Why arnt we using skimmers like this?
- Thread starter Cory
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Skep18
Valuable Member
Looks like bio ball type gas exchange which, IIRC, has something to do with aerobic bacteria or something being undesireable in saltwater. Someone might know more but I know its discussed in a BRS video. Skimmers don't have media surface for bacteria filtration to grow.
But probably more importantly, that looks LOUD.
But probably more importantly, that looks LOUD.
OP
OP
Probably but think of this. Theres no ball valve to adjust, and the foam head has less gravity to fight so its removed easier.
Probably the worst thing is cleaning it.
Probably the worst thing is cleaning it.
Waters
"...in perfect isolation, here behind my wall."
......and the smell.......the skimmate is not contained at all. Although I guess it would be easy enough to rectify that.
LobsterOfJustice
Valuable Member
The air/water interface behaves differently for saltwater vs freshwater. If you take a skimmer designed for saltwater it won’t do anything in freshwater. The pond design is optimized for freshwater and likely would not work in saltwater.
revhtree
Owner Administrator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Reef Squad
Partner Member 2024
Excellence Award
RGB
Photo of the Month
Article Contributor
R2R TV Featured
Hospitality Award
Article Administrator
Black Friday Sponsor
Industry Professional
2nd Monthly Contributor
My Tank Thread
My Aquarium Showcase
- Joined
- May 8, 2006
- Messages
- 49,235
- Reaction score
- 98,071
Interesting!
Would you care to wager on that? IMO, if it produces that much foam in fresh water, it will produce a whole lot more in saltwater.
Looking at the diagram more, it is basically a freshwater rendition of a Downdraft skimmer. Like the ones we had from now defunct ETSS. Notice that the foam cup is much higher than the foam output of the freshwater version. That is because saltwater makes much more foam. So now that we have established that there are skimmers with this basic design in the hobby, you need to ask why the company that made them went out of business.
chefjpaul
2500 Club Member
This skimmer is designed for ponds
I couldn't imagine my wife's reaction to that
OP
OP
Looking at the diagram more, it is basically a freshwater rendition of a Downdraft skimmer. Like the ones we had from now defunct ETSS. Notice that the foam cup is much higher than the foam output of the freshwater version. That is because saltwater makes much more foam. So now that we have established that there are skimmers with this basic design in the hobby, you need to ask why the company that made them went out of business.
Yes exactly. Id expect they went out of business because they required a powerful pump. Or bad advertising.
Id still expect that having a cup up top is a poorer desighn than having the drain at the bottom. The pond skimmer would need to be adapted slightly for reef i agree. Those etss skimmers worked very well.
Dr. Dendrostein
Marine fish monthly
This skimmer is designed for ponds
Looks like the principal is agitate water surface line and so create foam. Foam builds up till it pushes out. I like it. Nice
I have a fiend who has an old ETSS that he won't part with. His only complaint is that the bio-balls in the column get cemented together with carbonates and need periodic de-cementing with vinegar or another acid.
mcarroll
10K Club member
What you said.
In a pond, they depend on TDS/waste to make up for the effect that salt in saltwater has on water to make skimming work.
(Protein skimming/foam fractionation is not unique to saltwater or even to fishkeeping.)
themcnertney
Valuable Member
Mine, only darker. I'll send you a pic when I get my lunch break.
Last edited:
LobsterOfJustice
Valuable Member
Agreed... pic shows solidly average foam at best, certainly not “dark”...
