• Prefilter - JBL TopClean skimmer? Your opinions.

  • Andrew4194

Good afternoon! I'm setting up my first aquarium - a 140-liter marine tank. I have a question about which skimmer to choose. I've looked at skimmers from different manufacturers - Boyu, AquaMedic... and in the end, I got completely confused. Just today, I came across something: a pre-filter - JBL TopClean skimmer. The device needs to be combined with an external (any) filter. I became interested and almost decided to buy it, but I'm still curious about the reviews from those who have experience with this product... I would be very grateful for your attention and responses!

Christina9947

Do you want to use a canister filter (only in this case it might be suitable) or will it be a sump? Don't overthink it, just follow proven schemes. It would be better if you provided a more detailed description of your equipment and the layout of your future system.

Emily3144

Thank you for the response! A canister filter will be used... According to standard schemes, all the foamers are too large for my aquarium... I'll be home this evening and will write a detailed description of my aqua system!!! Although... since there will be a canister, I could also buy an AquaMedic MiniFlotator as a replacement for JBL... if you convince me not to.

Cheyenne2747

Can it be a mini-flotor? It has nothing in common with JBL, except for the foam; it is placed directly in the aquarium, and you definitely can't use the water from it for a canister. It's a completely useless thing, and you also need a compressor, which, by the way, is quite noisy. A sump and a more powerful skimmer are better. If you suddenly decide to buy one, let me know; I have two such rarities, a mini-flotor and a midi-flotor with compressors from the old days, and I'll sell them for a symbolic price.

James4757

The thing is, a sump was not planned and is not planned because there is simply not enough space... As for the MINI-FILTER (I'll keep the purchase in mind) - I was almost ready to buy it... The compressor is not a problem. I think we can find a quiet one. But a filter also needs space in the aquarium. And I also bought a Tetra 1000 internal filter. Grabbing my head yesterday, realizing that there is catastrophically little space, I called the pet store asking to return the internal filter - to pay extra and buy an external one... and also to get a pre-filter from JBL. Can you tell me how negatively the operation of the pre-filter will affect the canister?

Alexandra

I have an Eheim canister filter in my freshwater tank, semi-aerated, which automatically controls the water filling and draining cycles. It won't be affected in any way, for example, the water will just flow in more slowly, but it will adjust to that. As for yours, we need to see how it behaves.

Travis572

Taking the opportunity - I'm selling my never-used internal filter TetraTec IN-1000 plus!!!

Jacob7201

Just a piece of advice... don't waste your time. An external filter is money down the drain. For a 140-liter aquarium without a sump, you need just two circulation pumps and a Deltec 600 skimmer. That's it.

David3217

or a hanging filter with a skimmer

Mark7376

In the mini-flotator and midi-flotator, the attachment (the flotator is equipped with aeration stones made of linden wood) needs to be changed and adjusted every month))) It’s better to take Deltec...

Dennis

Offtopic, 9-10 years ago, instead of going to the store and buying a new stone for that pen, I would just clean the old one with sandpaper and lower the pen a couple of centimeters) I was 11 years old back then, and it's really not a problem to order 20 pieces; you don't need to adjust anything, the stones are identical like two peas in a pod) but I think the hanging one is better)