Superfish Scaper 45

[funkymonk1984]

Hi guys,

Ive set up a Superfish Scaper 45 tank with the included light and HOB 100 filter. I replaced one of the two media baskets with some established biomedia balls in a bag but kept the fine filter mesh each side.

I’ve been impressed with the tank so far which has been heavily planted but I am not running co2. Quite a few fast growing plants, floating plants and a monstera plant is also shoved in the back.

I’ve not seen much algae thus far (week 3 now) and have been keeping up with water changes. That said I have noticed surface scum is quite bad (biofilm) and bubbles forming like bubble bath near the filter outlet. I have the skimmer section installed but the water flow doesn’t disrupt the surface enough.

I just wondered what others have done? I’ve turned the flow up but it’s pushing plants down violently, I looked for baffles on Etsy but can’t find one that fits that filter.

I am considering getting the oase filtosmart 100 to replace the HOB and I might add co2 with an inline diffuser. That’s obviously more expense, the tank was purchased to house my female betta, some ottos and amano shrimp (once cycled) therefore I need to reduce the water flow somehow but maintain enough movement that the water surface is moved towards the skimmer.

You can see the setup in the photo attached. It’s grown in a bit more now and doesn’t show the biofilm.

I was going to try moving the HOB more to the right so the flow is pushed clockwise around the tank and returns through the skimmer?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I’ve been impressed with the tank so far which has been heavily planted but I am not running co2. Quite a few fast growing plants, floating plants and a monstera plant is also shoved in the back.

That sounds really promising.

That said I have noticed surface scum is quite bad (biofilm) and bubbles forming like bubble bath near the filter outlet. I have the skimmer section installed but the water flow doesn’t disrupt the surface enough.

I wouldn't worry too much. The surface scum will almost certainly, will decline with time. At the moment I might just try skimming the surface layer with a kitchen towel when the HOB is turned off? <"Surface Scum Again…….">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Connswater]

The plants in the tank look fantastic, the filter, which is a bit odd in appearance, to say the least, transparent, is well hidden, like Darrel I think you relax and enjoy. Looks really good.

 

[funkymonk1984]

Thanks for the advice, I found doing big water changes is helping especially if I break up the surface scum before. It’s only taking 2 days or so to come back atm which is annoying. I thought the skimmer would stop this forming but doesn’t seem to do much.

Fish are in now and seem happy. Cycle completed and levels are all good.

I had one amano climb out which made me double check readings but I’ve since lowered the water level and everything tested ok.

The filter intake does worry me a bit for smaller shrimp. Would you buy a coarse filter intake sponge to slide over it?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The filter intake does worry me a bit for smaller shrimp. Would you buy a coarse filter intake sponge to slide over it?

I would.

Cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Would you buy a coarse filter intake sponge to slide over it?

I've just had a look at the filter spec. <"Superfish Hang on Filter 100 - Hang-on Back Aquarium Filter">. I'm not sure how well the sponge will work with the surface skimmer, if the surface skimmer isn't fixed (so that it can float up and down?)

cheers Darrel

 

[simon_the_plant_nerd]

I'm not sure how well the sponge will work with the surface skimmer, if the surface skimmer isn't fixed (so that it can float up and down?)

The filter intake does worry me a bit for smaller shrimp. Would you buy a coarse filter intake sponge to slide over it?

It’s not a great surface skimmer to be fair. It’s possible to use the HOB without the skimmer which worked fine as there’s a lot of surface movement from the filter overflow to break up surface tension. A coarse sponge over the intake would be fine.

Ultimately I swapped the HOB out for an external canister as the overflow was pushing floating plants around too much.