This is the fourth time that this has happened. My eel continues to find himself in the output chamber of my octopus skimmer. Is there anything that I can put on the water output pipe that will prevent him from swimming into it and into my skimmer? I don't want to block the water flow, do you think a piece of nylon would do the trick?
Eggcrate???
Try a maxi Jet or mag drive prefilter
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18418/si1379804/cl0/supremeprefilterspongeformagdrives2357
or
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18430/si1379857/cl0/aquariumsystemsmaxijetprefiltersponge
some of these are open on one end only.
Slip it over the discharge & hold in place with a zip tie or plastic hose clamp.
Can also help reduce any bubbles from your skimmer into DT
What size is the opening?
It's probably an inch and a half in diameter.
If you DIY, use something with large openings like ORDI260 suggested otherwise you'll be having to pull it off and clean it constantly.
Really all it has to do is cut the opening in half or in quarters to keep the eel out.
if there is a hole, the eel will squeeze through it they are quite amazing at getting in and out of small spaces
I put these in my bulkheads no issues:
(https://www.ovas.ca/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi709.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww100%2Fdan2x38%2FFinishedBulkheadFlatScreens.jpg&hash=0f4a85cf5cbb5487fbec36c44ac8b14977d8c0af)
They were about $2 at Lowes in the plumbing department. They are 2" I used a file and kept filiing bit by bit until they just slipped in. I am going to pull one out at a time and use Krylon Fussion Black to paint them. I used that to paint the back too. It is aquarium safe paint and let sit for 7 days it is chip proof. Used by tons of saltwater folks for inside their tank.