Filtration, surface skimmers and so on...

Gilles · Mar 27, 2013

Still overthinking my filtration...
Right now i have the JBL topclean 2 surface skimmer, but it isn't half as good as my previous overflow i had.
At this moment I don't have the room for a sump. I wish i had since i had it and it makes life much easer

So i am wondering; ADA has a very pricy surface cleaner, ebay has a cheap fake off course. But now i also read that with a lilly pipe, a skimmer is not needed.
is this true?

thegasman · Mar 27, 2013

I made a DIY ADA like surface skimmer. It worked, but requires the water level to remain constant or it will start to suck air and make noise. The Lilly pipe does nothing for me with my Eheim 2217 running through a Aqua Medic 1000 reactor. The Lilly pipe requires a good deal of flow to create the vortex effect that supposedly pulls the surface film into the water column. I've seen tanks that do have enough flow to get the vortex. They still have surface film. YMMV.

Gilles · Mar 27, 2013

Do you have pics and/or a build thread?

thegasman · Mar 27, 2013

I used this reference http://aqua.c1ub.net/forum/lite.php?topic=158328.0

Tom Barr · Mar 27, 2013

"Vuppa", search that term, Matt had one, sold it.

Not much of a solution really.

ShadowMac · Mar 27, 2013

I've never managed to keep the surface clear with just a lily pipe. I think you need to put a lot of flow through it to really get it to suck the film down. I get the vortex, but it doesn't remove surface film. Aerating at night by raising the lily pipe will remove the film every night, but it shows back up.

I use the VUPPA and it has been a decent solution for me. It doesn't really add much to filtration but keeps the surface clear. It needs to be constantly adjusted for water level and you need to ensure nothing blocks the flow or it will sputter loudly. I don't have an overflow or sump so this type of thing is what I went with. It has worked for me.

Tom Barr · Mar 27, 2013

I'd say the Mame is a far better solution to surface scum, or a small HOB prefilter such as the Eshopps nano prefilter.

These take up as much or less space than the Vuppa.

The knock off Vuppa looks decent.

Tom Barr · Mar 27, 2013

Also, activated carbon and purigen might help considerably.
They need changed every so often, monthly with the carbon.

ShadowMac · Mar 27, 2013

Does a mame overflow work with a canister filter?

Any links to the other items you mentioned. I had a hard time finding anything small and low profile to use for scum removal.

thegasman · Mar 27, 2013

The Mame does not work with a canister. It's a trick looking alternative to an overflow box. It's designed to be used with a sump. Ehiem has this http://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/accessories/cleaning/surface_skimmer_skim350 but I don't think it's available in the US yet. Unlike the Vuppa, it will adjust to fluctuating water height.

Gilles · Mar 28, 2013

Well, all options considered;
- Bying a shiny ADA (or rip off): constantly adjusting is not my thing. And i think it is very visible in the tank.
- DIYing an ADA will have the same problems, it will not look nice and i have to adjust it always. It will also set me back on ebay costs

The Eheim surface skimmer seems to be the best option. Why?

Because now i have this:

Reasons to change it?
- It looks bulky in the tank
- It is also not easy to adjust
- It sucks from the surface, so not all dirt floating in the water goes though my canister.

To be continued.

Yo-han · Mar 28, 2013

Though all these things might help to get rid of the surface scum, it's only curing the symptom. A lily pipe works for a little surface scum, but its not a miracle worker. The question you should ask yourself is: What is in this surface scum layer? What causes surface scum? If you know these things you can prevent it from forming instead of mixing it into your water. Think about it

Gilles · Mar 28, 2013

I didn't say i have surface scum. I don't actually have it at all; but i like the fact that the plant leaves flow to one position, makes the surface clean.
So if i can add extra flow in my tank, better filtration and a clean surface for 5 watts, why not?

Linds · Mar 28, 2013

Yo-han;102529 said:
Though all these things might help to get rid of the surface scum, it's only curing the symptom. A lily pipe works for a little surface scum, but its not a miracle worker. The question you should ask yourself is: What is in this surface scum layer? What causes surface scum? If you know these things you can prevent it from forming instead of mixing it into your water. Think about it

How would one prevent surface scum? I have a problem with moths flying into my water at night. They make a scum of their own lol.

Linds

feh · Mar 30, 2013

thegasman;102363 said:
The Mame does not work with a canister. It's a trick looking alternative to an overflow box. It's designed to be used with a sump. Ehiem has this http://www.eheim.com/en_GB/products/accessories/cleaning/surface_skimmer_skim350 but I don't think it's available in the US yet. Unlike the Vuppa, it will adjust to fluctuating water height.

An ATO would help keep the water level where it should be.

thegasman · Mar 30, 2013

feh;103666 said:
An ATO would help keep the water level where it should be.

Yup, but I think one of the goals is to have less stuff in the tank. Tunze has this new nano ATO that is pretty darn compact though. I use the regular Osmolator in my sump and love it! http://tunzeusa.com/the-new-nano-osmolator/

Tom Barr · Mar 30, 2013

Run 2 filters , one a canister and then a small Wet/dry filter and this:

http://reefbuilders.com/2010/05/06/mame-overflow-for-nano-reef-tanks/

rogerfans · Mar 31, 2013

I ordered a skimmer350 from webstore. I also think it's better than ADA...

Tom Barr · Apr 1, 2013

http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/ehiem-micro-skimmer-350-review.25318/

Wwh2694 · Apr 1, 2013

Look at this..

http://youtu.be/lxeFunSfMPs

Filtration, surface skimmers and so on...

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