Rainbow On Water

[toppman]

a rainbow has appeared on the surface of my water in the small tank iv had running a week or so, it like when oil leaks into water and created all them colours.
what is it and how do u get rid of it?

 

[rdd1952]

I have the same problem with my tanks. My tap water will actually develop a film on it if I let it stand in a bucket. There are a couple ways to get rid of it or at least keep it broken up. You can remove it by simply laying a paper towel or newspaper on the surface and let it draw it off. I've tried that and it does work to a certain extent. You can also do something to disturb the surfaceand leep it broken up. Lower the wter level if you have HOB filters so that the water splashes back into the tank is one way. Adding airstones so that the bubbles breaking on the surface is another. the one possibly downside to both of those is that both of them help add oxygen to the water which may not be a good thing if you have a lot of live plants.

Another way that the film could have gotten there is if you had something on your hands or arms while working in the tank doing cleaning, etc. Things such as hand lotion and even body oils can cause it. That's why it's always a good idea to thouroughly wash and rinse your hands and arms before putting them in the tank.

 

[toppman]

hmmm iv got one of them under water pumps so the surface isnt really being disturbed and i cant get the bubble thing working that comes with it but iv said all this in another post, but making sure the surface is disturbed should work then?