Andrew Butler
Member
I've read in a few places about weirs and spraybars not being effective so I assume that would rule out using a spraybar and a skimmer inlet too? - anyone any experience or ideas to offer?
Andrew
Andrew
Not too sure where you have got these kind of half truths from ?I've read in a few places about weirs and spraybars not being effective so I assume that would rule out using a spraybar and a skimmer inlet too? - anyone any experience or ideas to offer?
Andrew
I'm a lover of spraybars but also don't like the surface film that accumulates without the use of a skimmer and the 'fashion' at the minute seems to be combined skimmers/intakes which I have tried and do like but I've never tried one with a spraybar as I read about spraybars and weirs not working together so assumed it would be the same with skimmer inlets- I will have to hunt the threads out.Not too sure where you have got these kind of half truths from ?
A spray bar, positioned slight below the surface of the water, is one on the most excellent ways of getting decent water flow and distribution around the whole of a tank. This is even more so if you are injecting CO2 via an inline CO2 atomiser, allowing you to easily achieve the rough rule of thumb, for CO2 injected tanks of filtration rate being 10 times per hour the tank volume. ie tank volume of 100litres will need a 1000litre/hour filter. Also allowing slight surface ripple allows oxygen exchange into the water, but with slight minus of degassing CO2.
The issue with skimmer inlets in CO2 injected tanks is the falling/splashing water in the inlet rapidly degasses and CO2 you have spent all that effort injecting into the water. It can be done, by having monsterous CO2 injection rate to offset the losses but really is not recommended.
I don't get a surface film.I'm a lover of spraybars but also don't like the surface film that accumulates without the use of a skimmer
I will have to look these posts up but I know I've read many times about a surface film being the normal.Usually a surface film is an strong indication something is out of balance in the tank.
Thanks for the advice, I used to run the little Eheim skimmers on a timer but I'm just trying to cut down on things in my aquarium with that regard.I use to have a lot of trouble with surface film on one of my old Aquariums. I put it down to the oils in the fish food. Not much you can do about that if you have fish, they have to eat.
Many people have problems with surface film, I guess that’s why there are lots of surface skimmers available out there.
I would think that any large disruption of the water surface either by it going into the filter via a weir or out of the filter, say with a spray bar above the surface, will cause loss of CO2?
I think a small skimmer should solve your surface film problem. As others have said, you can use a skimmer permanently on say a canister filter inlet or you could use something like the self contained Eheim unit as required?
https://www.swelluk.com/eheim-skim-...MIpsDorIOR4gIVZrvtCh1PhQFeEAQYAiABEgI6OvD_BwE
There are other options out there if you look around. Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Usually a surface film is an strong indication something is out of balance in the tank.
You need to treat the cause rather than the symptoms.
Another way to get rid of surface scum is use an air stone & air pump which will agitate the surface and get rid of any surface film.
interested to hear if people think this could be the case.I’m pretty sure the cause is the large piece of bogwood in my tank
@jaypeecee I'm not saying @ian_m is wrong by a long way but it seems many people run a surface skimmer of some description, Aquarium Gardens and Filipe Oliviera included. Along with the product being manufactured this tells me they are something.
There are loads to choose from and the first things to decide is whether you want to use an electric one in addition to your current filtration or one which works as a skimmer inlet to your filter assuming you have an external filter. There's benefits and negatives to both sides.
Many people have problems with surface film, I guess that’s why there are lots of surface skimmers available out there.
I think a small skimmer should solve your surface film problem. As others have said, you can use a skimmer permanently on say a canister filter inlet or you could use something like the self contained Eheim unit as required?
There are other options out there if you look around. Good luck, let us know how you get on.
I don’t believe there is anything inherently wrong with my 37L Nano at the moment but I still have surface film. Luckily not enough that I need a skimmer. I’m pretty sure the cause is the large piece of bogwood in my tank and I’m not about to remove that.
Sorry to hijack the thread but care to share any more detail of them? Is it something that does a similar thing to a steriliser? (Twinstar etc)I have a Mini Oxydator
I've a couple I have used in the past and they do work fine, just a bit of an eyesore maybe which is possibly part of what you mean - even making them black would be a positive in my opinion.Hi Andrew,
I've decided to buy the Eheim skim350. On the whole, the reviews are good. But, several people comment that it can suck in fish and shrimps. I am hoping that my tea-strainer mesh will fix that. I think Eheim's design engineers overlooked the obvious here - my guess is that they don't keep fish themselves! Although Eheim is a reputable name, they are certainly capable of designing and producing goods that leave a lot to be desired.
JPC
maybe have a look here and see what you think. I did have a quick google of them and saw what they were in the very basics. How do they perform? Do you think they achieve a similar result to a steriliser?Oxydators just produce Oxygen Andrew. You fill it with 6% Hydrogen Peroxide and it reacts with a catalyst to produce Oxygen and water.
https://www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/sochting-oxydator/8-sochting-mini-oxydator-4019056825204.html