protein skimming frshwater???
 

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.

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!

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!!

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

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

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.

thanks tony that makes sence as well.

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

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

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.

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