Film on Surface of Water

I just got a couple questions about the oh so known "film" that most tank owners (wheather it be FW or SW) know all about. Does it prevent light from getting to the corals? And also, I have that film in my 20gal reef but I have a prizm pro skimmer and as much surface aggitation as I can. There is only 2 spots I can see the film and I know that a surface skimmer would probably be best but I don't have a sump. I thought this film was caused by high nitrates but my nitrates are just barely hitting 1ppm. I thought that my big skimmer for my tank would take most of that protien out... How can I get this film gone in the 2 corners? I have as much surface movement I can get and keep the flow in the tank to what it needs to be. So far I have just been taking a cup and skimming the surface and replacing with freshly made saltwater... Not too sure what else I can do...

 

I know that people have built a surface skimmer into their hang on back skimmer intake. Its hard for me to explain, but basically an overflow box around the intake of the skimmer.......

i will try to find a link or something.

 

Something like what this filter has? ****edit*** i just looked up your skimmer, doesnt it have something like this already?


PFE-9 Hang-On Filter W/ Surface Skimmer

 

No it doesn't have any surface skimming add ons or anything... like a hang on filter, the intake goes into the water about 4"... I'll do some looking up, maybe rig something up... thanks.. never would have thought of this!

 

Holly~This is what I use. I've got it hooked directly to my intake pump. Kind a ugly but it works. Without some type of pre filter box or over flow that surface protein will not go away. Price $6.99

 

Nana is correct, the film you see is protein.
I'm quite surprised you see it with "as much surface agitation" as you can.

If that's the case, time to step it up in the skimmer dept. Or throttle back on feeding.

I have a pico/nano FOWLER tank without an protein skimmer and there is no surface protein, it does have heavy surface agitation however.

 

Yea, I was suprised too! I skimmed the surface again last night and put new water in and the film was still there. When I woke up this morning it's almost all gone. I took a pic of the surface agitation that I have in the tank. I think the film was actually because of me feeding more than usual because I was trying to get my anthia to eat. But now that he's eating I'm gunna go back to my regular schedual. View attachment 50758

 

So that film is back! I think I found what Nana was talking about. It's similar to this right?
http://www.amazon.com/ROLF-C-HAGEN-Surface-Skimmer/dp/B000256CH8
I'm going to my LFS and picking one up today. I'm thinking of hooking it up to my Fluval 205 Canister filter though instead of my skimmer I'm thinking. I dunno. I'll see when I get it. Thanks Nana!!!

 

If you plan on skimming protein off the surface, you really want to send it to the skimmer which will remove it.
The filter will trap it.

Hope it works out for ya.

 

I have this too. I have tons of surface aggitation and in addition to that its a overflow tank. What gives? I have two power heads and two directional spouts on my return line. I have 12 damsels and feed half a a cube of frozen mysis shrimp per day. They clean it up in about 1 minute.