protein skimmer 4 fresh water tank???

[drcarr]

please help...i am setting up a freshwater tank w/ some predator fish (messy eaters) and wanted to know if i can use a saltwater filtration system...70 gallon tank, hang on overflow, sump w/ bioballs, etss protein skimmer, but just use all of this in the freshwater setup. will this work as filtration? i have always done reef tanks and this is my 1st freshwater!!!
thanks in advance!

 

[mariner]

The thing that makes protein skimmers work is the high PH and the salt. Sorry, but skimmers were made for saltwater. You could most definitely use the other filtration though.

 

[esmithiii]

Actually, skimmers are used in waste water treatment facilities which process fresh water, not salt water.

unfortunately chemicals are needed to cause the water to foam and I don't yhink that the technique is in use for fresh water aquariums yet.

Ernie

 

[drcarr]

piranha's.
so i can keep the sump and bioballs (and add carbon or sponges)but ditch the skimmer for a canister filter? should i or do i have to add biowheels?
thanks a million in advance!

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

The book "Discus Health" has a picture of a skimmer working of a fresh water tank.

The picture as I recall only showed very thin light green effluent being produced - hardly what we're used to in salt water.

 

[drcarr]

do i have to have other filtration besides the bioballs? any kind of mechanical filtration? or other for fresh water?

 

[esmithiii]

This board is for saltwater, so you might want to seek advice on FW elsewhere. I use a canister filter w/ carbon and a biowheel on my FW tank.

Ernie

 

[FMarini]

Hi:
foam generators work better in SW, than FW. In FW, you have to drive the venturis harder to get efficient bubbling, but it certainly can be done.
Think about it, mazei venturi jets are made for hot tubs, and beckett foaming heads are for FW fish ponds. As Esmithii mentions foam fractionators were intially designed for sewage treatment plants.
For FW you can think of a few things. 1)-change large volumes of water frequently,
2) wet-drys and cannisters, carbon, sponges etc. Just make sure you clean these things alot. Else you hav detritus buildup.
Feed only a few times a week.
3)-lots of water changes

So what kind of FW predator? snakeheads, polypterus?
frank

 

[rabbie]

Get yourself a big canister filter(Fluval 404), 3 interpet triton tubes and fill the tank with real plants.

 

[Mouse]

Last i heard there was a company specifically designing a fresh water protien skimmer. Let me tap it in and ill se if i can pull up a pic or something.