what are my options for surface extraction ?

[resk]

hi

im running my co2 24/7

my filter is eheim 2213 classic

the filter output is about 1/3 from the top on the back. the holes are pointed at about 35-45 degree angle toward the top of the tank

in spite of having enough surface movement for areation, i am getting surface film

i read that the eheim surface extractor is a pain in the rear to keep properly adjusted

i would opt to buy a retail product, versus diy, so what products should i be looking for ?

tank is a 37g show

[RTR]

I never found the Eheim SSE to be any problem in use, exepting tanks with small floating plants (such as duckweed - clogs the surface intake) or excessive plant debris (degenerating stem plants shedding leaves in mass, can also clog the surface intake). I don't have either situation, so have used my 3 SSEs without problems for years.

The only other potential issue I see is in tanks which are allowed to fluctuate widely in fill level. That could get outside the range of motion available to the surface extractor. But that is a tank manitenance issue, not an equipment issue.

If your canister is high-volume, you may need to Y- or T- the SSE into the line with a regular intake as well. Eheim does offer that suggestion and the components to do it. High volume intake makes the ball at the bottom intake of the SSE chatter.

[Sumpin'fishy]

I'm using the Eheim Surface Extractor in line with an ECCO 2233 with no problems! It works great and will adjust to the water level dropping about 2"!!! That's quite a bit, and as RTR said, if you still have problems with that, it's because you don't maintain your tank well enough.

Even with my (relatively) small water flow going through my canister, I still get a small bit of "chatter" from the bottom "float ball" in the extractor, but it makes a huge difference in my tank clarity and cleanup! The light penetrates the water so much better now!

[Hebdizzle]

can any of you offer advice for a HOB surface sucker?

Thanks
Aaron

[resk]

i found this:

http://www.thekrib.com/Filters/Busko/

i searched for 'lee's economy corner filter +product' on google and found the right part

[plantbrain]

Generally something is not quite right iof I get surface scum to begin with.
I do large water changes till it's gone, one typically takes care of it.
If it's been clear and starts mucking up, I know something is forming that layer, plants, algae, too much food, something leaking out of the substrate ......etc.

When the plants pearl well, the scum seems to never form. The same is true with the SW macro algae tank, the plants leak out oils that form these layers I believe. It seems to correlate well with many observations over the years.
But like plants that are too tall, the large water change + pruning takes care of it along with a little surface turbulance.

But RTR is quite right, the Ehiem SSE is quite good , but the darn thing does not have much flow capacity. Unless your tank is smaller, perhaps 40 gal or less, you'll need a T/Y etc for more flow.

There are many DIY SE's out there(Do some searches). Some are nice looking and useful. Some are not too hard to build.

A canister filter + SE is a good combo IMO.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[djlen]

OR......you can pick up a female Black Mollie. She will take care of any surface scum you might have.
I have come to love mine dearly. She's a tireless worker.
Len

[Hebdizzle]

why do female black mollies take care of it? why only female?

Also, how do you tell the difference between male and female?

Thanks
Aaron

[caffeine]

I've never had surface scum as I'm still a newbie, but when changing your water with a gravel vac, why not push the top of the vac tube deeper into the water than the bottom of the tube, and let the edge of the tube go above the surface? It's hard to explain, but I think it would pull whatever is on the surface of the water down into the gravel vac tube and out of your tank. I've done it in my tank when sucking up a few floating leaves on the surface. Even a 20% water change would probably allow you enough time to pull in the entire surface of the water.

[RTR]

caffeine - of course you can remove it manually - a piece of absorbent paperworks fine also. But if it is a chronic or recurring issue, as I tend to have in 1 to 3 of my 2 dozen tanks at any given time, it is so much easier to automate the correction than to do a manual operation on demand.

[djlen]

The female mollies are much more industrious than the males IME.
Ask your LFS to pick out a nice plump female for you. If they don't know the difference you need to find another fish store.
Len

[resk]

mollies mouths jut out perfectly to be a little vaccum cleaner

i may go look at some tomorrow

the diy surface extractor seems like it may do a good job, ive got all the parts i need on order

want to be careful about overstocking at this point

the tank is 37g

25 neon
2 sm. angels
2 redeye tetra
1 sm. syndontis

im thinking unless i buy an r/o filter and use that, im going to experience some unwanted algae

[DIYMatt]

I have had similar problems on my tank. As you can see by my user I usually build/construct everything I possibly can, like stands, lighting and once an entire tank. But, a surface skimmer for a canister filter is something I would never trying to construct. Its not worth the expense of time and money.

I had an Eheim Ecco and I purcahsed a Eheim SSE from an LFS for like $30!!! I hated it, It was very tweaky and not worth the $ - Eheim.

Then I was at a warehouse type store and came across the Aquaclear surface skimmer for like $13.00. It is intended to attach to the input of an AQ HOB. But, with a little adapter I had lying around, I got it connected to the odd sized Eheim tubing. It worked like a dream. It is almost infinitely adjustable and has input on the bottom of the tube, so it can always be pulling the right amount of water into the skimmer with out making noise. I now have one on three tanks. ONe is hooked up to a mag 350 and no problem with noise and it easily handles the flow. I think there is Fluval version that may fit canister filter tubing better. Best of all it is $7.99 at Bigals!!!

BTW - I sold that Ecco to an "Eheim guy" for $40, then bought Rena Filstar XP1 for $45 on sale and I am much happier with it.

[RTR]

Sorry you were unhappy with Eheim products, but each to his own. BTW, the "odd" Eheim tubing sizes are simply metric, and marked clearly on the tubing as such (which no US manufacturer does). To most of the world, it is our non-metric tubing which is "odd".