Nano skimmer

[Tham121988]

I have a nice little 7 gallon pico and 24 gallon nano AIO I am currently looking to find a skimmer that will fit into the back compartment. Any suggestions on very small skimmers that are decent? HOB would also be ok. I'm just seeing a film on the surface of the water.

 

[TheHarold]

Dimensions of where it needs to go would help. Surface scum can usually be fixed with more surface agitation and surface skimming from your filter.

 

[Tham121988]

Dimensions of where it needs to go would help. Surface scum can usually be fixed with more surface agitation and surface skimming from your filter.

Let me get some dimensions and i'll get back. Not a big chamber though. I tried to get more surface agitation with a new powerhead at teh surface.

 

[Tham121988]

4" x 10" for both is about the limit.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Coral Life’s smallest skimmer will fit in a 4” section of a 7 gallon AIO. Once you get it broken in you will empty the cup about every 3rd day ( +/- )

 

[Tham121988]

Coral Life’s smallest skimmer will fit in a 4” section of a 7 gallon AIO. Once you get it broken in you will empty the cup about every 3rd day ( +/- )

I actually had one of these a few years back and did not think it worked well at all. Have you had a different experience?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have two going now (one in each of two 7 gallon nanos). What it produces in a tank that small has never been ‘thick’ skim material, but definitely green water. I figure that’s green water that my fish would otherwise have been swimming in (lol). It does help to replace the wood block (air stone) every now and then as it gets slimed-over with algae, and using a plastic thumb valve somewhere along the air line will give you better control— I can’t recall whether it comes with one automatically. Of course, for the price you could double-up and run two in one tank and crank them both up, if you needed to cope with a heavy bio-load. Best wishes.

 

[AdamNC]

Never owned one but I've heard good things about these https://www.marinedepot.com/Reef_Gl...ano_Skimmer-Reef_Glass-6S81964-FIPSNS-vi.html

 

[JumboShrimp]

I wanted to try one of those. You can drain it into a jug/bucket, if I recall; less frequent clean-outs than a small cup. But it’s glass... drop it and there goes $85.00 (Gulp!)

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Dont waste your money on a skimmer for a tank that small. As you have already experienced nano skimmers are not very effective. Water changes are super effective, fast and cheap on small tanks. As for the oils on the surface if the water you need to have good surface agitation and a sufrace skimmer for the film to be removed.

 

[Tham121988]

I have two going now (one in each of two 7 gallon nanos). What it produces in a tank that small has never been ‘thick’ skim material, but definitely green water. I figure that’s green water that my fish would otherwise have been swimming in (lol). It does help to replace the wood block (air stone) every now and then as it gets slimed-over with algae, and using a plastic thumb valve somewhere along the air line will give you better control— I can’t recall whether it comes with one automatically. Of course, for the price you could double-up and run two in one tank and crank them both up, if you needed to cope with a heavy bio-load. Best wishes.

Thank you for your experience and some of the tips. I think I did have issue with the air stone if I remember correctly. I will consider digging it out of storage and giving it another shot.

 

[Tham121988]

Dont waste your money on a skimmer for a tank that small. As you have already experienced nano skimmers are not very effective. Water changes are super effective, fast and cheap on small tanks. As for the oils on the surface if the water you need to have good surface agitation and a sufrace skimmer for the film to be removed.

What surface skimmer recommendations do you have?