Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from a liquid suspension using an evaporator/decanter having an outer and inner vessel and an inverted funnel member housed within the inner vessel, the leg of the funnel extending through the top of the inner vessel. A gutter member, mounted around the inner circumference of the inner vessel collects the clarified water. In a process for removing scaling agents from sea water, seed crystals are added to the sea water which is then heated to a temperature above the solubility limits of the scaling agents and above the operating temperatures of a desalination unit to cause the scaling agent to crystallize on the seed crystals. The seed crystal solution is then fed into the outer vessel of the apparatus to effect removal of the crystals and produce a clarified sea water feed for the desalination unit.