[Brimoore27]

Hi,

I was wondering if a Protein Skimmer is beneficial in a freshwater tank. I know my brother has a Protein skimmer for hes salt water tank, but I just wasnt sure If it was worth purchasing for my fresh water tank.

Thank you

 

[Dragonetti]

No, only works for salt water.

 

[Brimoore27]

No, only works for salt water.

Thank you very much

 

[dwarfpike]

Not true, it will work on hardwater tanks ... though not as well as in a saltwater tank. They are also used in ponds.

 

[748johnd]

I may be wrong, but I have never heard of protein skimmers being used on ponds--only surface skimmers.

 

[NativePredator]

A protein skimmer will only work on saltwater, as is mentioned above, i suppose if it were a saltwater pond it would work :wink:

 

[prov356]

Pond protein skimmer video. Protein skimmers 'work' in fresh water tanks and ponds, meaning they will remove some DOC's, but not nearly as efficiently as in salt water.

So, why aren't they used more? Because fresh water tanks usually have a water change schedule that does the same thing without the need for the equipment. Salt water tanks tend to have fewer water changes performed, and yes, this is a generalization, I know. In a pond situation where water chnages weren't as practical, I can see them being used more and of more benefit.

Google 'pond protein skimmer' and there's lots of info out there.

 

[748johnd]

I stand corrected. Well, I learned something new.

 

[prov356]

I stand corrected. Well, I learned something new.

Don't feel bad, I had no idea either, but does make sense for a pond situation. I'd recommend water changes instead for freshwater tanks.

 

[dwarfpike]

We tested it on rift lake tanks in the LFS I worked in back in the early 90's when those skilters (tiny protein skimmer set into a hang on power filter came out) after an article by Dr. Paul Loiselle mentioned them working, albiet poorly, in hard water fresh water tanks.

Our result was very similiar to what he reported in the article, we did get some foam that tested off the charts with an ammonia test, but there was hardly any foam at all ... especially when compared to the same filter on the same sized saltwater tank.

As prov356 mentioned, water changes for most in freshwater are cheaper and quick as compared to mixing saltwater mixtures and such, and given their record of just barely working in freshwater, it's not worth buying one for a tank given they tend to be expensive.

 

[NativePredator]

Well i also learned something today, Protein skimmers WILL work on freshwater tanks and ponds, Not very well but some. Remember you heard it first on Cichlid-Forum.com :thumb:

 

[dwarfpike]

Remember you heard it first on Cichlid-Forum.com :thumb:

Wouldn't it technically be 'heard it first from an AFM article by Dr. Paul Loiselle back in 1991'? :wink:

 

[NativePredator]

Youre right thanks for that correction :lol:

 

[Dragonetti]

Hi,

I was wondering if a Protein Skimmer is beneficial in a freshwater tank. I know my brother has a Protein skimmer for hes salt water tank, but I just wasnt sure If it was worth purchasing for my fresh water tank.

Thank you

So to answer your question, it is not beneficial in freshwater tank. Don't waste your money to see a tiny bit of foam.