bubble size to produce skimmates.

[davwong]

They have freshwater skimmer look at the link below

http://www.schuran.com/freshwater/abschaeumer_e.html

[cyclop]

I've read that the bubbles tend to enlarge faster in FW than in saltwater and that may be he reason why it is not as effective

That's due to the difference of SG of saltwater (denser) and fresh water (less dense). Bubbles churned up by an airstone is much finer in saltwater than in freshwater.

Honestly, freshwater skimmer is also something new to me. Perhaps, we never thought of using it because freshwater is easier and much cheaper to change more regularly than saltwater. When I was keeping tropical fish I changed the water more frequently that I did with my marine tanks now.

[Derek0925]

Proteins dissolve better in freshwater, that is why skimmers don't work as well as it does in saltwater.

You could still use your skimmer in freshwater but need to tune the skimmate very wet.

bro weileong.....you are working in wat trade har???

Your general knowledge is really good.

I always see your post and comments and always convince by ur reply and comment.

Your are a smart boy...

Must vote you as a moderator cos i think you deserve to be one.

[letdoit]

can normal saltwater skimmer used in F/w?

i try selling away macro A350, maybe if can put to my F/W tank HAHA....

-need to add anything?

[gift05]

i remember reading smt in this forums about somebody testin his beckett with FW and thought his beckett was spoilt cuz there was no foam at all.

then he tried with his tank and realised FW just doesn't foam for some reason.

if you're looking for FW skimmers, try www.shuran.com

click english site, and browse thru thier FW skimmers.

can run ozone too! =)

[cci[RR]us]

http://www.algone.com/protein_skimmer.htm

Protein skimmers work for marine aquariums only because salinity increases the surface tension, which is needed to attract the surfactants. In order to create the surface tension needed for freshwater, the apparatus would have to be under very high pressure.

The protein skimmer is technically not a “protein skimmer” because it removes more then proteins, and the water is not just skimmed on the surface. The air bubbles are used to separate (fractionate) dissolved matter from the water by creating foam. The technically correct term would therefore be “foam fractionator”.

Fyi.