Film On Water Surface

[clutterydrawer]

Eyup. I've got a film on the surface of the water in my tank - it comes off when blotted with kitchen paper and is a palie green colour. I've tried cleaning the tank more regularly and increasing the agitation of the surface but it is very persistent and comes back quickly. Has anyone any idea what it is, why it forms and anything else I could do to get rid of it? thankyou.

 

[ncjharris]

Hello Cluttery - not seen you here for a while!

Is there anything in the room that could be giving off something that would for this film - candles, oil burners, cooking vapours.
Does it affect the fish?

 

[Fella]

I wouldn't know what it is, but the easiest way to remove filter scum is to add an arstone, or turn the filter outlet upward to disturb the water surface.

Hope you find out what it is.

 

[Mr Miagi]

What food are you using? And do you dose any chemicals/nutrients?

 

[rdd1952]

I have the same problem. It's most likely just your tap water. I can run a bucket of water and leave it sitting for a couple days and it develops the film. I use airstones, turned down very low, to break it up. The airstone isn't the best thing for plants but I don't have much choice.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Im not there, so couldnt really comment much, but I much rather feel its something settling on the water rather than from within the water.

rdd1952, when you leave it sitting for a couple of days, have you placed a lid completely over the bucket? What kind of container do you use? One which is food safe and hasnt been used for any other solvents/foods?

 

[clutterydrawer]

There's no candles or anything and I'm not adding any chemicals. I' musing normal flake food plus sinking tablets for the catfish and occasional bloodworms...the fact that it's green suggests to me it's something growing, like some kind of algae maybe.

 

[BWBettas]

yes ive got this on my 10gallon i just scoop it off with kitchen roll because i think my filter is doing a good job

 

[BabySealClubber]

The film is an accumulation of dissolved organic compounds (e.g. amino acids, fatty acids, mono/polysaccharides), and inhibits gas exchange at the surface-air boundary. The DOCs accumulate there because they are generally hydrophobic. The film is usually accompanied by the presence of bubbles at the surface that don't burst.

Some ways to get rid of it:

- Change your water
- Reduce feeding
- Ensure vigorous surface agitation
- Employ a surface skimmer attachment to your filter intake
- Employ activated carbon
- Employ ozone

 

[smithy05]

i had this problem with me 13gal i found raising me filter (fluval) so the outlet was half out the water was enuff to keep water moving round but enuff of a kinda splash to get rid of it mayb this would work