How to skim surface? May have figured it out (Ugly though)

Drilled tanks are much cleaner in appearance and are a bit mroe simple to perate than the overflow boxes. JMO.

as for the tube for yoru pump? No, that will not work. you will be constantly sucking in air and once the water level drops, you will no longer have use of the pump. it may also melt down. Best idea for what you are trying to do is to get an overflow box that pump will fit into and let it skim that way.

 

just buy a fluval surface skimmer if that's what your filtration device is. I've had good results with this so far. you can probably adapt it to fit whatever you're trying to do.