Oily Film On The Tank Water (2)

[LukasCA]

Hi all, I have recently set up a 20gal planted tank and over the last 5 or 6 days I have noticed a strange bluish/purple film on the surface of the water (I guess that the lighting is maybe changing the colour of the oily too though). Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? Thanks. (I'll try get a pic and upload it to let ya all see) I've already posted this in emergencies but just wondered if there were other suggestions.

Ammonia is 0, nitrite is <0.1, nitrate is <20 and PH is 7.5. There is only 3 Platys in there at the moment and some more were due to go in soon but dont want to do anything more at the moment. The Platys in there just now are fine and dont seem to mind whatever the oil is lol.

 

[Jonty]

It's not harmful, a lot of people have it, I think it's from some ingredient in the fish food.

BTW your nitrite should be at 0ppm - 0.1 needs a water change. Have you cycled your tank?

 

[Honeythorn]

Do you have any decorations in the tank ? The coatings/paints may be giving off this residue, Coloured gravel sometimes does the same.

Also, fish foods often contain a fair bit of oil ( since most of them contain fish and shellfish ) so it could be your food.

 

[LukasCA]

It's not harmful, a lot of people have it, I think it's from some ingredient in the fish food.

BTW your nitrite should be at 0ppm - 0.1 needs a water change. Have you cycled your tank?

Due for a water change tomorrow, only tested tonight. But thanks, someome else has advised that it could be the food too. Cheers

Do you have any decorations in the tank ? The coatings/paints may be giving off this residue, Coloured gravel sometimes does the same.

Also, fish foods often contain a fair bit of oil ( since most of them contain fish and shellfish ) so it could be your food.

Only decor is the live plants, and the gravel is all natural. Must be the food.

 

[soph_betta]

I had a film on top of the water a few weeks after I first set up my betta tank the things I did was checked the filter flow and lifted it in the tank to create more surface airation, the next thing i did was a large water change. This seemed to clear it.
Im not sure what the cause could be but I think mine was because the filter was on its way out as since I had the new one ive not had it again.
Im sure there could be other things that could cause it maybe over feeding ect so hopefully some one else could shed some light!!

 

[blackers92]

sometimes I forget to wash my arm before grabbing something resulting in an oily surface, i presumed it was like soap or something, i read somewhere that placing paper towel on the surface can remove it but I had no luck doing so