protein skimming frshwater???

[the marine apprentice]

i know this may seem like a dumb question but i was wondering if it is possible to run a skimmer on freshwater to remove some of the nutrients.

[Fishward]

As far as i have read, what makes skimming work are the properties of salt water (specific gravity, surface tension etc.) . If you have one laying around it would be neat to find out for sure though!

[pelle31]

I think I read somewhere that a skimmer won't work on fresh,as it won't produce the tiny bubbles. I'd say just do a water change. Thats all I ever did when I bred Discus......waterchanges everyday it was crazy but I had some big ass Discus!!

[the marine apprentice]

that is what ive been told before as well. i just wanted to find out some opinions from others. thanks guys

[Delphinus]

Short answer: You can and you can't ..

Slightly longer answer: Generally speaking, you can't, you just won't get adequate foam fractionation (for the reasons stated above). However that said, there does seem to be such thing as a FW skimmer, think they are run on ponds in areas where the water is so insanely hard that basically you can get foam production.

[the marine apprentice]

thanks tony that makes sence as well.

[RuGlu6]

yes you can. Just need a right skimmer.
PMed you

[Chase31]

just ran a skimmer in freshwater and vinigar and it wouldnt skim, wont work without salt unless you look up a pond skimmer it works a little diff

[shrimpchips]

You can get foam fractionation in fresh water - ever been to a waterfall or even a turbulent river and seen all that foamy crap? Yep, skimmate my friends.

[the marine apprentice]

that makes sence because you always see foam all over the shore at the lake when there is a wind of any sort which is usually all the time