Any information on these I have a 240g tank with a wet/dry filter with 15 Piranhas how can they help and I thought that Protein skimmers where only for saltwater tanks here is a link to one http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/pond/sander-freshskim.asp tell me what you think I plan getting one if they work like the saltwater ones?
Ozone/Oxygen Reactor & FreshWater Protein Skimmers
- Thread starter BigShawn
- Start date
Sounds more like a gimmick to me.. It's hard to create the 'foam' that skimmers produce with Freshwater, because it is not as thick or as likely to 'bubble' up like Saltwater. However, most people who keep Koi use very high salinity levels, which could make a foam fractioner a possability..
Ozone generators do a great job of breaking the bonds between protein and water molecules. Ozone also aids in oxygenating water with enough dwell time inside the skimmer. But, as with everything else, there's a cost attached. Ozone will eventually degrade the filter system's plastic plumbing parts. There are ozone-tolerant parts on the market but, they're more expensive. The byproducts of aquarium ozone exchangers also have to be vented to the outside since the proteins/wastes released smell and can cause allergic reactions to alot of people.
I had ozone running on my commercial skimmer but the upkeep became too much. I still use the skimmer on my FW system. But, just as an aeration-assist. It does produce dry foam but never has much of a head on it unless the bio-load really shifts for things like heavy molts and spawns.
I had ozone running on my commercial skimmer but the upkeep became too much. I still use the skimmer on my FW system. But, just as an aeration-assist. It does produce dry foam but never has much of a head on it unless the bio-load really shifts for things like heavy molts and spawns.
On a small system, a powerhead would work just fine. My system is 20,000gals and the skimmer is nearly 10ft tall and 16" in diameter. It uses it's own 30gal/min pump to provide aeration to the system and bio-bead chamber.