ADA · Lily pipe
Lily Pipe
- Hose
- 13 mm
Planted tanks with a canister filter where the plumbing is on show and you want it to disappear.
2 models
Gear catalogue · 7 lily pipes & skimmers
Aquarium lily pipes & skimmers, compared properly
Glass and metal lily pipes, surface skimmers and inflow/outflow sets. From ADA, Dophin, Eheim, Juwel, SunSun, UNS. Match them to your tank, then put up to four side by side.
TL;DR, choosing aquarium lily pipes & skimmers
Lily pipes replace the chunky green or grey pipes that come with a canister filter, and they change how the tank looks and flows. The outflow spreads water in a gentle fan, the inflow sits discreetly in a corner, and both come in clear glass or stainless steel. A surface skimmer pulls off the oily film that builds up on the water, which improves gas exchange and keeps light clear. The main thing to check is the hose size: lily pipes are made for specific filter hose diameters.
How to choose
- Match the pipe to your filter hose inner diameter (13, 17 mm and so on).
- Glass looks cleanest but needs cleaning; stainless steel is tougher.
- Poppy-style outflows break the surface a little; violet-style keep it calmer for CO2.
- Skimmers remove surface film, which helps oxygen exchange.
ADA · Lily pipe
Metal Flow Pipe
Keepers who like the lily-pipe look but have broken glass pipes before, or have kids and pets around the tank.
2 models
Dophin · Surface skimmer
SK200 Surface Skimmer
- Tank size
- up to 30 L
A small planted tank with a surface film problem that has no skimmer on the filter intake.
1 model
Eheim · Surface skimmer
skim350
- Tank size
- up to 350 L
Planted tanks up to 350 litres that get a stubborn protein film on the surface, which is common with CO2 and heavy feeding.
1 model
Juwel · Surface skimmer
EccoSkim
Planted tanks, especially CO2 injected ones, that build up surface film.
1 model
SunSun · Surface skimmer
JY Surface Skimmer
Planted tanks with surface film that blocks gas exchange and light.
2 models
UNS · Surface skimmer
Delta Mini Surface Skimmer
- Tank size
- 30–182 L
CO2-injected planted tanks that keep getting a protein film on the surface.
1 model
Frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing aquarium lily pipes & skimmers.
What is a lily pipe?
A replacement inflow and outflow pipe for a canister filter, usually in glass or stainless steel. The outflow spreads water evenly and looks far neater than stock pipes.
What size lily pipe do I need?
One made for your filter's hose inner diameter. Hose sizes are usually written as inner/outer, for example 12/16 mm, and the lily pipe needs to match the inner figure.
Why is there a film on my tank surface?
It is a mix of proteins and oils from food and plants. It blocks gas exchange and light, and a surface skimmer or an outflow that ripples the surface slightly clears it.
Do glass lily pipes need cleaning?
Yes, every few weeks, as algae and biofilm coat them. A pipe brush and a soak in diluted hydrogen peroxide or a lily pipe cleaner does the job.
Keep reading
Other gear
Specs come from the maker or a major retailer’s listing and are checked where we can. Makers revise products, so confirm the figures on the product page before you buy. Product photos are supplied by the brands and their distributors.