Protein Skimmer for a Fresh Water 125??

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nuth88

nuth88

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Oct 16, 2006
1,056
13
68
Firestone, Colorado
Hey~

I was wondering if anyone out here uses a protein skimmer on a fresh water tank?? I have 2 bigger Tanks (125 Gal All Glass - Large Cichlid, and a 46 Acrylic Show - Sevs) and I hate the surface scum/slime. I was looking at a:

SURFACE SKIMMER for outside filters by Aqua Clear

and a

Surface SKIMMER Remove Surface Waste from Aquarium



Connected to a power head or pump, filters surface water quickly raising the light penetration and aids the photosynthesis of water plants.
Easily control the water flow through the upper adjuster.
Self-floating design to adapt itself to the water level.

or a

Jebo 178 Protein Skimmer

or this on eBay

120083386227

Jet venturi skimming system for all marine aquariums from 10 gallon up to 100 gallon. . Ideal for external hang on or in-sump installation. Tube width is 3 1/2", cup size is 4 1/2". comes with a ca 800 pump
Dimensions: 4" x 4" x 4" x 19


Am I being crazy??

Help! All feedback is mucho appreciated!

:WHOA:
 
I dont think a protein skimmer will even work or do anything other then act like a overpriced powerhead in a freshwater tank.

Surface skimmers are another story...they work great.
 
What do you have for filters now?

Protein skimmers are difficult to get to work in fresh water, and the one's that do work are VERY expensive.

Do a search on this forum for alot of info in the last several months.

Surface skimmers, If you have a sump now you could invert an overflow pipe to do the job.

Dr Joe

.
 
My filtration is:

125 Gal

1 x 3 Penguin Emperors
1 x 1 AC 70 Powerhead with attachment (Dual chamber: 1 x Ceramic Media for Bio & 1 x Fluval Zeo Carb)
1 x 1 AC 50 Powerhead with attachment (Dual chamber: 1 x Ceramic Media for Bio & 1 x Fluval Zeo Carb)
1 x Ehiem Pro Canister 2026

46 Gal

1 x Whisper 60 (Only thing that would fit the Acyrlic opening)
1 x Fluval 4 in tank filter (With Internal Foam Filter with a Nitrate Pillow & a Ammonia Pillow)
1 x AC 30 Powerhead with attachment (Dual Chamber: 1 x Ceramic Media for Bio & 1 x Fluval Zeo Carb)
Just got a Magnum 350, will add if needed with desired media.

Just by your first reply's I have already learned, the difference between a surface skimmer, and a protein skimmer. :WHOA: The protein skimmers are out but am still wanting feedback on a surface skimmer, most likley on the 125 but not the 46. Overfiltration??

Thanks Folks, you have been helpfull! I still am asking for your feedback, but I have been doing this for over 20 years and see what you have just taught me! No matter how long you do this, you always can learn more every day! I have never done SW so, I wouldn't have a clue until now.

Keep the Feedback coming!

:D
 
If you want to try something, hook a 'J' pipe to the intake of the AC50 (?) so it turns back up to the surface and cut it off just under the water level so water just pours in it, this could give a gurgling noise but a piece of sponge should cure that (this is only for a test anyway)(if you can slip fit a piece of tubing over this it would be an adjustable height control.

Is that clear as mud?! :D

Hah! Twenty years is nothin', wait till your as OLD as Oddball. :ROFL:

Dr Joe

.
 
Would a Cannister be too powerful for a surface skimmer? I Was thinking more like a powerhead or a HOB.

:confused:
 
I know this is an old thread and from what I have seen in forums so far, everyone is almost dismissing protein skimmers for freshwater. i have to small turtles in a 55gl tank with a canister filter, aeration, plants(eat nitrites and nitrate. On top of that, I just got a Berlin X2 Turbo Protein Skimmer. Quite a expensive venture of $225 but I think I would like to run an experiment.

If you check out this company: http://www.absolute-koi.com/subcat601.html they sell freshwater skimmers for ponds and such. Regular skimmer, but with one catch. It's on reverse. Instead of collection cup being on top, it's on bottom, usually as a drip, on top is the aeration and in the middle are biorings. That's right, bio rings. It seems to work and I am trying it on my setup.

I have turned the skimmer on today(just got it) and instructions state it takes 3 days of operation for priming before anything shows up, which is consistent with several reports I have seen around the net with saltwater skimmers, which what mine is. Once it is primed, I will place biorings and see if it will operate normally, without the upside-down drip.

I'll start a new post to track parameters and report back over time.

Let me know what anyone thinks.
 
Well, a coralife superskimmer 65 can skim freshwater... with some help. probably most other skimmers too. I dont know if it is efficient enough to be of much help. need to test for 1 week to a month.
All I did to get it skimming is open both flow control full blast and the force feed it air via air pump and gang valve. made sure the bubbles were rolling out of the cone. I am goind to dial it back and see how dark the stuff in the collection cup gets.
I am not using ozone at this time, but should be able to try that too with this model.
 
I actually run a reef octopus sump skimmer on a 20 long with a 5 gal sump, it does a fantastic job removing mass quantities of fish wastes quick. The skimmate is near black and has to be emptied every few days, as long as you have aquarium salts in your water, you should be fine
 
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