skimmer help

[kanima]

After some reading I see that I need to keep my phosphate levels as close to 0ppm as possible and a skimmer is the best way to do that.

But I am confused as to the type and connections etc.

My setup at home is a sealife systems 175 wet/dry with a oceanrunner 2500 all this is going through the buckhead fittings.

Now my question is this take this simmer for an example.
Saltwater Marine Aquarium Water Quality & Filtration: Turboflotor Protein Skimmers

Now can i run a skimmer and the wet/dry off the OR2500 ? Do I need a second pump ?
where do i place the simmer in the wet/dry does the placement matter?

Basicly it is tank line--trickle fitler--bioballs--spongemedia-- or2500--tank return

What i can gather with a skimmer it would be tankline --skimmer--tricklefilter bioballs spongemedia--or2500--tank.

[leebca]

I'm curious how you learned or were told that a skimmer is the "best way" to control phosphates. This is not true to the best of my information. A skimmer does remove some phosphates, but only the ones connected to proteins, and then, not all of those. A skimmer will remove elements bound to larger molecules too and anything that will fractionate in the foam. They however don't do such a great job as to risk stripping water of its contents.

Skimmers do not remove all types of proteins from the salt water. They are particularly unable to remove those that generally referred to as fatty acids. Thus a good working skimmer may leave what might be called an oil slick on the surface of the water (if the water was to remain stagnant).

Any skimmer that will produce bubbles (the smaller the bubbles the better in general) will work. Choose one that is easy to clean and control -- One you are comfortable with. Look at them in person and get a demo.

Sizing the skimmer can be challenging since there are no standards. If you look at this post, you'll find skimmers mentioned and how to size them: What is Water Quality.

The skimmer usually is not in-line with a pump performing another function. A dedicated pump is used to pump water to the skimmer. This controls and maintains the flow better. The skimmer then dumps the treated water back to the system. This equipment is often placed into a sump or a hang-on outside arrangement. With the size aquarium you have, a sump would be more convenient. Depending upon the kind of skimmer a pump and air supply may be required.

Skimmers can be placed almost anywhere in line. My personal preference is to place them after the biological filter, allowing the microbes to capture and/or utilize any proteins and elements they need before the skimmer alters the water.

[kanima]

Just google skimmers and phosphates , there are all kinds of articles and forum post saying they were the best way to remove them. I figured that would be better than using a phosphate chemical remover.

[Ninong]

Hi kanima,

Just google skimmers and phosphates , there are all kinds of articles and forum post saying they were the best way to remove them. I figured that would be better than using a phosphate chemical remover.

"Inorganic orthophosphate itself does not adsorb onto an air water interface, and so will not be directly skimmed out. In fact, such highly charged ions as phosphate are actually repelled by an air / water interface, where they are unable to be effectively hydrated on the side exposed to the air." -- Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley

However, Randy explains that skimmers can remove certain organic molecules before they can be broken down into phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, etc., so in that sense skimming helps you avoid phosphate problems but Lee is correct in saying that skimmers do not remove phosphate as such.

Check out this article in which Randy explains the various methods for exporting phosphate, including using granular ferric oxide/hydroxide media among other methods.



P.S. -- The most commonly used method for attacking a phosphate problem is the use of an iron oxide/hydroxide sponge product. There are several good products on the market. Avoid the ones that use alumina as the media.