Aquarium skimmer devices, systems, and methods
View Patent ↗An aquarium skimmer device can include a filter body that attaches to a water pump, filter, or power head, wherein the filter body is configured to hold a filter medium for filtering water that passes through the filter body. The skimmer device can also include a funnel holder that attaches to a top of the filter body, and a funnel assembly comprising a funnel. The funnel assembly can be received by the funnel holder and configured to float up and down with respect to the funnel holder with changes in water level, and a wide opening of the funnel is positioned one inch or less below a surface of the water.
1 . An aquarium skimmer device, comprising:
a filter body extending along a central axis between an open upper end and a lower end;
a filter medium positioned within a first hollow cylindrical body of the filter body for filtering water that passes therethrough;
a water pump or power head connected to the filter body and configured to pump water from within the filter body through an opening in the lower end of the filter body;
a floating funnel sleeve extending along the axis between an open lower end and an upper end with a funnel positioned thereon, wherein the funnel sleeve is configured to be positioned over the filter body such that the funnel sleeve slides up and down along the axis relative to the filter body with changes in water level to position the upper end of the funnel sleeve relative to a surface of the water, and wherein the funnel sleeve and the funnel are configured to create an air pocket between the funnel and the funnel sleeve which causes the funnel and funnel sleeve to float to position the funnel sleeve relative to the surface of the water.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the water pump or power head is connected to the filter body through a throat.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the water pump or power head is positioned below the filter body.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the air pocket causes the funnel sleeve to float and slide up and down relative to the filter body with changes in water level.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the air pocket causes the funnel sleeve to float and slide up and down relative to the filter body with changes in water level within the filter body.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of a funnel holder comprises protrusions or guides configured to position the funnel sleeve relative to filter body.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment device configured to attach to an aquarium wall.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the attachment device comprises a magnetic attachment device.