external filter mod?

[piranha12345]

Had an idea just wondering if it would work?
if i added an upside down u section on my external intake so it sat about an inch below water level would this work at pulling the surface water?
have done a bad scetch but you get the idea lol

external setup.JPG

[Myaj]

It would, but keep in mind every bend in the piping will drop your flow rate significantly. I can't remember the percentage, but its quite a bit.

Not to mention, if your water evaporates past it your filter will start to suck air, lose the siphon and burn out the motor.

What are you trying to accomplish?

[Nick]

I think DIY surface skimmer is the idea here. This design would seem to make for greatly reduced overall circulation of the water, unfortunately.

[flash.dan]

well if its for filtration you just wont colect debris on the bottom if its a DIY protein skimmer for SW id suggest if your going to try this make sure you get a powerful large external with a horizontal sprey bar preferably a wet / dry so you get short blasts of water and possibly a wave maker with 3= powerheads to get movement otherwise the turnover will be poor

[Agnate]

Is this freshwater/brackish, or marine?

Here's something that Aqua Clear makes. You could conjure up something similar:

http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-cat ... QFICA.html

Here's a good mod that someone made, and it wouldn't take very long at all! I might actually put them on a couple of my tanks, haha!
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/sh ... p?t=140108