surface film

[Tjones]

ok so in my 10 i am getting like an odd film on the top of the water bubles just kind of sit in it and don't pop with light on it its rainbow looking like oil on a wet parking lot.

any idea what the film is and how to get rid of it

ph is 7.8

amm 0
nitrite 0
nitrate <20

weekly 20% changes


i changed maybe 50% of the water
and also tryed to skim it out neither of those worked

any ideas?

[Incredulous_Ed]

I honestly have no idea. Maybe too much organic material is building up in the tank? Are you vacuuming the gravel?

[sailor]

Are you feeding any frozen foods, could be the oils from some of them.

[hpt84]

poor filtration?

[smaug]

it is certainly protein from whatever you are feeding,its not something to be overly concerned with..I have had that and what I have done was to take a cup and use it as a pond skimmer works,just submerge the cup till its opening is just barely submerged all that junk will flow right in.

[DanielH]

What about the water conditioner? Among other things, the stuff I use has additives to "enhance the natural protective slime coating of fish" and also contains "natural biopolymers" which are supposed to help the filter bacteria. If you over-add that you might get a film on the surface of the water.

[Drumachine09]

Its from lack of water agitation. Add a small powerhead, an airstone, or a larger filter to keep the top moving a bit to prevent the film.

[jbeining75]

If it is rainbow colored it is definetely some type of oil...... Do you put your hands in the tank without cleaning them or like Sailor said feed any naturally oilly foods. Maybe something fell into the aquarium or leaked into it......

[smaug]

What about the water conditioner? Among other things, the stuff I use has additives to "enhance the natural protective slime coating of fish" and also contains "natural biopolymers" which are supposed to help the filter bacteria. If you over-add that you might get a film on the surface of the water.
I dont think so,I have used some of those things without that effect,I do feed some of the oilier foods and I get that once in a while.Drum had a good suggestion about more surface agitation and Im sure it would work for you.
Oh crap,sorry bout that Daniel,I posted too quickly and thought your post was from the original poster.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

I was given the suggestion in another thread to simply use paper towels to wipe/absorb it at the surface during each water change. It has nearly eradicated it...certainly enough to make it barely noticeable.