Surface cleaning help wanted

The surface water in my tank continues to form a film that I have yet to figure out a solution for. Powerheads are agitating the surface and the film moves around, but does not disappear. If I turn the circulation off, I can drag paper towels across and skim it off, but it comes back in a day or two. The edge of my overflow is consistently about 1/4 - 3/8" below the surface, but does not seem to pull the film off. does anyone have any suggestions for eliminating this problem

Mike

 

u know i have the same problem...but instead of film...it almost looks sorta like a filmy oil or somthing...power heard do work...but only in small aread i try everything i got big arm lenghth gloves but i think the coral food is the oily stuff ...

 

If your return is close enough to the surface to cause bubbles it will pull the scum down into the water to be caught by your skimmer. Are yoy overfeeding?

 

Thanks KB, that is one of the options I was hoping to here. My return is currently (Pun intended) a distribution bar at the bottom of the tank. I was thinking about getting a couple of nozzles at surface level and building a closed loop to circulate that bottom area. (Yes I probably overfeed, but they are so pitiful looking when they all crowd at the feeding station whenever I come in the room!)

Mike

 

Sorry for clipping most of your post--but I had to say I am glad I am not the only one that feels that way!!!! ;D

Anne

 

u know how you can never over feed...well maybe not never but...eh anyway get shrimp! i have 5 cleaner shrimp and they are always hungry lol

 

You can overfeed. In fact, if you overfeed your fish, you're bound to have problems with your water quality. Shrimp or no shrimp

 

thats why i did say that its not never...but with shrimp it will help if you tend to over feed a bit