Surface Scum
The Eheim SSE works for me. I have a couple of them, but only one in use right now, on a tank with chronic surface scum issues. Adjusting the SSE is a PITA, but once it is set, I generally only have to run it (open the top skimmer) an hour or so every couple of days. That tank has too much val foliage floating at the surface, so lots of no-movement at all surface.
For a new setup, have you tried laying newspaper or paper towel on the surface and lifting it off? That is pretty effective for one-shot removal rather than chronic problems.
For a new setup, have you tried laying newspaper or paper towel on the surface and lifting it off? That is pretty effective for one-shot removal rather than chronic problems.
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Jonathan Kalmes
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:53 am
- Location: United States
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My SSE works great. I generally run it as with as little surface flow as possible and pull it out to feed (otherwise my cichlids eat the catfish food instead of the cichlid food).
But, another thing to consider if you have lots of surface scum is your CO2 level. I've been told that increasing the CO2 tends to decrease your surface scum. I've only just recently boosted my CO2 up to the needed levels for my tank, so I can't confirm this yet, but hope to soon.
One other thing to think about is that the scum isn't coming from your tank. If you're running a tank without covers, it's probably coming from the air and settling on your tank. Without covers, I get more scunge than the SSE or myself can deal with.
Just my two cents... hope they help.
But, another thing to consider if you have lots of surface scum is your CO2 level. I've been told that increasing the CO2 tends to decrease your surface scum. I've only just recently boosted my CO2 up to the needed levels for my tank, so I can't confirm this yet, but hope to soon.
One other thing to think about is that the scum isn't coming from your tank. If you're running a tank without covers, it's probably coming from the air and settling on your tank. Without covers, I get more scunge than the SSE or myself can deal with.
Just my two cents... hope they help.
I havent linked up the CO2 system yet, but it sounds possible. I jsut set this tank back up last night, after 2 years of hibernation. It sat in a corner of my apartment and collected dust and nicotine and dog fur inside while i re-coursed my life. So i rinsed it out pretty well, but theres still some goo surfacing, plus the driftwood is browning the h2o, so i will be doing water chages regularly. And i do have covers for the tank. thanks h
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Jonathan Kalmes
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 5:53 am
- Location: United States
- Contact:
[QUOTE=RTRJR] Jonathan - can't you just shut down the intake from the floating skimmer intakes for feeding?[/QUOTE]
I'm actually not sure if mine is the EHeim skimmer or the Hagen one. Regardless, it works pretty much the same way as far as I can tell. For feeding, I just pull the top "floating" part of the skimmer out. Works great for me... I don't have to unplug my canister or anything and the filter is still running (just not surface skimming) so it doesn't even really make a difference if I occaisionally forget to put the top part back on. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0"> It's fairly Jonathan-proof!
I'm actually not sure if mine is the EHeim skimmer or the Hagen one. Regardless, it works pretty much the same way as far as I can tell. For feeding, I just pull the top "floating" part of the skimmer out. Works great for me... I don't have to unplug my canister or anything and the filter is still running (just not surface skimming) so it doesn't even really make a difference if I occaisionally forget to put the top part back on. <img border="0" src="smileys/smiley1.gif" border="0"> It's fairly Jonathan-proof!
