[Wet Thumb Forum]-Eheim Surface Extractor

[Momotaro]

I am thinking of adding an Eheim Surface Extractor. Can someone tell me what size tubing is used. Is it the 12/16mm or the 16/22mm?

Thanks,
Mike

[Momotaro]

I am thinking of adding an Eheim Surface Extractor. Can someone tell me what size tubing is used. Is it the 12/16mm or the 16/22mm?

Thanks,
Mike

[Jon Mulzer]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I just thought I would point out that Fluval makes one that is about 1/3 the price of the Eheim model. I don't know if there is a major quality or effectiveness difference, but it may be worth it to save $20.

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15XH, 36W PC, XP-1, Onyx Sand, DIY CO2

Crypts spiralis, ciliata, balansae and wendtii bronze and red, pennywort, wisteria and java fern and moss.

[sb]

Mine fix nicely with 12/16mm...

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Momotaro:
I am thinking of adding an Eheim Surface Extractor. Can someone tell me what size tubing is used. Is it the 12/16mm or the 16/22mm?

Thanks,
Mike<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Momotaro]

Thanks sb!

Mike

[EDGE]

The fluval sludge remover works ok. Only problem with it design is that once there is too much debris caught up in the intake pipe. the overflow section start pulling in more water and makes the annoying gurgling sound.

72 Gal, 3 WPG PC 10 hour, pressurize co2 /w controller 1 bps, Fluval 404, ph 6.8
A Canadian's Plant Traders website

[Tenor1]

I've used the Eheim surface extractor for over twenty years and want to share some tidbits.

The floating siphon breaks EXTREMLY easily while being removed from the unit. If the siphon gets clogged with floating plant leaves remove the back plugs from the floating siphon and push the leaves through. The unit can be glued together but is prone to breaking again. It's best to never remove the intakes from the main unit.

The unit can make a rattle sound if your pump is large and you only use one siphon. The surface extractor is made to working inconjuction with a second siphon. There is a weight in the siphon that acts as a balance between how much water flows from the bottom intake versus the floating intake. If your weight rattles then take the unit apart and put tape around the weighted part to act as a buffer.

This is a complicated siphon but works extremly well once you set it up correctly. It takes some playing around to get the floating intakes to the perfect angle. Eheim does not sell the floating intakes as a separate item so BE CAREFUL to not break it, lol. You can probably tell I've broken my fair share, lol.

Regards,
Carlos

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I try to keep the tank plain and simple but it never stays that way!

[Momotaro]

Carlos,
I plan on running the surface extractor off of an Eheim 2215. Do you suggest adding a second siphon to that? Let me know, and I wil gather what I need this weekend if I need to!
Thank you for all of the information on the surface extractor. I ordered it and I think it will be here by the end of next week. I hope you are prepared for a few PMs about it!!

Mike

[Justin Fournier]

Momotaro I use the surface extractor with a 2215, and when the filter is pumping max water, it will create a rattling noise.

The intake pipes do get clogged with leaves VERY easily, and that breaks the surface siphon. What I do is, every night when I get home it takes me a minute to get the leaves out of it, I reach down each intake with my planting tweezers and pull the leaves out. Once you get all the leaves out it starts working normally again.

This usually lasts for a few hours, untill more leaves get stuck in it. I clean it again before I go to sleep, and it usually runs normally till the next morning or so. I go to work and when I get home at night, it's clogged again and the stupid thing is full of leaves and the water is scummy again.

It's a vicious cycle, and for the past month I have been putting together an All-Glass 75gallon w/overflow. Hope this works better!

Another thing to add, it comes with this STUPID POS that they use to close it off, but it's totally useless and falls down closing it all the time. I have had 3 units and they all do this. I usually throw them out.

[Momotaro]

Sounds like this is going to be a bit of a nightmare!!!
I always have bits of Riccia floating around . Sounds like I might be busy cleaning out the surface extractor all of the time. Check out the "For Sale Network" in a couple of weeks. Someone mentioned putting some Ehfifix (pot scrubber type material) in the intakes of the surface extractor to prevent intake of leaves. I wonder if this actually works, or does it affect the surface tension and prevent intake of the "film".
I think I am going to add a second siphon. I think it makes sense. I will add a ball valve to the surface extractor's tubing, to maintain siphon during water changes and "fine tuning" the whole lot. I might add one to the other siphon while I'm at it.

Mike