Do it with peers.
Do it with Black Hole Skimmers.
Community Approach
DIY and Print File Sharing
For years our focus has been helping people keep their ponds and aquatic environments healthy through thoughtful design and engineering. Black Hole Skimmers is a community-driven ecosystem built around DIY learning, shared designs, and open collaboration. We will still offer pre-built full retail versions, but only in batches. Availability for each product is listed on our retail store pages.
Through courses, discussions, and licensed 3D printable file downloads, we enable builders to understand, improve, and manufacture their own Black Hole Skimmers systems and products — creating a space where ideas are tested, refined, and advanced together.
Build, Print, or Buy
For builders who want to create their own solutions.
Downloadable print files for manufacturing our designs.
Finished retail products available when needed.
Our Retail Products
Pond Skimmers that...
Auto-Adjusting DepthFish-Safe GuppyGuard
No Liner Cutting Required
Most Filter MediaControls Mosquitoes
Helps Prevent Muck
Variable Flow Rate
Aquarium Skimmers that...
Adjust to the Optimal DepthConvenient Suction Mount
Mount on Powerheads
Fits Most Filter Media
Range of Flow RatesHas a GuppyGuard
Aerates & CirculatesSturdy Pipe Stand
Are Easy to Clean
Are Dependable🚧 3D Print Files are launching soon. 🚧
🚧 Access will be available to members once testing is complete. 🚧
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Min. Water Depth: 10.5"
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Min. Water Depth: 8.75"
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Min. Water Depth: 8.75"
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Min. Water Depth: 10.5"
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Min. Water Depth: 6.5"
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🚧 3D Print Files are launching soon. 🚧
🚧 Access will be available to members once testing is complete. 🚧
I have always been a do-it-yourself person, and I find great satisfaction in discovering ways to keep water environments clean and their inhabitants healthy. About six years ago, I invented the Black Hole Skimmer, and since then I have continued refining the designs.
Now I’m returning to my DIY roots to share what I’ve developed with other DIYers. Through my DIY subscription courses, I explain the benefits of each design and enable others to build their own. The courses include videos, photos, and parts lists, along with individual and group discussions where we share questions, ideas, and improvements.
I have always produced our retail products using 3D printing, which allows the designs to evolve rapidly. The print files are available through our 3D Print Downloads at nominal licensing costs for those who want to print, maintain, and customize their own Black Hole Skimmers products. We also offer small manufacturing licenses for those interested.
— Robert D. Schmidt
Do it with peers, Do it with Black Hole Skimmers ®
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING
Wawa S.
“Best skimmer on the market
This by far the best skimmer that I have found on the market after trying out so many of them.
One of the most important feature is this is creature safe, I have lost many shrimps, snails and fishes to other skimmers, with the included guppy guard this will prevent creature getting in, even if they did manage to get in there is plenty of water in the skimmer to allow creature to survive. The products I have tried: eheim 350, lily pipe with attached skimmer, Aquario neo flow, Seachem tidal, aquaclear HOB with Oceanbox design skimmer.”
Brian H.
“Great way to clean, oxygenate and circulate!
I run the Black Hole Skimmer with an FX4 on my 125g freshwater and with the two I can keep my water crystal clear with 2 oscars, an arawana, 3 silver dollars, 2 plecos, a clown loach, and a rope fish all while feeding earthworms, crickets, and mealworms (as treats). The live feeding has the potential to cloud the water and leave "pieces" floating on the surface. Not with the Black Hole Skimmer! Easy to clean, and can keep up with evaporation levels between normal water change. Which is awesome because there is nothing worse than have that "filter" that has to be cleaned, or fussed with every few days.”
Mike H.
“Hey Rob, I just wanted to reach out and thank you for sending those awesome suction cups. Those are the best ones that I’ve ever used. Do you have a place where you’re promoting your products that I could go look and comment?
Thanks again for your excellent customer service an responsiveness.”
Luis U
“Works great.
I have this product in my indoor fish tanks so I knew they work very well in keeping the surface clean of small debris and that oil film you get from time to time.”
JV
“Great skimmer great support
Absolutely the best available skimmer on the market. Was missing one piece in the order, sent an email to the company and the piece was sent out ASAP. Highly recommended”
nkshl
“Just what I needed
Fast shipping. I just received this yesterday but so far so good. It's been performing well and is very quiet. It was easy to set up and place in the aquarium. I'm very happy with it”
Josh N.
“I love this skimmer. I have had it for a month or two. It sucks very well and easy to see when it’s full when water starts to pool instead of whirlpool down. I wondered for a brief moment if I needed to buy two when I saw the size, but It basically cleaned the whole surface of my water before I was really even done adjusting it. Set up was easy short of some trial and error in the depth. Love it. So much better than my last skimmer.”