Ehiem surface skimmer

**madnugget** · 21st Feb 2010, 22:14

any bros have any experience with this? I have one unit and it doesnt seems like skimming the surface scum. Through the column, i can see water going in. From top down view i also see water entering from the 2 holes, but it doesnt serve its purpose..

**stevenlau** · 22nd Feb 2010, 02:02

It should, there's a control setting at the top of the unit that you can adjust the 'min till max' of the the water flowing in the 2 holes while the bottom part that has magnet ballast will control the flowing in rate there.

Be caution to use this skimmer as from my experience that fishes likely to get trap in 'the 2 holes' part especially oto cat.

**madnugget** · 22nd Feb 2010, 08:39

yup. i allowed max and water can be seen flowing in, but it is not skimming the surface. any idea how does the magnet ballast control the flow rate?

yup i have experience of fishes trapped there too. i had placed a net over it.

**stevenlau** · 22nd Feb 2010, 15:53

Originally Posted by madnugget

yup. i allowed max and water can be seen flowing in, but it is not skimming the surface. any idea how does the magnet ballast control the flow rate?

yup i have experience of fishes trapped there too. i had placed a net over it.

Maybe the problem is you place the net over it that reduce the flow rate somehow? I never have the problem with its skimmer function but the trap fishes only

If you let the top unit set to max, the bottom part will reduce flowing in rate (you can notice that the magnet ballast lower down) and vice versa.

**felix_fx2** · 22nd Feb 2010, 20:42

madnugget,

Just my thoughts.
If its for your larger tank, maybe you have same thing as i did. too slow intake on the top part skimming not efficient enough.

I had my Fan too near the skimmer when i set it up, plus the top intake was too weak. if there is intake, maybe its not due to the other factors? Since you mentioned the below quoted.

yup i have experience of fishes trapped there too. i had placed a net over it.

Since then i relocated my fan to the other side of my 3ft. ( i am using same type fan as unclerobin.) Then i maxed my top intake, now only to remove my frogbits from choking the intake and case closed.

**madnugget** · 22nd Feb 2010, 20:54

thanks for all the suggestions.. i actually didnt observe properly when i was using for my larger tank. i swapped my 1.5ft cube skimmer with my 4ft and encounter this problem. such a headache. initial skimmer, top intake too strong that it sucks the float straight (tried adjusting the stick already) now that i swapped with this ehiem.. i feel that water is just flowing into the intake instead of being suck inside. i can literally see some dust particles just float past the intake instead of being sucked in. however, top down view there is a lot of water flowing into it...

**felix_fx2** · 22nd Feb 2010, 23:24

grats madnugget,

You did great. "Have patience my young padawan, Look and you shall see".

**madnugget** · 22nd Feb 2010, 23:38

haha i didnt achieve anything leh.. i'm just mentioning my agony with both skimmer.. problem not solved yet.. maybe worst come to worst i'll not use the eheim skimmer and go get a cheapo one..

**felix_fx2** · 7th Mar 2010, 00:49

eheim's version i have not tried yet.
Mine less then $10 from NA.
Can use good enough for me.

**madnugget** · 9th Mar 2010, 00:16

hmm regarding surface skimmer (normal ones)... is there any way to net/sponge somewhere to prevent fries from getting sucked in?

**felix_fx2** · 9th Mar 2010, 21:07

Yes there is, but it will affect (as in increase top suction.)
I cut a old filter media into half, the type that is used in NA's plant display tank.
I believe chan also sells them there.

hope this helps