Surface Skimmer in Shrimp Tank

[Peng Kang Hill]

Not sure if anyone had used a surface skimmer in a shrimp tank before. I realised that my shrimps have been sucked into the skimmer at the water surface when they go nearer the skimmer to explore.

Anyone has suggestions to prevent this from happening?

Peng Kang Hill

[sazuka]

my advise-
dont use surface skimmer in shrimp tank.:)

[Peng Kang Hill]

After the incident when I saw a shrimp sucked in, In wrapped the top of the skimmer with the net that is usually used by people who plant mosses and riccia, hoping that this would stop further causalties.

But by doing so, I also realised that the skimmer is not effective.

Peng Kang Hill

[jackqaz]

Yes I did the same, using a net to tie across the skimmer.

However, you must not cover all of it. Just make sure the edges near the water surface are not covered. In order to do so, the water level must not deviate too much for best effects.

This is how it works for me.:D

[Peng Kang Hill]

Sorry - din't quite understand what you meant when you said that the water level must not deviate too much for best effects . Can I trouble you to elaborate?

Also, if the edges near the water surface are not covered, won't the shrimps "fall over" as well together with the water current flowing into the skimmer?

Peng Kang Hill

[jackqaz]

Surface Skimmer adjust its height according to the water level. You need to fix this height so that the skimmer edges just reach the water surface, so that there will be minimal chance for shrimps to climb over. My shrimps seldom climb that high.:D

For me, I ve a filter section in my tank(lou han fish type of tank), not many shrimps manage to get over to that side even with the water skimmer. However, the filter section also work for me to keep my lower grade CRS. They survive there but barely breed.

[Peng Kang Hill]

Thanks for trying to explain - you may think I'm "duhh" but what is the skimmer edge? The skimmer looks like this:

T_TT_TT_TT

Can I assume the edge you are referring to is the horizontal lines? Or are you referring to the top of the letter "T"?

Peng Kang Hill

[jackqaz]

Wow nice illustrations. haha.. no I'm refering to the bottom horizontal lines. Those are the edges where the water flows in.

Personally I lock the skimmer at a certain height with the help of some moss.;)

[TitoC]

If there is a layer on the water, but there is no human to mind it, is there really a layer on the water?
Think about it..

[retardo]

A surface skimmer is not required on a shrimp tank. My shrimp-only cherry tank is self contained--no heater, no surface skimmer, not even a filter, sponge or otherwise. My shrimp are all doing fine. The plants and lighting in the tank provide them with the necessary oxygen and food source they need to survive. I supplement with fish food every few days, and they're as happy as can be. Even some of the juvenile shrimp (the females anyway) exhibit a bright red.

[Peng Kang Hill]

Thanks, guys - for all your input.

I know I'm a perfectionist - hence the need to get rid of the oil on the surface. And the skimmer seem to work marvellous for me when I was on planted tank with cardinals.

Now, I even got myself a chiller and facing its own set of problems - but that's another story altogether.

I go with the suggestion Jackqaz put up and see if there are any more casualties.

Peng Kang Hill

[TitoC]

My shrimp-only cherry tank is self contained--no heater, no surface skimmer, not even a filter, sponge or otherwise. My shrimp are all doing fine.

Yes, with cherry shrimp. But be careful, some people reading this might generalize!
Milt described even harsher conditions in which cherries can do well.
But did you ever try this with crystal shrimp? :p

Without water circulation, even my C. multidentata were all at the surface in the morning.
And feeding fish food, without any kind of filtration... doesn't sound like the safest thing to do with most other shrimp species.

[retardo]

Yes, with cherry shrimp. But be careful, some people reading this might generalize!
Milt described even harsher conditions in which cherries can do well.
But did you ever try this with crystal shrimp? :p

Without water circulation, even my C. multidentata were all at the surface in the morning.
And feeding fish food, without any kind of filtration... doesn't sound like the safest thing to do with most other shrimp species.

Agreed. I shouldn't generalize. Such a tank setup should only be completed with hardy shrimp species, such as cherries and amanos. More caution should be exercised when dealing with more sensitive species. At the very least, a sponge filter should be provided.

[jackqaz]

Yes cherries can almost survive in any conditions, considering the way they package them in LFS. They cannot be compared to CRS. Besides manual removal, surface skimmer & water spray methods, I cannot think of any other ways for remove the oily surface.

Moreover plants would definitely thrive with better gas exchange, the water condition generally improves too.

There is a layer of oil in my filter compartment. I guess that is why the CRS in my filter system do not breed, but my cherries do. :D

[TitoC]

any other ways for remove the oily surface.
:D

well, there is taking away the cause...

but that's where it all starts for me. what is that stuff on the surface, and does it really matter?
there is a lot of variation in what is floating on my tanks. Sometimes it's because of turning up the tank: dead bacteria. Sometimes is from algae blooms. Sometimes it is probably from feeding vegetables. But other times, I don't know. And I would really want to see solid prove that it can inhibit the gas exchange, but have never found it in literature.. Real lipid/oil probably can, but then we have to point out what it is, and where it came from.
If it is any kind of protein with just a little lipid (like dead bacteria), I don't see how it can stop gas exchange. But that's just me I have learned...

And.. since almost everybody has seen something floating on the aquarium surface, it may be natural for some layers to be there? Then why fight it?

[TitoC]

manual removal, surface skimmer & water spray methods

For instance, in many intensive fish farms, a layer of lipid and protein forms on the surface. The farmers have to remove it, not because of lack of oxygen or something, but because the larvae otherwise can not gulp air to inflate the swimming bladder for the first time. Which leads to malformation etc.

But for shrimp?

[retardo]

Besides manual removal, surface skimmer & water spray methods, I cannot think of any other ways for remove the oily surface.

Moreover plants would definitely thrive with better gas exchange, the water condition generally improves too.

An air-driven sponge filter works great to prevent the film from forming on the surface, simply by the popping of the bubbles on the surface.

I will agree with TitoC re: the gas exchange. I have not seen any evidence that gas exchange is inhibited by the film on the surface, and my plants haven't suffered any. They seem to doing well in their current conditions, oily film and all. Of course, I don't have a control tank where the oil exists to see if the plants grow better, nor do I have plans to set one up. I'm happy with the way my low-tech tank is doing and hope it continues. The plants in the setup now providing sufficient oxygens to its inhabitants. The film also looks quite thin, so I think effects, if any, are minimal. :)

[jackqaz]

If the plants are growing well, pearling and all, then I think there is no need to alter the tank. Most impotantly the CRS must be breeding.

Just to share: Personally I run a high-tech tank, with 2 pumps in my filter compartment working alternately(lights on/off). One pump provide filteration & other for surface skimmer. So far the CRS are doing well with the last but most expensive component: chiller.:D

[milt]

Hi Peng Kang Hill, if you are still bothered by the surface layer, why not just add a small hang on filter to your tank on top of your current filter system? A hang on filter is cheap and also very cheap to run and will agitate your surface enough to prevent the surface layer from building up. Also your shrimps will even be happier with the extra filtration. The only problem is if you use a CO2 system but even then, the agitation by the hang on filter is very gradual and in my opinion will not cause too much CO2 to be loss......

[Peng Kang Hill]

Thanks, Milt.

I'll keep that in mind. Last night when I checked, somehow the oil disappeared. And I haven't even adjusted the netting at my skimmer the way that Jackqaz suggested.

So, I'm keeping things status quo for now and watch closely.

Thanks guys!! You all are great!!

Peng Kang Hill

[jackqaz]

Hi PengKang Hill.. nice to know that the skimmer works well for you.

If you are using CO2 injection, I think the skimmer'd be great. So far my CO2 tank can last me for about a year plus, with plants pearling effect too.

On the other hand, I'm sure that the hang on filter would work well too, but got to keep the water level high enough for minimal splashing.

Jack:rolleyes: