Surface Film Skimming

[zaitmi]

i have 25 gallon nano reef from last 3 months, i see surface film layer on top.

please help me to get rid of surface skimming. i also went to a shop and they had surface skimmer for planted tanks, will it work for my tank? I mean does it only needs powerhead or it needs top filter ? i have one spare top filter.

kindly give any DIY suggestions?

No external filter no sump......i have only my 25 gallon nao cube tank.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19545995

[ryeguyy84]

aim your powerhead up to mix up the top layer. what type of filter are you using?

[uncleof6]

Originally Posted by ryeguyy84

aim your powerhead up to mix up the top layer. what type of filter are you using?

This will only mix it back down into the tank, to be processed by bacteria and feed micro algae.

[uncleof6]

Originally Posted by zaitmi

i have 25 gallon nano reef from last 3 months, i see surface film layer on top.

please help me to get rid of surface skimming. i also went to a shop and they had surface skimmer for planted tanks, will it work for my tank? I mean does it only needs powerhead or it needs top filter ? i have one spare top filter.

kindly give any DIY suggestions?

No external filter no sump......i have only my 25 gallon nao cube tank.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19545995

The only way to remove this "film" layer, which is composed of organic compounds, is to use an overflow that skims the surface of the water, a moves it to a location where it can be processed by what is called a "protein skimmer." There are both hang on the back overflows, and hang on the back protein skimmers, available. These two items, are generally considered the minimum requirements for a marine system.

[zaitmi]

Originally Posted by uncleof6

The only way to remove this "film" layer, which is composed of organic compounds, is to use an overflow that skims the surface of the water, a moves it to a location where it can be processed by what is called a "protein skimmer." There are both hang on the back overflows, and hang on the back protein skimmers, available. These two items, are generally considered the minimum requirements for a marine system.

Thanks for the reply.
I have hob protien skimmer but i dont have overflow....by overflow do u mean sump connected to the tank.

But wat abt. Surface skimmers, i mean how do they work? Will they be helpful to me?

[ryeguyy84]

I had a surface skimmer on my fluval back in the day. It just pulled in 50% of the water from the top and 50% from the bottom.

Basicly a mini overflow

[reeftivo]

if you have an HOB that doesn't have an overflow (like the octos) I wouldn't worry yourself about it too much. The surface skimming is an added benefit but is not a make or break thing. the post above recommending aiming your power heads or stream pumps toward the surface is the next best thing. As long as you are doing regular WC's and your skimmer is performing you should be fine.

Toms aquatics makes a small surface skimmer that you may be able to mod for your skimmer. Your tag says you have a remora so the pump is in tank and the Toms unit most likely will work.

[reeftivo]

here's a link for the Toms surface skimmer
http://www.marinedepot.com/filters_t...kimmer-ap.html

it may not be able to handle the gph depending on the size remora you have. It's cheap $$ though so may be worth a try

[Mr.Tan]

Originally Posted by reeftivo

here's a link for the Toms surface skimmer
http://www.marinedepot.com/filters_t...kimmer-ap.html

it may not be able to handle the gph depending on the size remora you have. It's cheap $$ though so may be worth a try

thats a pretty sweet unit, im assuming it might work on a HOB filter also? i mean, something like an aquaclear? for people that don't have sumps

[reeftivo]

should!

Now that I looked better at it, they pull from the top and the bottom so the gph shouldn't be an issue for his remora or a HOB filter either.

[greech]

Originally Posted by Mr.Tan

thats a pretty sweet unit, im assuming it might work on a HOB filter also? i mean, something like an aquaclear? for people that don't have sumps

Used one for over a year with my AC 70. It was a bit ugly in the display but it worked extremely well and was very quiet to boot. You'll want to clean it every so often but the clear part with the teeth just slips right off.

Here's a pic of my tank in my infancy with the surface skimmer...

[reeftivo]

Doesn't look all that bad, just looks functional (-;

I think the OP would be even better off because if he's using a remora he can just trim off most of the corrugated tube and slip it right over the intake at the pump and run it side by side.

heck, if it's around sched 40 size he may even be able to just get 1 female to female pcv fitting and slip them together off the pump intake if he's running a small mj1200.

[tankfly]

+1 on the Toms surface skimmer, well worth the $12. I have one hooked to a maxijet with the maxijet hanging from the tank rim. Works like a charm.

[zaitmi]

Thanks for all ur advice. I will try.

[zaitmi]

Originally Posted by greech

Used one for over a year with my AC 70. It was a bit ugly in the display but it worked extremely well and was very quiet to boot. You'll want to clean it every so often but the clear part with the teeth just slips right off.

Here's a pic of my tank in my infancy with the surface skimmer...

Thanks for the pic bro. But how do i connect it with powerhead or with a protien skimmer. An instruction would be very helpful. Please...

[zaitmi]

Ok bro, i have read somewhere to put a4 size printer papers or paper napkins to clean the stuff weekly as they absorb a lot of oil slick from the surface. Hope it might also work.

[reeftivo]

do you have a maxi jet or equivalent pump hanging in the tank that powers the protien skimmer you're using?

If so, you would attach the corrugated tube (in pic on link) directly to the intake of the pump in your tank. Then you would use the suction cups on the surface skimmer to mount it to the back wall of the tank. The top of the surface skimmer adjusts to the water level. From what I recall it actually floats at the surface slightly and pulls water from the skimmer wiers at the top and draws from the bottom as well.

very simple install.

[greech]

Yep it floats on the water so you don't need to mess with it once it's set. I used mine with an Aquaclear HOB filter. Connected right to it by slipping over the intake tube of the filter. Not sure how you would hook it to a powerhead.

[gmate]

Thanks for the recommendation on the 12 dollar surface skimmer, bookmarked the item and plan to purchase.

[zaitmi]

Here is my 1500ltr powerhead, is it possible to fit surface skimmer in this powerhead. plz reply here are the pics :

[Frogmanx82]

You should be able to connect those. I have a Tom's skimmer in my 90 reef, 150 african cichlid tank and my 55 gallon planted tank. Used them for many years, you can hook up virtually any pump to them, you just need to play with hose connections and work up something that fits. There is an adjustable setting to get just the right overflow without sucking in air depending on the flow rate of the pump.

I do find if you break one of the tines off the top you get better skimming by having that one larger opening. It also is less likely to plug with gunk. I would always break off one tine, all the way down to the base where it connects. On my 150 I have 2 tines broken off on opposite sides and it works great. More than that you may flood the skimmer unless you have a really strong pump.

[zaitmi]

Thanks, i am not having a tom skimmer but a chinese one, coz its not available in India. As i dont want to use my protien skimmer with surface skimmer, can i fix my top filter with surface skimmer.

[zaitmi]

Anyone...?

[Frogmanx82]

zaitmi, these skimmers are pretty easy to adapt to any intake. Its pretty easy to adapt a canister or HOB filter or any pump. Just attach a flexible hose to the filter intake and the other end to the skimmer. Then adjust the skimmer flow so that you don't suck in air. The skimmer has a knob that allows the flow to come in from the bottom or from the surface. I usually set it so the water level inside the skimmer is about an inch below the surface level. You are making this harder than it is. Just get one.