Dandruff Type Stuff On Top Of Water

[moochy13]

in the last month or so some weird white stuff, like dandruff, has started to appear on the surface of my water. pretty sure nothing has changed. one of my friends suggested it was protein, which i assume is what protein skimmers are for. but i thought that was a marine only thing ? heres a quick video :



any idea what it is ? i netted it out a few days ago, ill see if it coems back.

 

[snazy]

Looks like the filter is not doing it's job. What size of tank? What type of filter/filters do you have? How old is the tank and when did you last wash the filter media in tank water?

 

[moochy13]

The tank is about 3 years old I think, can't remember to be honest. Ex1200 on a 140l tank. No disease or death for at least 18 months - 2 years. Cleaned the filter 'properly' about 3 weeks ago. Don't think it's the problem, the bits are nowhere to be seen below the surface. 100% on the surface, so wouldn't get filtered. Comes back after a waterchange, gradually. No new food or fish for 3 months minimum, problem only surfaced last month.

Has me totally stumped.

 

[snazy]

Strange really. Sometimes just because it's not filtering the extra bits it doesn't mean it's not processing ammonia or nitrItes. Just the mechanical filtration is not working well. I would still double check that the filter is working properly, maybe it has deteriorated for so many years? Try adding some new filter floss to it in case the sponges are not holding the big parts anymore.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Maybe Springtails?

 

[ColR1948]

Head and Shoulders (sorry couldn't resist.)

 

[DrRob]

Could just be a protein film, starts out like an oily residue on the surface and gradually thickens to have white flecks. Surface agitation stops it so checking your outflow direction may help. Newspaper or kitchen roll on the surface would clear this.