what are my options for surface extraction ?

[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".