Skimmer a must have for a planted tank?

[qngwn]

Hi guys

just wanted to ask is it is advisable to use a skimmer for a planted tank..

cos i see like a flim of dirty stuff up there and occassionally need to scoop them up.
according to my friend they're the cause of the plants 'passing motion'

but actually how does a skimmer work?

[blackBRUSHalgae]

It allows your external filter to have a bypass to suck the scum off the water surface.

Yes the scum is those film-like organic stuff floating on the surface.

It is the best equipment for this task. Simple and no frills.

[qngwn]

i'm currently using a internal filter. it can only be used with external filters?

[newtank]

First and foremost, congratulations, if you have a thin film of "oil" on the surface, that means your plants are alive!!!

Secondly, it does not affect your plants drastically but it does reduce the lights reaching your plants, not in dramatic terms , but it does affect.

And if you have an open top tank, then, its pure ugly and reduce the joy of admiring your tank from above.

I think it is difficult to attach one to an internal filter but it is possible for a HOF, even some HOF comes with skimmer.

[bryan]

If you can get some agitation near the surface, it might be able to dissipate the protein layer.

[barmby]

Myself, I create ripple near the surface.Not too much as u may lose CO2. It also allow some oxygen to get into the water. It work against algae too

Always remember to test your CO2 content after creating this feature.

[qngwn]

i'm using the internal filter and now it agitates the surface a little. i still see bits of stuff there. and anyway i'm using CO2 tablets.. so could it be the residue of the co2 tablets instead of the 'oil' ?

[craftsman]

I am using lily pipes which creates quite abit of agitation ont he surface. I don't have a problem like this.

[qngwn]

I am using lily pipes which creates quite abit of agitation ont he surface. I don't have a problem like this.

hmm then wont it lose CO2 since it agitates the surface?

[freshfish]

i was thinking of this too , anyone can advise if using the lily pipe will make the water lose the co2 faster ?

[qngwn]

i was thinking of this too , anyone can advise if using the lily pipe will make the water lose the co2 faster ?

depends too. CO2 will be lost no matter how or what method you use. however the more you agitate the surface, the more CO2 you will lose.

[Loopy]

Firstly, I think this thread should be moved out of here as it is in the wrong place.

I do 24/7 CO2 with 24/7 Water Agitation.

The main tank has a skimmer as the oil film drives me loopy. The other tank at work is cleaned with a GNC Water Bottle at the surface.

[qngwn]

good idea.. bro

good idea.. to what?
you dont collects posts like this though.

[CK Yeo]

I am a little confused. Are you asking about a protein skimmer or surface skimmer?

ck

[torque6]

i'm not using any skimmer of any short.

[qngwn]

I am a little confused. Are you asking about a protein skimmer or surface skimmer?

ck

hmm.

is there a difference between protein skimmer and surfac skimmer?
all those that i see in LFS are surface skimmers.

never head of any protein skimmers before.
kinda new to planted aquairums, so do pardon me.

[qngwn]

i'm not using any skimmer of any short.

then do you have this oily thing floating on your surface?

how do you get rid of them?
or do u just leave them as it is?

[torque6]

Yup, i do have oily stuff floating on my surface at times, but i have a HOF thus this provides some water agitation. It has its pro and cons considering i have a planted tank which relies heavily on calm water surfaces to ensure better co2 dissolvement and circulation.

[qngwn]

but water agitation shld be okay, unless it's like very strong like it causes bubbles? when the water is agitated? so with water agitation there will not be a flim of oil on top am i correct to say that?

and.. whats a HOF? OHF u mean?

[Shadow]

HOF = hang on filter

I have surface skimmer in all my high tech tank even though using lily pipe. I founf surface skimmer clean surface better than lily pipe. My low tech tank ok without surface skimmer. Also those surface dweller like guppy, endler, moly will eat this surface oil.