Recreating the same conditions in the aquarium that are found in the sea is the number one rule for successfully breeding fish and invertebrates.
Finally, we can affirm that currently there are the conditions to be successful and that the reef aquarium is no longer a hobby for a few, but a hobby in which everyone can successfully succeed easily (perhaps even more just than the aquarium of ‘freshwater).
Thanks to the HQI lights at 10,000 and 20,000 ° K and the blue actinic lights, we are able to have a light similar to that of the sun and to simulate a sunrise/sunset effect.
With electronic variable speed pumps, we imitate currents and tides. With live rocks, we recreate an almost free environment and ecosystem. Here we will be listing the top 11 best aquarium surface skimmers.
- SUBMERSIBLE SURFACE SKIMMER: The SSK-65 Surface Skimmer removes debris and oils from the surface of your aquarium water line which...
- GREAT FOR FRESH & SALTWATER TANKS: This 65 GPH aquarium skimmer is ideal for both fresh and saltwater aquariums up to 100 gallons.
- CREATES A HEALTHIER AQUARIUM: This fish tank skimmer helps remove surface film and oils from the water surface to create a better...
- SUPERIOR FILTRATION: Along with the SSK-65's surface skimming ability, the aquarium accessory includes a small sponge block for...
- EASY INSTALLATION: The compact design of this aquarium surface skimmer is easy to install and provides flexible placement thanks...
- Strong Function-Protein on the water surface of the fish tank caused by external factors will hinder the exchange of water flow...
- Intimate Design - The floating table of the protein skimmer adopts a lifting design, which can automatically lift up to 1.18...
- Flexible Adjustment - Multiple suction cups are placed behind the oil removal film, which has super suction and can be tightly...
- Wide Applicability - CHERLAM aquarium protein skimmer is made of high quality PVC material with fine workmanship and durable....
- High Quality After Sales-CHERLAM always puts the customer first. In order to improve the quality of our products, if there is any...
- The body is made of high quality glass, the floating skimmer part is made of clear ABS acrylic. It is use with canister filter.
- The surface skimmer will auto adjust with the water level. Surface skimmer effectively remove the dirty film on top of the water.
- Water surface flowrate can be adjusted by rotating the bottom part
- 13mm outer diameter glass fit the canister filter tubing of 1/2" (12/16mm). For rimless tank only
- Package included: 1x glass lily pipe surface skimmer inflow, 2x suction cups.
- Effective surface skimming.
- Adjustable flow rate.
- Easy cleaning.
- Adjust the water level within 4cm automatically.
- Small and compact in size.
- Flow rate: 110 GPH
- Energy efficient 5W pump
- Skims surface build-up to improve water quality
- Great for freshwater planted aquariums
- Works with both freshwater and marine
- Light and compact surface skimmer with pump action
- Increase in the oxygen content in the aquarium
- Ready to use out of the box, no additional pieces or kits necessary
- Suitable for fresh water
- Suitable for marine tanks
- Innovative surface skimming – OASE CrystalSkim 350 quickly and effectively frees the aquarium surface of biofilm, floating plant...
- For a healthy aquarium environment – CrystalSkim eliminates any biofilm from the water’s surface. Removing biofilm is...
- Catches the finest debris – Designed to catch even the finest plant debris that are almost impossible to remove with a net.
- Individually adjustable – The flow is individually adjustable, ensuring a crystal-clear water surface at just the right output.
- Compact and discreet – CrystalSkim is compact in size and has a powerful and quiet motor. In addition to skimming, the unit is...
- Innovative surface skimming – OASE CrystalSkim 600 quickly and effectively frees the aquarium surface of biofilm, floating plant...
- For a healthy aquarium environment – CrystalSkim eliminates any biofilm from the water’s surface. Removing biofilm is...
- Catches the finest debris – Designed to catch even the finest plant debris that are almost impossible to remove with a net.
- Individually adjustable – The flow is individually adjustable, ensuring a crystal-clear water surface at just the right output.
- Compact and discreet – CrystalSkim is compact in size and has a powerful and quiet motor. In addition to skimming, the unit is...
- INTIMATE DESIGN-Floating table of protein skimmer adopts a lifting design, which can automatically lift up to 1.18 inches, so...
- FLEXIBLE ADJUSTMENT-Multiple suction cups are placed behind the protein skimmer, which has super suction and can be tightly...
- STRONG FUNCTION-Protein on the water surface caused by external factors will hinder the exchange of water flow and...
- STRONG FUNCTION-Protein on the water surface caused by external factors will hinder the exchange of water flow and...
- HIGH QUALITY AFTER SALES-Btinf always puts the customer first. In order to improve the quality of our products, if there is any...
- Mini Size For Nano Tanks. Only 165mm(6.5in) height. It can be hold in one hand. Perfectly match with nano tanks and small tanks
- High Quality Glass Material. The lily pipes are made of high quality borosilicate glass. It is durable, safe, non-toxic and easy...
- The surface skimmer can effectively remove the dirty film on the top of the water. And the water surface flowrate can be adjusted...
- Attention! Ø13mm outer diameter suitable for tubing of 1/2''ID(12mm internal/16mm external)
- Package included: 1x glass lily pipe surface skimmer inflow, 2x suction cups
- Allows surface water flow to get through from all directions without clogging
- With self-floating water inlet chamber, it automatically adjusts itself with the change of water level
- Works perfectly with hang on filters and other middle size filters
Things to Consider Before Buying Best Aquarium Surface Skimmers
The Skimmer
The skimmer originated from the wastewater treatment industry and was later used in aquaculture systems.
The operation of the skimmer reproduces an effect that also occurs in nature, that of the waves that break on the beach and that carry with them through the foam the organic substances dissolved in the water.
The skimmer reproduces this simple principle, the production of micro-bubbles introduced mixed with water in a contact column. The organic molecules derived from fish excrements adhere to the bubbles (DOC: Dissolved Organic Compound) which are deposited in a special container.
In this way, the organic molecules are physically extracted from the water, and they are not allowed to transform into nitrates and phosphates.
Organic molecules have a polarized end (hydrophilic) which is attracted to water molecules, and a non-polarized end (hydrophobia) which repels water molecules and which is attracted to air molecules.
Skimmer Efficiency
Many factors affect the efficiency of the skimmer, some such as pH, temperature, density, the amount of dissolved organic substances, are related to the chemical and physical characteristics of the aquarium water, others are consequential to the derived variables by the attributes of the skimmer itself.
Bubble diameter: the air bubbles to make the largest number of organic molecules adhere and to make skimming efficient must have a diameter neither too small nor too large.
Too small bubbles rise to the surface with difficulty and tend to dissolve, too large bubbles rise too fast, offer a smaller adhesion surface (proportionally).
Watch to gather in bigger and bigger bubbles and formless foam on the surface of the water. For the record, the bubbles of ideal size must have a diameter between 0.5 and 0.8 mm.
Contact Time
The greater the time with which the air bubbles are in contact with the water, the greater the number of organic molecules that adhere to the bubbles. It is obtained by introducing bubbles of the right diameter which rise with the correct speed, and increasing the height and diameter of the column.
Bubble Quantity
The greater the plenty of bubbles, the greater the number of organic molecules attracted. There are three methods of introducing air into the column.
The diffusion method using porous wood, the injection method or Venturi and the suction method or Needle weel. Each has different characteristics that make it very inefficiency.
It is a very inexpensive method, but conceptually outdated than by modest results. It is often used in very small skimmers in combination with biological filters (they are not able, unlike Venturi and needle wheel skimmers, to manage an aquarium by themselves).
It can be used to the limit in small aquariums and to make the most of it it is better to use powerful aerators and use more porous wood. Some diffusion skimmers are equipped with a pump for the introduction of water and drain pipes for “overflow”, others do not have the pump, and the introduction of new water is allowed by a smaller diameter tube inserted in the contact.
It is the flow itself created by the air emitted by the porous material that deflects the purified water towards the bottom outlet.
Injection or Venturi: Unlike the diffusion system, the Venturi method is extremely efficient and allows perfect foaming and optimal yield.
The water and air are taken from a powerful motorcycle pump and pushed forcefully into a cone with a small hole at the end (photo below) positioned inside the pump delivery pipe. In this way, the water and air are emulsified, forming a large number of fine bubbles. The treated water comes out of an overflow from one or two drain pipes.
Venturi skimmers are commercially available for indoor, outdoor and sump installation.
However, the Venturi method has some small defects that make it an excellent but not perfect system.
Aspiration or Needle weel: they are the skimmers of the latest generation, a pump sucks water and air with the brush-modified impeller (photo below), which “splits” the air into a large number of perfect microbubbles.
The treated water comes out of an overflow from one or two drain pipes, in some cases equipped with an adjustment tap. There are commercially available models of needle weel skimmers for indoor, outdoor and sump installation.
How to Install the Skimmer?
A skimmer can be installed inside the tank, externally on the side or hung on the glass, or in the storage tank (Sump) under or alongside the aquarium. A useful trick is to position the pump as close as possible to the surface of the water, as organic substances tend to stay high.
