Film On Water Surface?

[andyw823]

Any idas on what this is? No matter how many times i change the water or skim the surface within a day or 2 its back! Its really puzzling me.

 

[*Fishkies*]

Is it oily looking? Or is it bubbly looking?

Do you have anything disturbing the surface of your water?
Have you added any new chemicals lately?

 

[kribensis12]

I have that on my convict tank. I wont go away either. I havent added anything new, adn i have filter( all my circulation).

 

[andyw823]

Is it oily looking? Or is it bubbly looking?

Do you have anything disturbing the surface of your water?
Have you added any new chemicals lately?

Its more oily i would say. I have an air stone which does disturb the water surface also the filter outlet mixes it a little to. Not had any chemicals or anything new, i did a water change 6 hours ago and now its worst thab before

 

[Bignose]

It's most likely just a thin layer of not-so-dissolved organics. It's not too harmful, but I wouldn't let it get too big. Some people have found that using a paper towel to soak up that layer is a good way to help eliminate that layer. You might have to do it every few days to help keep it from getting too big.

 

[kribensis12]

It's most likely just a thin layer of not-so-dissolved organics. It's not too harmful, but I wouldn't let it get too big. Some people have found that using a paper towel to soak up that layer is a good way to help eliminate that layer. You might have to do it every few days to help keep it from getting too big.

What will happen if it get's to big.

 

[Straydum]

probably the build-up of less harmful toxins would eventually become harmful itself

 

[andyw823]

Spoke to the guy at lfs and he said it could be excess protein from fish food. Does this sound right?

 

[Squidman]

Its in my 10 gallon too.

 

[Bignose]

It's most likely just a thin layer of not-so-dissolved organics. It's not too harmful, but I wouldn't let it get too big. Some people have found that using a paper towel to soak up that layer is a good way to help eliminate that layer. You might have to do it every few days to help keep it from getting too big.

What will happen if it get's to big.

If it gets too big, it will significantly inhibit the air-water interface from doing what it is supposed to be doing. Namely gas-exchange. Every extra layer that oxygen and carbon dioxide has to go through is like an additional resister in a circuit -- it inhibits the flow that would otherwise be there. It would take a lot, though, so it usually isn't a big worry. If you have air-breathing fish, like a betta or a gourami, you also don't want to let the layer build up too much. But, like I said, it's typically not much of a problem, and a paper towel is usually pretty good at soaking it up.

 

[andyw823]

The paper towel trick worked but whats the long term solution to this?

 

[Bignose]

Ummmmmm, a larger roll of paper towels? I don't know. You could try changing foods or something, but one paper towel every few days doesn't seem like a large hassle to me.

 

[andyw823]

Ummmmmm, a larger roll of paper towels? I don't know. You could try changing foods or something, but one paper towel every few days doesn't seem like a large hassle to me.

lol, i used a full roll!!

 

[backtotropical]

Feed less and agitate the surface more. That should get rid of it and keep it at bay.

Maybe try changing foods if it persists.

 

[Iron Man]

I've seen this question asked in so many threads through the years. I actually had this problem when I kept a lot of african cichlids in my 55 gallon. Using paper towels does the trick and it took a while for it to build back up.

If its becoming an everyday problem even using that method say once a week I would take the advice already given and change foods and feed less. You shouldn't be getting that much in your tank.

Tip: Buy cheapy cheapy paper towels with no ink on em.