Film On Top Of Water

[xem]

hey guys,

ok not really sure about this it might be nothin but thought it best to ask. I have a 5 gallon Arcadia tank with my betta in atm, it is filtered and heated with a fair few plants in. Now across the top of the water there is a clear film, that if i move my finger through it comes apart and the bits float down through the water, but it reforms straight away - basically, what is this caused by and can it harm by betta? (ie stop gaseous exchange on the surface etc) and how do i stop it happening?

thanks in advance

 

[loraxchick]

it is most likely oil from the fishfood or from your hands if you dont wash them before putting them into the tank. nothing to worry about (unless youve used chemical sprays in the area of the tank...airfreshener or the like). but id say prob. from the fishfood.
cheers

 

[pippoodle]

just do a couple of larger water changes over the next few days and it will clear it -- is the filter fully cycled as you can sometimes get it when cycling a tank - how long has the tank been set up
how much are you feeding - how many times a day etc
how long are lights on

sometimes can be caused by a bacterial or algae bloom - again water changes will cure this

 

[loraxchick]

water changes will help, but it might come right back.
pip-its on the top of the water so doubtful its bacterial bloom or algae. sounds like the mysterious oily film that lots of folks ask about. usually from the fishfood as they inherently are oily.
in any cse, nothing to worry about necessarily.
cheers