Glass Lily Pipe Inflow & Outflow with Surface Skimmer for Aquarium

Clear the oily surface film and shape your flow — nearly invisible glass that lets the scape do the talking.

Give your planted tank a clean, glassy surface and a beautifully shaped flow. This glass lily pipe pairs an outflow that spreads gentle, even current across the tank with an inflow that skims the very top of the water — pulling off the oily protein film that dulls the surface, blocks light, and slows gas exchange. Made from clear glass, the pipes all but disappear against the water, so nothing competes with your aquascape. Adjustable flow and an adjustable skimmer level let you dial it in for anything from a calm shrimp tank to a high-flow planted display.

Why Aquascapers Choose This Lily Pipe

• 🌀 Built-in surface skimmer — draws from the top to clear the oily biofilm for a clean, mirror-like surface
• 💨 Better gas exchange & light — a film-free surface means more O₂/CO₂ transfer and brighter light penetration
• 🪟 Clear glass — nearly invisible in the tank so your hardscape and plants take centre stage
• 🎚️ Adjustable flow & skimmer level — tune the current and keep the intake skimming at the right depth
• 🌊 Even outflow — spreads gentle, distributed flow to move nutrients and CO₂ around the scape
• 🛡️ Intake guard — slotted intake helps keep fish and shrimp out
• 🔗 Suction-cup mount — quick, tool-free install on the tank wall

⚠️ Handle with care — it's glass. Glass lily pipes look stunning because they're so clear, but they're fragile. Push tubing on and off gently (warm the hose in hot water so it slides), and support the glass near the joint so it doesn't snap. Clean interior algae with a flexible pipe brush, or soak in a diluted bleach solution and rinse/dechlorinate thoroughly before returning it to the tank.

💡 Pro tip: Surface skimmers only skim if the intake sits right at the waterline — so top up for evaporation regularly, and fine-tune the skimmer level after each water change so it keeps pulling the film without gulping air.

Choose Your Size

Lily pipes must match your filter's tubing. This comes in three connection diameters — pick the one that fits your filter hose, and measure your existing tubing if you're unsure:

• 1 cm (≈10mm)
• 1.3 cm (≈13mm)
• 1.7 cm (≈17mm)

These commonly correspond to standard 12/16mm and 16/22mm filter hosing — confirm against your filter before ordering.

Specifications

What's in the Box

• Glass lily pipe with surface skimmer
• Suction-cup mount(s)

Depending on the option you choose, this ships as a complete inflow + outflow set or as the skimmer inflow pipe on its own — check the selected variant.

Pairs Well With

• Canister (External) Filter — the lily pipe connects to its inflow/outflow tubing
• Inline CO₂ Diffuser / Atomiser — fit it into the outflow line for invisible in-tank CO₂
• Flexible Pipe Cleaning Brush Set — reach through the pipes to clear algae buildup
• Pre-Filter Sponge — add to the intake in shrimp tanks to protect shrimplets

Your Top 5 Questions — Answered

1. What does the surface skimmer actually do?

= It draws water from the very top of the tank, pulling off the oily protein film (biofilm) that builds up on the surface. That film dulls the water, blocks light, and slows gas exchange — clearing it gives you a clean, mirror-like surface, better O₂/CO₂ transfer, and brighter light reaching your plants.

2. What size do I need for my filter?

= Match the pipe to your filter's tubing. It comes in 1cm, 1.3cm, and 1.7cm (≈10/13/17mm) connection sizes, which commonly line up with 12/16mm and 16/22mm filter hosing. If you're not sure, measure your existing tubing before ordering.

3. Will it suck up my fish or shrimp?

= The intake is slotted to guard against it, and the adjustable flow lets you slow things down. For shrimp tanks — especially with tiny shrimplets — run a lower flow and add a pre-filter sponge over the intake for extra safety.

4. It's glass — how fragile is it, and how do I clean it?

= Glass lily pipes are prized for being nearly invisible, but they do need gentle handling — warm the tubing so it slides on and off without forcing the glass. Clean interior algae with a flexible pipe brush, or soak in a diluted bleach solution and rinse thoroughly (with dechlorinator) before it goes back in the tank.

5. What does it connect to?

= It's designed to connect to a canister (external) filter's inflow and outflow tubing via the suction-cup mounts — the outflow shapes your current while the inflow skims the surface. Just match the pipe size to your filter hose.

Ships within 20–25 business days.