UV Sterilizer

[duanes]

I use protein skimmers on fresh water, and they work very well. They would also work on brackish, however the little hang on back ones with wimpy flow don't.
Mine use a minimum of a 1200gph pump, and are DIY.
I have built and used countercurrent fractionators, but now use a cascade variety, because of its simplicity and biological filtration capacity.

 

[Countryboy]

I use protein skimmers on fresh water, and they work very well. They would also work on brackish, however the little hang on back ones with wimpy flow don't.
Mine use a minimum of a 1200gph pump, and are DIY.
I have built and used countercurrent fractionators, but now use a cascade variety, because of its simplicity and biological filtration capacity.

Something wrong with your water.

 

[ukgoffer]

Thanks again. Any chance this would help clear any bacteria in the water? I am worried about spots that two of my scats have developed. See forum - freshwater diseases "scat - bacteria?".
eric

 

[duanes]

Protein skimming, (fractionation) takes out anything from bacteria, algae, organic and non organic chemicals, DOC and a host of other pollutants and anything that can be caught in the air/water interface. The 2 fractionators in the photos are on an outside tank and a 1700 gal pond. When I worked as a microbiologist I compared the waste of a small protein skimmer under the microscope to straight tank water, the ratio of micro and macro animal removal was 80 to 1, ciliates, nematodes etc (ich tomites)and organic matter (DOC) weighed in comparison (when dried) about the same ratio. Fractionator waste left, tank water right

I actually had to dilute the fractionate a few times to get it thru the drying filter

ready to be weighed after dessication

And water parameters are in the tank,
nitrate 2-5ppm,
ammonia 0.00,
nitrite 0.00, pH 7.8,
hardness 250ppm
alkalinity 100ppm.
I allow algae to grow on all sides of tanks, except the front as a grazing medium for fry, so without skimming, the water can get green.

I noticed the video had moved, here is another link

 

[ukgoffer]

Thanks to all. The brown algae seems to finally be at bay. I'm adding my UV sterilizer today for good measure. The water is still surprisingly hard but this should drop with the wc at 25% weekly. The other numbers are good and as far as I can tell, hard water doesn't create any imminent threats.