I've heard from various people that a protein skimmer can't be used with a freshwater tank, why is this? My understanding is that a protein skimmer takes out waste and helps keep the water crystal clear. I don't see how that's bad for freshwater fish, unless they need the waste in the water to keep a balance in the tank.
2006-08-27 04:32:08 · 10 answers · asked by wtf 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Protein skimmers are specially made for saltwater tanks. They're designed to be compatible with saltwater, and to only remove certain things, and leave others in. If it's used in a freshwater tank, then it'll remove/leave some chemicals that could be helpful/dangerous, depending on the chem and all that.
2006-08-27 07:47:21 · answer #1 · answered by band_geek_til_2007 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
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RE:
Why can't a protein skimmer be used in a freshwater tank?
I've heard from various people that a protein skimmer can't be used with a freshwater tank, why is this? My understanding is that a protein skimmer takes out waste and helps keep the water crystal clear. I don't see how that's bad for freshwater fish, unless they need the waste in...
2015-08-07 17:20:07 · answer #2 · answered by Tanya 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wont skim. Not the right chemistry. You can run it but it wont produce any skimmate (the gunk you collect out of a skimmer). You can run a skimmer on brackish tanks and even then they wont skim very much. Skimmers remove dissolved proteins - but are not just filters in their own right. A good canister or HOB filter is all you need on a fresh tank.
2006-08-27 06:45:32 · answer #3 · answered by Sage Bluestorm 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-03-22 16:15:14 · answer #4 · answered by Geraldine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
protein skimmers do work in freshwater,,you just have to have the right manufacturer and know your stuff,,,,one company that has perfected it is rk2,,,but this is for larger systems maybe beyond the size of the home aquarist scale,,but we use them for public aquarium installs for both indoor and outdoor freshwater pools
2014-11-11 03:00:57 · answer #5 · answered by WILLIAM W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The higher the salt and pH levels the better protein skimmers work, but there are protien skimmers that are made specifically for freshwater tanks
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings.categories/ssid/339
http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/commercial/freshwater-skimmers.asp
2006-08-28 10:40:55 · answer #6 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are way more possitive bacteria and other tiny creatures in seawater but not freshwater ; the protein skimmer is use to fead those little creatures.therefore it's not needed in freshwater tank
2006-08-27 13:12:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Good question,I actually think that because it may be a little to big.I've heard that the wires on the skimmer could hurt the fish.
2006-08-27 04:37:33 · answer #8 · answered by Alana. 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It can be used, but in general it is not particularly necesary, although it would help in a large Tanganyikan cichlid tank.
2006-08-27 05:16:23 · answer #9 · answered by rubentolon 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It can, its just not really that good at it but i heard alot of people using it on their big goldfish tanks.
2006-08-27 05:11:36 · answer #10 · answered by lady_crotalus 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋