Film on top of water

[Bellie816]

Okay.. I went to get some water in a tube for testing and when I touched the water I created an iridescent film on top of it. Stupid me didn't wash my hands before handling the tank...so now what? It seems to just stay on the top..it's oily looking. I'm assuming it's because I had lotion on earlier :ssuprised: I don't have fish in the tank...do you think that when I do my 50% water change before adding fish it will come out? I feel like a total idiot. LOL I'm sure I'm not the first one to do this... or at least I hope not!

[Northernguy]

It may not be from your hands but oil residues from the food.
Just wipe it up with a sheet of paper towel br dragging an open sheet across the top or do a water change and skim it from the top.

[Bellie816]

You think it would be oil reside all of a sudden? I haven't had fish in there for a week. But I will try your advice. Thank you! :)

[morgangallow]

i had a residue problem with my turtle. i put an airstone in, it got rid of the problem, and it hasn't resurfaced. i wiped the gunk off the glass after. so that's another option for you.

[little hawaii]

Okay.. I went to get some water in a tube for testing and when I touched the water I created an iridescent film on top of it. Stupid me didn't wash my hands before handling the tank...so now what? It seems to just stay on the top..it's oily looking. I'm assuming it's because I had lotion on earlier :ssuprised: I don't have fish in the tank...do you think that when I do my 50% water change before adding fish it will come out? I feel like a total idiot. LOL I'm sure I'm not the first one to do this... or at least I hope not!
Your in luck, i've had a piece of drift wood slowwly leaching out some sort of oily surface scum; my breeding pair of oscars do'nt mind at all. When I change water on this 65g. i sink a clean 1gal. jar into the tank until water just starts to go in. This is whats known as surface skimming and it will remove all that scummy stuff, then i would do a 50% water change.

[little hawaii]

Your in luck, i've had a piece of drift wood slowwly leaching out some sort of oily surface scum; my breeding pair of oscars do'nt mind at all. When I change water on this 65g. i sink a clean 1gal. jar into the tank until water just starts to go in. This is whats known as surface skimming and it will remove all that scummy stuff, then i would do a 50% water change.
some high quality fish foods can also contribute to oily surface scum broblems due to there fish oil content.

[lowlight]

Okay.. I went to get some water in a tube for testing and when I touched the water I created an iridescent film on top of it. Stupid me didn't wash my hands before handling the tank...so now what? It seems to just stay on the top..it's oily looking. I'm assuming it's because I had lotion on earlier :ssuprised: I don't have fish in the tank...do you think that when I do my 50% water change before adding fish it will come out? I feel like a total idiot. LOL I'm sure I'm not the first one to do this... or at least I hope not!


If it is just a residue from your hands I wouldn't worry about it to much. When you do a 50% water change see if it goes away. If not, you could do as previously suggested and put a small airstone in the tank. Use a coarse air stone as the bubbles will break up the surface and the filter should do the rest. The bigger the bubbles the better.

[Bellie816]

Well I did as northernguy suggested and skimmed the top of the water with paper towels. It's gone! :) I will keep an eye out to see if it happens again possibly from fish food or something. Thanks for everyones help!

[bushwhacker]

good job on cleaning the film, i get it on my 55 and it's from the food. NG always has good advice.