protein filter for fresh water (piranhas)

[meanbestorque]

What about BW? would you still need to modify the skimmer pump/impellar? I would imagine skimmers being more effective in BW than FW...

 

[zardoz]

Thanks Zardoz, this article is just what I needed to read. It does say that a skimmer could be less effective in a FW setup but also says it can work when properly modified. He says putting an oversized pump can achieve this, I would just modifiy the impeller. Most skimmers nowadays come with nice decent pumps, all they need is a better/modified propeller to chop the water into finer bubbles. I also like the fact that he points out that a skimmer helps reduce the need for so much water changes. When I used to have my SW setup I would go like for two months without a water change and all I did was just replace evaporated water and replenish elements like calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc. and the tank would thrieve.

Hello again.It is good that I hopefully could help you out with your project

Greetings a fishweirdo from denmark

 

[monstter77]

Monstter77, I think the pictures don't lie. It seems like duanes has had real good results with his DIY skimmer. Maybe not like in a SW setup but he does have the gunk to prove it. Monstter77, your post has a lot of good info but I still think it can work in a FW setup if a skimmer is properly designed for FW. I will have to try it myself, unfortunatly I am low on money, I have the skimmer, I would just need a sump and a return pump to get it going

Yeah I agree, what I got from all that info was that a Protein Skimmer will work in FW, it's just more effective in SW

 

[duanes]

It works well in brackish. I had a bank of my tanks brackish for a while with Etroplus and the waste looked almost as thick and viscous as SW waste.
Fresh water waste is wetter, and although it doesn't look the same, the air/water interface of a bubble works the same fresh or salt.
BTW I tried the "skilter" on a small FW tank, it really didn't have the power to do much in fresh.

 

[crazy clowntang]

Though they will obviously work I question whether you wouldn't be better off with more conventional approaches in FW. There is a reason why the mega corporations aren't pushing freshwater protein skimmers. Then again wait a sec......There was that one hob Skilter I think it was called. And DrsFosterSmith have a self branded hob with a built in skimmer. Not sure how well these two do though. Food for thought anyway.

The skilter was CRAP! I bought it when is first came out for a small 20 gallon reef but it never skimmed anything. I think they put too samll of a pump on it.

 

[James1]

Look at the skimmer at the bottom of this link. The one for fresh water. It works on a different principal. Looks like it will not be difficult to build.
http://www.koicarp.org.uk/koi_filters.htm
Remember the harder your water, the more it reacts like sea water. This skimmer looks like it will work in soft water. Are any of the other fresh water skimmers working well in soft water??????

 

[crazy clowntang]

Nics post James1. I am still not clear on how the foam is created but it does work way different than a SW protein skimer. In this freshwater skimmer the water is introduced at the top and the foam is at the bottom??? That is where I am confused. In SW skimmers the water enters the column thru the bottom and the foam is at the top and exits thru the top to a collection chamber. I guess we would need the makers of these skimmers to elaborate a little more on how the foam is created at the bottom.

 

[James1]

On the link there is another link to the supplier.
The way I understand it is the water flows down through bio-balls or similar media (very important to have media) and this flowing through the media creates bubbles. These bubbles cause the foam.
There was another link in this thread on skimmers and one of the designs was similar to this.

 

[zardoz]

My guess is that the filtermedia breaks op,and slows the water/air interaction ,so it is in contact with eact other a longer time. An foam is at the bottom...I guess gravity and weight of the water above