Film

I couldn't find an answer to this question. My water tests perfectly. The inhabitants are doing very well, but I have this film over the surface of the water. It looks very much like an oil spill. Does anyone know what it is or what causes it ?

 

I do and I do - to answer both your questions

the film you see are protiens that are bonded to the water surface, (surface tension)
whilst they are bonded there, your skimmer cant get at them to remove them

the solution is increasing the amount of movement at the water surface / more ripples, which will break the surface tension and send these protiens into the water column where they can later be collected by the skimmer

you can also remove them , by laying a paper towel across the water surface, the protiens stick to the towel, you lift it carefully and the white film comes with it , the film will then re group (bond) but repeat this and eventually the surface will become free of them

both solutions work IME

Steve

 

It's protien.

 

Thanks guys. I did increase the water flow @ the surface & things are much better now. Protein is a good thing to have though, isn't it ?

 

in a diet, yes, but on the surface of your reef tank , no,
it prevents co2 escaping and oxygen entering , and it cuts down on amount of light that can penetrate your water

Steve

 

The best solution is to get a surface skimmer and a sump. The surface water is pulled out of the tank and into your sump where your protein skimmer can get it.

 

You know, I'm not proud. I don't mind showing my ignorance. : ))

All this talk of skimmers, sumps, etc., mean nothing to me. I have a 10 gallon reef tank with an aquaclear 10 filter & flow tube. ( that's it ) To make more waves @ the surface, I just moved everything up closer to the surface.

Not very technical, eh ?

 

may not be technical, but for this problem it should prove effective

Steve