Water surface skimmers

[Hawkins409]

I have a canister filter that draws water from low in the tank, instead of the surface like a lot of sump systems use. The return on my canister filter system agitates the surface of the tank. I also have a power head that agitates the surface on the other side. But still, there is a thin film of stuff on the surface, plus plant debris after trimming floats to the surface - and it is impossible to remove 100 percent of it. So.... I'm thinking about a water surface skimmer.

I have seen that you can build a DIY surface skimmer with a power head and water bottle, but... that's not as sleek as I'd like. I have also seen commercial skimmers that look like they just replace the intake on the canister filter system, but I'm not sure about that - it looks like it just draws water from the surface only. Any ideas?

 

[Mr tap water]

Hi there
You can buy surface skimmer attachments there's a few makes out there and won't cost too much or you could go for a tanze motorised skimmer it is a separate unit that sticks to the inside of your tank

 

[Mordachai]

I've been very happy with this one: Amazon.com: Hagen Fluval Surface Skimmer: Pet Supplies

I have a Fluval 306, but I think this would work with any of the Fluval's without additional adapters.

Adjustable, and I turn It sideways in the water when I want to do a large WC, to keep the pump pulling from under water.

 

[Rivercats]

I actually have that surface skimmer on one of my Fluval 406 canisters BUT it's made to fit the smaller Fluval canisters so you might have to get creative hooking it up to the hose on the Fluval. I can't remember what my daughter used but she got some pieces from the spare parts box and managed to rig it together so it works.

 

[Hawkins409]

Do the surface skimmer attachments, like the Fluval or others designed like it, draw water just from the surface? If so, is that a bad thing to have your canister only drawing from the surface?

 

[Mordachai]

They draw mostly from below the surface, with a small amount skimmed from the surface. You can adjust the ratio from a little twistable stem that sticks out from the skimmer. I try to keep it low - just enough so that the surface doesn't accumulate a skein of bacterial slime.

The skimmer floats - so it adjusts as your water level adjusts. You just control the ratio of suction, which controls how much is from the top vs. bottom.

 

[Hawkins409]

Cool. Thanks. Sounds like I'll be ordering one of those.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

There's also the new eheim skim 350. It's a very nice unit, IMO.

http://www.petsolutions.com/C/Aquarium-Protein-Skimmers/I/Eheim-Skim350.aspx

I've been using a SunSun 301 HOB surface skimmer on my 60P. It's been doing a phenomenal job keeping the surface crystal. There's also a 501 model that's bigger.

Here's a video of my skimmer action:

 

[Hawkins409]

Picked up a simple surface skimmer to attach to the canister filter system. It's the kind with the float. It works great! Crystal clear surface now. And it doesn't make a sound.