Small tanks sometimes face the oil-surface issue. This issue becomes a headache when you have plants and fish that intake oxygen from the atmosphere. Moreover, it starts a chain reaction of problems. Filter skimmers effectively help to solve these issues. If you are facing the same issue, you need to understand what a filter skimmer is and how it differs from a surface skimmer. When you need this special equipment for your tank, moreover, at the end of the article, you’ll also find a review of the hygger cleanness filter with a surface skimmer.
Content Table
filter with a surface skimmer
What Is a Surface Skimmer?
It is a device that helps to keep the top surface of an aquarium clean by removing the floating debris, protein films, and oils. For better understanding, consider it is like a vacuum cleaner that keeps the aquarium’s top surface clean. For a better understanding of functionality, read the following.
Remove Oil
Usually, fish’s body oil, fish food, and decaying plant matter cause the production of oil film in a tank. A Surface skimmer addresses this oily film before it becomes problematic.
Improve Oxygenation
An oily surface on the top of the tank prevents oxygen penetration in the tank. This causes problems with fish and the overall tank environment. Surface skimmer addresses this issue by removing the oily surface from the top of the tank.
Keep the Water Pristine
Floating particles and dust can cause blurriness in water. A surface skimmer removes floating particles and dust, and keeps the water clean.
Helps to Surface Breathing Fish
Betta and Gourami fish breathe at the surface of the water. The surface skimmer removes the oily film that otherwise can cause problems for these fish.
what is a filter skimmer
What Is a Filter Skimmer?
It is a combination of two pieces of equipment, i.e., a filter and a surface skimmer. It helps in both water filtration and removing the oily surface from the top of the water. Here are the features of filter skimmers that will help to elevate the performance of your tank.
Filtration
Usually, it does three stage filtration, i.e., mechanical, chemical, and biological, in the tank. Mechanical filtration helps to remove the floating debris and other solid waste from the tank. Biological filtration hosts the beneficial bacteria and helps to break down the dangerous compounds into harmless byproducts. Chemical filtration removes the odor and acts as a discoloration agent in the tank.
Surface Cleaning
It pulls the top surface, removes the oily content, and keeps the top surface oil-free in the tank.
Avoid Dead Spots
A filter skimmer has a motor. This motor helps to keep the water in a moving condition and helps to avoid dead spots in the tank.
Oxygenation
With no oily layer at the top of the tank and continuous water movement, it improves the oxygenation in the tank.
The Advantages of a Filter with a Surface Skimmer Over One Without
| Feature | Regular Filter | Filter Skimmer |
| Surface film removal | No | Yes |
| Oxygen exchange | Good | Excellent |
| Equipment needed | 2 devices | 1 device |
| Tank space used | More | Less |
| Initial cost | Lower per unit | Higher upfront, lower total |
| Maintenance | 2 separate cleanings | 1 combined cleaning |
| Water view | Blur | Clear |
Does Your Fish Tank Need a Cleanness Filter with a Surface Skimmer?
It is necessary to know whether your tank needs a filter skimmer or not. It is important from a maintenance and cost-effectiveness perspective. Here are the scenarios when you need a skimmer filter and when you don’t.
You Need a Filter Skimmer
- You see an oily surface or rainbow sheen in your tank.
- Debris doesn’t move toward the filter.
- You have plants that shed their leaves.
- Yourfish intake oxygen from the atmosphere instead of water.
- You have fish that eat brine shrimps, bloodworms, or other oily food.
- Thereare observing gasping fish in the tank.
- Your tank has high fish stocking.
- You need a clear view in your tank.
You Don’t Need a Filter Skimmer
- Your tank water is already oil-free.
- You are having regular water changes, 2 to 3 times a week.
- The tankhas low fish stocking or minimal bioload.
- Your filter is creating strong agitation that optimizes oxygenation and avoids oily film buildup in the tank.
cleanness filter with surface skimmer
Tanks That Benefit a Lot With a Filter Skimmer
Here are some tank types that greatly benefit from having a filter skimmer. Moreover, the reasons are why it is inevitable to have a filter skimmer for these types of tanks.
| Tank type | Reason |
| Planted Tank | They require excellent CO2 exchange and light penetration. Oil film hinders both. The filter skimmer avoids building an oily film at the top of the tank. |
| Nano tanks | Oily film forms faster in nano tanks. So, to keep your nano tank safe, use a filter skimmer in the tank. |
| Betta tanks | Bettas, gouramis, and some other fish breathe oxygen near the surface. So, to keep the surface oil-free is far more important. In such tanks, use filter skimmers. |
| Display tanks | Display tanks should preview and clear the picture. So, they should be free from oil and other filter-related issues. So, use these filter skimmers in nano display tanks, i.e., up to 20 gallons. |
HG238 Cleanness Aquarium Hang-On Filter Review
If you want to effectively prevent oily surfaces and other contaminants, HG238 is one of the best options for your up to 20-gallon tank. Its compact size and modern design make it suitable and attractive. Here are some features that you can experience with a hygger cleanness aquarium hang-on filter.
Features
- It is available in 3 different tank sizes: 5-gallon, 10-gallon, and 20-gallon.
- It offers adjustability in flow rate. Set it according to your requirement.
- The filteroffers less than 35 dB.
- It has three different filter media, i.e., bio sponge, activated carbon, and biochemical cotton.
Who Should Have This?
If you have the following conditions, you should have this HOB skimmer filter.
- Your tank size ranges from 1 to 20 gallons.
- You have betta and other fish that breathe atmospheric oxygen.
- If you are continuously facing the oily film problem in your tank.
- You want to keep the tank in your bedroom.
Not Suitable For?
This tank is not suitable for you if you have any of the following conditions.
- Your tank is greater than 20 gallons.
- If you have a thick-rimmed tank.
- If you need a high-flow filtration.
HG238 filter review
Summarize
Surface skimmers only help with surface oily film. However, if you want filtration and removal of an oily surface, filter skimmers do the best job. However, filters with surface skimmers do well for small tanks, up to 20-gallon tanks. If you have such a tank, try the HG238 hygger cleanness aquarium hang-on filter.
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