protein skimmer

[stillballin145]

my protein skimmer is in the filter.how do i know if it is working and how can i fix it and also what is it that it does anyways ???

 

[itchy armpits]

protein skimmers only work on saltwater tanks. it uses bubbles to create a foam of waste proteins. takes a lot of load off of biological filter.

 

[sinasster]

To add to itchy.. the foam collects in the collection cup and you see how well the skimmer is working by how much it has collected.

What kind of filter is it that you have anyways?

 

[stillballin145]

it says supreme ? or can it be a skilter ? i believe yea skilter 400 or some #

 

[skatoholic]

Originally posted by itchy armpits
protein skimmers only work on saltwater tanks.

Do they do absolutly nothing for fresh? cuz my friend is selling me his tank, and filters, and everything but the fish. Im gonna make the tank fresh. He has a protein skimmer that i would get as part of the package. Would it do anything? Thanks

 

[aresgod]

wont do a thing
brahm

 

[wayne]

Can be made to work, but incredibly hard to maintain. They are sold for koi ponds. Saltwater is much 'stickier' than fresh so the bubbles hold together better.
If it's producing black smelly frothy muk it's working. If not, it's not. It pulls dissolved organics out of the water before they start decomposing to ammonia by sticking them to air bubbles.