Mr Controversary is back at it :D Answer me This
- Thread starter kydsexy
- Start date
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
Couldn't agree more, goreefer.
Learned a lot about reef chemistry... nevermind how to be a polite, informative, and positive contributor to this site by watching a master at it.
[now if I could just do that!]
Learned a lot about reef chemistry... nevermind how to be a polite, informative, and positive contributor to this site by watching a master at it.
[now if I could just do that!]
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yrema
Lounger
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11669620#post11669620 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randy Holmes-Farley
That was pretty tough some answers iu had no clue and just closed my eyes and clicked
Hey, that's not always a bad way to go!
I'm glad some folks appreciate the quizes.
FWIW, I wish I had time to write a reef chemistry book, but there are too many other things to do. I just got back from meeting with the FDA on one of my programs. I figure most of you would rather live longer, healthier lives than read a new reef chemistry book.
I love your quizzes, randy! can you make one again?
And a new reef chemistry book will make our reef lives a bit easier.
SpiritRift
Premium Member
if the op can still read this thread he might want to ponder on this quote:
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
-Stephen Hawking
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
-Stephen Hawking
Wow this could have been a great discussion on a topic everyone takes for granted in this hobby. Instead it became an exercise in stupidity vs. ignorance. Troll on!
As it was already stated natural FW systems do have protein skimmers. I mean rivers, streams and creeks, not an aquarium when I type natural. I have seen on different southeastern systems skimmate being collected on the water's surface. Thinking about it each time there were several things in common:
1. Large nutrient source upsteam entering the system such as a farm or golf course.
2. There was a long riffle-run sequence.
3. There was a deep slow moving pool at the end of the sequence where the skimmate collected usually behind a boulder or fallen tree.
So you have a source, long contact/mixing time of bubbles and waste in the sequence, and a "collection cup" in the pool. Basically it is a very big skimmer.
So why not in a FW home system? Except for those people who spend the hundreds and thousands on a fish (lucky), I think it is mostly economics. Who is going to buy a $500 skimmer even if it works on $50 worth of fish? Yes there are some that would but overall water is very cheap to exchange (which it won't always be the case).
As it was already stated natural FW systems do have protein skimmers. I mean rivers, streams and creeks, not an aquarium when I type natural. I have seen on different southeastern systems skimmate being collected on the water's surface. Thinking about it each time there were several things in common:
1. Large nutrient source upsteam entering the system such as a farm or golf course.
2. There was a long riffle-run sequence.
3. There was a deep slow moving pool at the end of the sequence where the skimmate collected usually behind a boulder or fallen tree.
So you have a source, long contact/mixing time of bubbles and waste in the sequence, and a "collection cup" in the pool. Basically it is a very big skimmer.
So why not in a FW home system? Except for those people who spend the hundreds and thousands on a fish (lucky), I think it is mostly economics. Who is going to buy a $500 skimmer even if it works on $50 worth of fish? Yes there are some that would but overall water is very cheap to exchange (which it won't always be the case).
B.C.theReefer
New member
So in freshwater bubbles are smaller. I use a product called mela-fix in my freshwater systems. It make the bubbles noticably smaller and foam to form above the air stones. When added to saltwater, it makes the skimmer go crazy. Now that I've read this, I'm going to try putting a skimmer on one of my freshwater tanks that I've used mela-fix in. I'm curious to see if it will actually form foam. We'll see.
FunkieReefJunkie
Member
No, anyone who aerates their water by pump with venturi before making a batch of saltwater has observed the bubbles are larger in freshwater. It's after you add salt the water goes cloudy with fine bubbles.
Mela-fix may have a surfactant in it which would cause what you observed. I have no experience with it. De-chlorinators have the same effect. You can give that a shot as well.
yrema
Lounger
that's exactly the point, why spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars for an essentially unusable (or out of place, if that's the word) equipment when you can easily change your tank water with a new one? (unless of course, you're keeping fish that requires RO/DI water?)
I am also curious with kyd's post regarding freshwater ponds with skimmers. I really need to see that one.
anyway, I agree that this could be an interesting thread, if the author did show a bit of respect to other posters.
i have no way of knowing what Mr. sexy meant by skimmer, but what i know about pond skimmers is they are not skimmers as we know them. they are a box that acts like an overflow collecting surface water. no bubbles at all. http://www.pondliner.com/Skimmers.htm i think he didn't know what he was talking about on many levels.
HBtank
Premium Member
Shuran makes freshwater skimmers. They are used on expensive koi ponds.
The number #1 requirement for FW skimmers to actually work is VERY dirty water. The kind that only a carp, aka koi, or catfish etc.. could live in. There is so much organic matter that it will foam. In a sense, it is far from "fresh" water with all the organic waste/debris, and gains properties that make it closer to SW in regards to bubble/foam formation.. In reality, even though they exist, they have little relevance to 95% of freshwater applications. They would only be useful on a very heavily stocked tank/pond with fish that can tolerate highly eutrophic conditions..
Where skimmers allow us to get to very low nutrient levels in SW, the very basic requirment of them to work in FW makes them totally unrelated IMO.
Look at the bottom half of the page:
http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/aquarium/schuran-skimmers.asp
The number #1 requirement for FW skimmers to actually work is VERY dirty water. The kind that only a carp, aka koi, or catfish etc.. could live in. There is so much organic matter that it will foam. In a sense, it is far from "fresh" water with all the organic waste/debris, and gains properties that make it closer to SW in regards to bubble/foam formation.. In reality, even though they exist, they have little relevance to 95% of freshwater applications. They would only be useful on a very heavily stocked tank/pond with fish that can tolerate highly eutrophic conditions..
Where skimmers allow us to get to very low nutrient levels in SW, the very basic requirment of them to work in FW makes them totally unrelated IMO.
Look at the bottom half of the page:
http://www.tmc-ltd.co.uk/aquarium/schuran-skimmers.asp
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It assumed you got everything else wrong. You might have done better guessing, or perhaps not if you aren't verry lucky.
:thumbsup:
Maybe biology is good for something after all.
Maybe biology is good for something after all.
Sure Randy--Multiple Choice.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Rex,
He had no intention of listening, he just wanted to be start trouble.
He had no intention of listening, he just wanted to be start trouble.
miwoodar
Likey the bikey
+1
How did I miss this thread? I think I skimmed (pun intended) at one time but clicked off before I got to the goods. I think this guy trashed the account of another user - I sure hope so because if he has anything to do with counseling, hopefully it's by way of laying on the couch.
+1 again
Randy, your quizzes have always been humbling to say the least (and to think, I almost majored in chemistry when I was in school). I would take your tests again to refresh but I might end up on the very same couch as the OP.
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