Protein skimmer in a planted aquarium

[Ken Loon]

Hi,

Can I use a protein skimmer in a planted tank?

Thanks,
Ken Loon

 

[Tom Barr]

Yes, but it'll drive off the CO2 and not get any skimmate, there's far less surface tension in FW than in marine systems, this is why you get much smaller bubbles in marine systems and why you have good surface scum retention/skimmate in marine but not FW.

The salts/ions holds the water "tighter".
In really filthy FW systems, you might get some though, like wastewater.

Regards,
Tom Barr