henward Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 this stuff that has a mirror like sheen when the lightshines on it even when i have changed the water, next day it develops. the bubbles from aerator doesnt linger so its notthe toxins, and parameters are fine. but its unsightly, howdoes one eliminate this? n overflow or surface skimmer does it but how do i get one for a tank with no over flow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jolliolli Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 usually caused by high levels of protein/fat foods causing a film. You could try feeding a different type of food. skimmer for a fw tank would be no good as they require saline water to produce the bubbles and remove the organics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 i think you can buy a seperate surface skimmer for the intake on canister filters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 it doesnt fit on the fx5 and i used them ages ago it doesnt keep its place lol can you buy a hang on over flow if thats even possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/oily-s ... tml#373886 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 HANG ON OVERFLOW BOX!!! for those of you who wants a sump but dont want to drill holes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 How does that work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvia-15 Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 u have to siphon it to get it started... thats as far as i know... as to how effective it is, i have no idea, provided you get a pump rated < overflow value, it should work like a normal overflow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 But where does the water go? How does it get back into the tank? I have no idea....I also don't know how sumps work, so I'm probably going to need a step by step run through... :oops: :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 The two clear pipes are filled with water (syphon). As the water level rises in the front box it flows thru the two clear pipes to the back box where it gets to the same level as the front. From the rear box it flows down via pipes to the sump, which is basically another tank that can have filter media in etc. A water pump the puts the water back into the tank and the cycle continues. The overflow boxes are all rated with the rec flow rate, pump is matched to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Ohhhhhhhh! I get it! I thought this small box was instead of a sump. It seemed strange that the tiny box could work like a proper sump! Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 yea its all good untill the siphon breaks in the pipes, if that happens the sump will empty itself into the tank and sepending on size of the tank, can flood it and burn the pump out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Sumps in general, or this particular gadget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 yea its all good untill the siphon breaks in the pipes, if that happens the sump will empty itself into the tank and sepending on size of the tank, can flood it and burn the pump out Won't happen with this design as the syphon/clear pipes are underwater the whole time, even if the water level in the tank drops. Have a closer look at the unit, water flow up thru the sponges and over the top to get to the pipes. You only have to start the syphon once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 I see...even when you change water, the syphon will stay going because the black bit is like a little container. I guess you'd usually change most of the water from the sump though, right? The you just have to do a quick gravel vac, and you're done:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver21 Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 true, but how do you get it started in the first place? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 I WANT ONE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 true, but how do you get it started in the first place? You have to start the syphon, the one i have had in the past had a small hole with a tap on at the top, you suck the air out thus filling with water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 how bout if i cut a tiny hole on the pipe or the rubber connector of the fx5 inlet. right just under the waterl line, this will then create a small water spoutthat will suck water, the layer of what ever it is and a little air into the fx5 just from the suction... do you think its bad for filters to have some air inside it? just a novel weird idea i saw this happen when i left a hose syponing water, when it got close to the water line, a small whirlpool formed suckin all surface stuff and debris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Won't the impeller stop working if there's air in the filter? They work because they're an airtight loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 I see...even when you change water, the syphon will stay going because the black bit is like a little container. I guess you'd usually change most of the water from the sump though, right? The you just have to do a quick gravel vac, and you're done:D Pretty much, you can do a water change from the tank or sump, just turn return pump off first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 Does it work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 I think you'd just get more and more air in the filter, then the impeller wouldn't have any water to push, and nothing would pump back to the tank.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 how bout if i cut a tiny hole on the pipe or the rubber connector of the fx5 inlet. right just under the waterl line, this will then create a small water spoutthat will suck water, the layer of what ever it is and a little air into the fx5 just from the suction... do you think its bad for filters to have some air inside it? just a novel weird idea i saw this happen when i left a hose syponing water, when it got close to the water line, a small whirlpool formed suckin all surface stuff and debris. You would have to get it spot on and i think the chances of that are very slim. The filter could stop if to much air got in. How about just pointing the inlet out over the water surface, that would sort it overnight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 wouldnt that do the same thing, it would suck in air from the surface? i guess im looking for a more stable solution i was told by someone more aeration to break the water surface. any feedback? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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