Can a Skimmer Operate This Way?

[ZZ5150]

Hi,
I have two skimmer questions:
1) Would it help lower nitrates in a freshwater tank? Note: I do weekly water changes now but was curious on the skimmer.
2) Can a skimmer be set up like a cannister filter: run a pickup in the tank, route it to the pump, route the pump to the skimmer, route a tube from the skimmer to the tank?

 

[Camshaft Ramrod]

don't bother.

 

[Heathd]

Hi,
I have two skimmer questions:
1) Would it help lower nitrates in a freshwater tank? Note: I do weekly water changes now but was curious on the skimmer.
Plants would do a much better job on lowering nitrates. A skimmer in freshwater is not going to perform well, certainly not to your expectations.
2) Can a skimmer be set up like a cannister filter: run a pickup in the tank, route it to the pump, route the pump to the skimmer, route a tube from the skimmer to the tank?
External skimmers do have returns, but no way they could deal with the head pressure of pushing all the way back up to a tank.

.....

 

[FLESHY]

I tried this once.

I was 14.

It was a seaclone...and nothing happened. So it only performed slightly worse than it did on my saltwater tank.

Ha if its an exteral, you should just use it as a HOB, and I would add salt to your tank, esp if its big cichlid or something. Then this might work a little, I would be interested to see.