Electrical protein skiming

[MeLLeR]

We all know skimmers work... and we all rely on the protein skimmers functionality as a critical aid in maintaining our nutrient levels in our tanks.
But what if there was another way to do so?

From what i understand, the proteins that break down to form our arch nemesis nutrients are removed by foam fractionation by relying on + and - electrical attractions to the surfaces of the individual bubbles, and the rising/climbing effect conveniently removes these elements into a collection cup for us to physically dispose of.

What if we could replicate these + and - fields with a structured electrical field?

I'm contemplating whether or not a Turf scrubber style arrangement, with flowing water running over a surface could be embedded with wires that carry and generate a + and - charge fields would achieve the same attractions, and a cleaning scrubber could remove the physical build up of attracted particles? How do you prevent pulling apart the water and separating the elements we would want to keep?

I'm no chemist, electrical engineer or anything remotely close, just a dreamer so shoot down my ignorance and help me learn

 

[klwheat]

interesting idea...but I'm not sure about intentionally mixing electricity and saltwater. Well, tagging along

 

[alprazo]

An ionic breeze for your tank? I believe that there is a conductivity issue?

 

[Gorgok]

An ionic breeze for your tank?

Is all i had in mind as i started reading the post...

But yeah, I see many problems with water being a conductor, corrosion (accelerated due to electricity), and metals in water causing chemical reactions.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I guess it's pretty easy to see issues like Gorgok stated. But it's an interesting issue to consider. Will the nutrients actually be attracted to the electrical charged field? I have no clue. Is there a danger in putting electricity in our tanks? Yes, but many/most of us already have it, so whats the harm in a little more. I see an issue with the more you try to protect the electrical grid from the effects of the saltwater, the more you may have to increase the electricity to get the charge needed to attract the nutrients. And how much 'stuff' will the grid hold and how easy or hard will it be to remove and clean?

MeLLer, you may have just given some half crazy entrepreneurial reefer the seed of an idea that will become a crazy new toy we will all be paying $500 a piece for in 3-5 years! You need to demand royalties right now! Unless some intellectual thief in China just steals the idea and comes out with it next month, in which case you are screwed! LOL1

 

[alprazo]

You could do some type of ion exchange with chemical properties causing the binding instead of electrostatic. Then backwash it like a water softner. They have it for nitrate in fresh water.

 

[Allmost]

Given enough current what you described would work as electrolysis. Hydrogen bubbles on one side and calcification of metals on other side.
There was a big research done on this many years ago to actually grow corals ... Biorock.

Itnwould be interesting to find a way to attract just +- organics though before metals and water itself start breaking down.

 

[Osteoclast]

Proteins are separated on the basis of size and charge through a well known method known as SDS electrophoresis. It utilizes a gelatin base with charge separation. It is used to discover and separate out individual proteins and it is a slow technique. Export of mixtures of whole organic refuse is what we are trying to accomplish with skimmers. Since organic derbie can have differences in charge, I am not sure an electrical application would accomplish anything.

 

[MeLLeR]

Bummer.... Was hoping to have been the guy to come out with the new best thing!

Oh well, had to be a reason why the gurus hadn't already invented it