protein skimmer good/bad for fresh water

[mr.cichlid]

Hi All,

I may be selling out my salt water aquarium just to clear out some space. Can we use protein skimmer in a fresh water tank?

 

[sorberj]

I've never seen a good use for a protein skimmer in FW. You just don't get the buildup of protein on the surface, and if you do, then you're doing something really wrong.

 

[mr.cichlid]

would it act as extra filtration though? or would it remove good things out of the water?

 

[archer772]

Protien skimmers dont work in FW as far as I know and I believe it has something to do with the surface tension and the bubbles not being able to carry any of the DOC's into the neck to be removed I think. try running in some fresh water and you should see what it does or doesnt do

 

[austinpetemo]

ive never heard of any positive or negative effects of running a skimmer on a fw.

 

[Ace25]

A protein skimmer requires saltwater to form the microbubbles. In freshwater it just makes really big air bubbles and won't be able to function. The only thing a skimmer could do in FW is add more oxygen back to a tank, but an airpump/stone would do it 10x better.

 

[jpappy789]

Yep. Its a waste of time and money on a FW tank.

 

[Pittbull]

I totally agree with Ace and Pappy

 

[mr.cichlid]

alright...see that is what i wanted to know...now i can sell it off too
Thanks guys...