Filter/water Problem?

[-FighterFishh]

I've got a new 64L tank which I'll be adding fish to on Saturday. It's been cycling fine, and I added plants last weekend and some pieces of genuine slate a couple of days before that. Anything that I put into the tank (pebbles, slate) we're scrubbed numerous times before adding to the tank.
The thing is, it looks like chemicals floating on the top of the water. I tried mixing it in with a piece of dowel and all it did was break the particles up. What is this? Should I worry about it or is it normal?
Also, the flow from my filter keeps getting lower because it sucks up leaves. I've read somewhere that I could put the end of some tights over it to stop that? Would just like confirmation of that!
If anyone can help with that strange water thing, then any advice is much appreciated!
Thank you!

 

[Lolly123]

is it like an oily film? Maybe it could be a protein film that builds up. I got that on my tank when I added a plant substrate, i mopped some of it up with a paper towel and used a powerhead to disturb the water surface.

Some one else maybe able to advise you more.

 

[-FighterFishh]

is it like an oily film? Maybe it could be a protein film that builds up. I got that on my tank when I added a plant substrate, i mopped some of it up with a paper towel and used a powerhead to disturb the water surface.

Some one else maybe able to advise you more.

Yeah, that's what it looks like!
My powerhead doesn't really seem to be doing a lot of good in clearing it, only flowing it around the tank.
Do you think I could try and take it out with my siphon?

E- I've just been up to see the tank and when I opened the lid the surface of the water wasn't moving very much again. I looked at the filter and no leaves seemed to be trapped in it, so I just swirled the water around with my hand and the flow became better. Soo, the leaves probably aren't to blame at all.
It seems to be loads of bits of dust. My mum suggested getting a fine net and trying to net it all out?

 

[Lolly123]

For the oily film im not sure if the syphoning would work in trying to get rid of it, but certainly give it a go. How often do you water change?
Im just wondering if there could be excess nutrients or if you use any ferts at all, or how often you feed fish with foods that contain fatty residues. I would certainly try and keep the water agitation up and try and get a powerhead to break the surface and keep the water moving.

If there are bits you can net out then I would say do so, and maybe check your filter, you said the flow wasnt all that, when was the last time you gave it a little clean? But i'm not entirely sure about the dusty bits you mentioned.

Have you got any activated carbon in your filter, im not saying it will solve the issue, but it might help. Someone else may jump in on this thread and be able to give you more ideas.

 

[-FighterFishh]

For the oily film im not sure if the syphoning would work in trying to get rid of it, but certainly give it a go. How often do you water change?
Im just wondering if there could be excess nutrients or if you use any ferts at all, or how often you feed fish with foods that contain fatty residues. I would certainly try and keep the water agitation up and try and get a powerhead to break the surface and keep the water moving.

If there are bits you can net out then I would say do so, and maybe check your filter, you said the flow wasnt all that, when was the last time you gave it a little clean? But i'm not entirely sure about the dusty bits you mentioned.

Have you got any activated carbon in your filter, im not saying it will solve the issue, but it might help. Someone else may jump in on this thread and be able to give you more ideas.

The tank is still cycling (has been for nearly 2 weeks now) and so doesn't have any fish in it yet and I haven't done any water changes, though I plan to put in a couple of platies this weekend.
My mum seems to think that it's all dust, so we'll probably try and pick up a fine net tomorrow, or I'll just use some tights or something
I've found out that the flow is actually normal, it's the stuff on the top of the water that is stopping it moving, which kinda makes me think that it could be some sort of dust.
There is activated carbon in the filter, and since it's only been running two weeks with no fish in it so I don't think that I need to change/wash it yet.

 

[konmanos]

The film layer you talk about should be filtered out. The top of your water should look crystal clear. To ensure this, make sure that your outlet from the filter, is pointing towards the top, and is constantly moving the water around. The outlet should be around five centimeters from the top.. Not half way down the tank...Over time the top of your water level should clear up... If not then your filter is not working.. What are the details of your tank... Size of tank, and type of filter....you should not have to use a stirrer to clear the tank.. This is the job of a good filter...

 

[-FighterFishh]

The film layer you talk about should be filtered out. The top of your water should look crystal clear. To ensure this, make sure that your outlet from the filter, is pointing towards the top, and is constantly moving the water around. The outlet should be around five centimeters from the top.. Not half way down the tank...Over time the top of your water level should clear up... If not then your filter is not working.. What are the details of your tank... Size of tank, and type of filter....you should not have to use a stirrer to clear the tank.. This is the job of a good filter...

I have a 64L Fish Box tank, and I'm using the Interpet filter that came with it. The little nozzle is pointing the flow towards the top and a little to the right to create a current on the surface. I can see it's working as it moves the plants, but not the surface.
It's a little less that 5cm from the top, and is working fine, yet the strange stuff on the top doesn't sink, so I don't think it's able to suck it up.
I'm going to cut up an old pair of tights in a minute and get it all out.
It's like some sort of slime, and when I stir it it turns to bubbles.
I have no idea what it is

E- I've fished out the majority of the film with my old tights and given the filter a good clean. Is there anything else I could do to help?

 

[konmanos]

I have a 64L Fish Box tank, and I'm using the Interpet filter that came with it. The little nozzle is pointing the flow towards the top and a little to the right to create a current on the surface. I can see it's working as it moves the plants, but not the surface.
It's a little less that 5cm from the top, and is working fine, yet the strange stuff on the top doesn't sink, so I don't think it's able to suck it up.
I'm going to cut up an old pair of tights in a minute and get it all out.
It's like some sort of slime, and when I stir it it turns to bubbles.
I have no idea what it is

E- I've fished out the majority of the film with my old tights and given the filter a good clean. Is there anything else I could do to help?

I am assuming the filter is an internal filter? I am not a big fan of internal filters, as I also have one, and found that it did not provide me with water clarity, and surface agitation, which leads to the problems you are facing. I had a constant issue of water clarity, slight cloudiness in the water, and the surface area was not moving enough..I opted to installing an xternal filter.. Within three days the tank was transformed. The fish look like they are floating in the air. You do not see any cloudiness, and the water surface is spotless. Especially after a water change, you always get an oily residue surface.. This disappears within minutes, due to the water agitation, and the water movement that occurs.. I find smaller tanks a little harder to keep clean, especially when internal filters are concerned.. I have owned smaller tanks and found them a constant hassle to maintain.. And therefore lost interest in fish keeping.. I then purchased a larger tank... Thinking that the internal filter would do the job.. And found out, that this was not the case.. Added an external filter, for the size of my tank.. And problem solved...

 

[-FighterFishh]

I have a 64L Fish Box tank, and I'm using the Interpet filter that came with it. The little nozzle is pointing the flow towards the top and a little to the right to create a current on the surface. I can see it's working as it moves the plants, but not the surface.
It's a little less that 5cm from the top, and is working fine, yet the strange stuff on the top doesn't sink, so I don't think it's able to suck it up.
I'm going to cut up an old pair of tights in a minute and get it all out.
It's like some sort of slime, and when I stir it it turns to bubbles.
I have no idea what it is

E- I've fished out the majority of the film with my old tights and given the filter a good clean. Is there anything else I could do to help?

I am assuming the filter is an internal filter? I am not a big fan of internal filters, as I also have one, and found that it did not provide me with water clarity, and surface agitation, which leads to the problems you are facing. I had a constant issue of water clarity, slight cloudiness in the water, and the surface area was not moving enough..I opted to installing an xternal filter.. Within three days the tank was transformed. The fish look like they are floating in the air. You do not see any cloudiness, and the water surface is spotless. Especially after a water change, you always get an oily residue surface.. This disappears within minutes, due to the water agitation, and the water movement that occurs.. I find smaller tanks a little harder to keep clean, especially when internal filters are concerned.. I have owned smaller tanks and found them a constant hassle to maintain.. And therefore lost interest in fish keeping.. I then purchased a larger tank... Thinking that the internal filter would do the job.. And found out, that this was not the case.. Added an external filter, for the size of my tank.. And problem solved...

The water isn't cloudy itself, it's just the surface. I took out more of the stuff on the surface today and I saw that it's growing on the sucker pads for the heater and some of the roots of my plants, too. Though, today I added some fish and they seem to be eating it, so I hope that will help. I've been told that it could be some of the plastics which makers use in the tanks creating it and that it will probably clear up by itself, all I have to do is just keep cleaning the surface and any bits I see floating about

How quiet is your external filter? If I had one I'd really like it to be quiet as my tank is in my bedroom. What make is yours?

 

[konmanos]

How quiet is your external filter? If I had one I'd really like it to be quiet as my tank is in my bedroom. What make is yours?

Interesting place to have an aquarium - you know - we have our aquarium located in the lounge / tv area - and I often fall asleep on the couch and the only sound I hear is the slight murmor of the filter - and there is a murmor. As well as the trickle that occurs now and then from the outlet - splash against the back wall of the tank - purposely - to get water moving around. I enjoy these sounds - I find them therapeutic - this is the whole resason why I am enjoy keeping tanks. Sound-proofing filter cannisters is simple - should you find that you need to go down this path. In the past I used to own Eheim filters and they were very quiet, however this time round I purchased the Fluval 205. Only because the reviews - were quite good and I liked the connection and disconnection process - making it easy to maintain. Have a look at the following link - and see the videos - as well. This will give you a good indication. If you really like the aquarium hobby, and you may be considering u/grading to a larger tank - then purchase a large enough filter - to be able to move it to the new tank - without having to buy another new filter. If however you are serious of keeping small tanks then a 105 Fluval is ideal. Fluvals all have a control valve to allow you to control how much water flow is plced into your tank - if you have a small tank....

All the best!

http/www.fluvalblog.com/product-spotlight-05-series-canister-filters-video/

 

[AstonN24vantage]

did you scrub w/ soap?

 

[-FighterFishh]

How quiet is your external filter? If I had one I'd really like it to be quiet as my tank is in my bedroom. What make is yours?

Interesting place to have an aquarium - you know - we have our aquarium located in the lounge / tv area - and I often fall asleep on the couch and the only sound I hear is the slight murmor of the filter - and there is a murmor. As well as the trickle that occurs now and then from the outlet - splash against the back wall of the tank - purposely - to get water moving around. I enjoy these sounds - I find them therapeutic - this is the whole resason why I am enjoy keeping tanks. Sound-proofing filter cannisters is simple - should you find that you need to go down this path. In the past I used to own Eheim filters and they were very quiet, however this time round I purchased the Fluval 205. Only because the reviews - were quite good and I liked the connection and disconnection process - making it easy to maintain. Have a look at the following link - and see the videos - as well. This will give you a good indication. If you really like the aquarium hobby, and you may be considering u/grading to a larger tank - then purchase a large enough filter - to be able to move it to the new tank - without having to buy another new filter. If however you are serious of keeping small tanks then a 105 Fluval is ideal. Fluvals all have a control valve to allow you to control how much water flow is plced into your tank - if you have a small tank....

All the best!

http/www.fluvalblog.com/product-spotlight-05-series-canister-filters-video/

Thank you for the link!
It was really hard for me to watch that video. I hated the mans voice
The filter seems really good but I'm not sure I'd have any space for it, as my aquarium is only on a box in the corner of my room. I think I'll have to stick to internal filters. I had heard the stingray filter was good. Have you heard anything about that?

did you scrub w/ soap?

The filter media or the tank?
I didn't scrub the filter media with soap, only tap water, which was very stupid of me, but I've been testing the water constantly now it has new fish in it and all seems to be going well. There are still a few Nitrates left!