Ehiem skimmer / cleaning ehiem hoses

[glo]

Has anyone used an ehiem skimmer? I have heard these are much better than other brands but at $90 i want to make sure they are worth the money.

Also, how do people clean their canister pipes? My water flow significantly reduced until I cleaned my pipes but it was such a painful job I wonder is there a better way eg larger pipes, safe products to clear the algae within the pipes, ways to make the job easier etc.

Any ideas would be great.

[Mattnshez]

Has anyone used an ehiem skimmer? I have heard these are much better than other brands but at $90 i want to make sure they are worth the money.

Also, how do people clean their canister pipes? My water flow significantly reduced until I cleaned my pipes but it was such a painful job I wonder is there a better way eg larger pipes, safe products to clear the algae within the pipes, ways to make the job easier etc.

Any ideas would be great.

I cant comment on the skimmer but to clean the hoses on canisters

i have a 1/2", 3/4" and 1" bottle brush cleaner that is 1200mm long

works a treat every canister clean i run it through the hoses and

inlet and outlet tubes.

Hth

Matt

[Monty787]

To clean my canister pipes, I roll up a small piece of chux just big enough to be firmly fitted into the pipe, then put the end over the tap and let the water pressure push it through. You may have to do it a couple of times to get it totally clean. It's easier to get a firm fit if you wet it before you push it in. Hope that makes sense!

[CThompson]

The Eheim Surface Suction Extractor do a great job.

[glo]

Thanks guys. Matt, where do you buy 1.2m long brushes?

[Mattnshez]

Blackwoods. They are used at work for cleaning out heat exchangers.

(but i thought of a better use and scored myself a few).

[CThompson]

You can make your own too. Get a length of fswr (flexible steel wire rope) to suit, purchase the standard aquarium purchased brush cleaners and remove the brushes from both ends (they screw in) and attach them to the fswr you bought. I attached them with fishing line tied the way a fly fisherman attach/make their flies. I have used mine for years (about 3 metres long) and have never had an issue with the heads even getting lose let alone falling off.