Couple issues that need attention

**teeman** · 07-24-2011, 07:47 PM

Hello everyone,I have a couple issues that I would like to share with you.Alright I have an 80 gallon tank with a fluval 405 filter.First issue is that I have this weird film that I always get on the surface of my water.I Added an air stone to disturb the surface and that works to get rid of the film.I introduced a pressurized Co2 system to my tank.They say not to have any disturbance of surface water while injecting Co2 so now the dreaded oil film is back.I've tried changing food to see if that was the problem but doesn't seem to matter what i use.Also now that I took the air stone out my fish seem to be hugging the surface and breathing heavy.I have lots of plants in there to give off oxygen but not sure why they are doing this.They did this even before i added the Co2.My fish don't seem to be as hungry either.Checked all my levels have master testing kit and spent an hour or so testing everything.Everything seems all good.Have drop checker for Co2 checks out good,Ph good.I dunno what is going on.

**Fishguy2727** · 07-24-2011, 07:52 PM

If they are gasping at the surface the last thing you need to do is add CO2, or remove the air stone.

Try a few water changes and adding carbon to the filter to get rid of the film.

IMO one Fluval 405 is not enough for an 80 gallon tank. I have two on my 75 and if I break down my 150 it is getting the FX5.

**teeman** · 07-24-2011, 08:05 PM

The fluval says its good for 100 gallons though.Should they not be getting enough oxygen from the plants?They started hugging the surface soon after i took the air stone out.I took the airstone out about a week before i started adding Co2.

**teeman** · 07-24-2011, 08:06 PM

I will try a 20 percent water change and see what happens.Thanks fish guy!

**Surfdog** · 07-24-2011, 08:36 PM

Rule of thumb on Filtration, salt or fresh, twice your tanks volume. On my 75G, I run a filter rated to 160G...

**bignellm** · 07-24-2011, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Surfdog

Rule of thumb on Filtration, salt or fresh, twice your tanks volume. On my 75G, I run a filter rated to 160G...

On that note I agree and take it sort of to an extreme. I actually go 10 times water volume

What is this film? Could it be algae? Maybe a Blue Green bacterial one? I think we need pics on the oil sludge.

Agreed, put the air pump back on. Also about Co2? You probably don't need it. I'm not certain if atmospheric Co2 is diffused into water column along with atmospheric Oxygen, but the air pump's pushing both through your system.

What kinds of plants are in this tank, btw? Is there a chance some are terrestrial plants? or Semi-Terrestrial?

**Fishguy2727** · 07-24-2011, 09:15 PM

If you took the air stone out and then had problems put it back. Plants do release oxygen (during the day) but that doesn't mean they are producing enough.

**bignellm** · 07-24-2011, 09:40 PM

Originally Posted by Fishguy2727

If you took the air stone out and then had problems put it back. Plants do release oxygen (during the day) but that doesn't mean they are producing enough.

And doesn't mean they are making it at night. When they cannot photosynthesis, they respirate the same as the fish. O2 by day, Co2 by night.

**dbosman** · 07-24-2011, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by teeman

I have this weird film that I always get on the surface of my water.I Added an air stone to disturb the surface and that works to get rid of the film.

Normal oily protein scum. Some of it comes from the oils in fish food, some is shed by the fish. Agitating the surface dissipates it as you've seen. You can lift it with a paper towel or two. A surface extractor filter intake will remove it. Here is a link to one:
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.co...m?pcatid=12703

I introduced a pressurized Co2 system to my tank.They say not to have any disturbance of surface water while injecting Co2 so now the dreaded oil film is back.I've tried changing food to see if that was the problem but doesn't seem to matter what i use.Also now that I took the air stone out my fish seem to be hugging the surface and breathing heavy. I have lots of plants in there to give off oxygen but not sure why they are doing this.

I would say you need more dissolved oxygen in your water.
Do you turn your CO2 off at night? If not, and you can, start doing that. Plants can only use CO2 in the presence of light. In the absence of light plants give off CO2. Some people using DIY yeast CO2 have an air pump set to run when lights go off specifically for the purpose of adding oxygen.

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-24-2011, 10:41 PM

The last thing you want to do is not have any surface movement. If the surface is not being moved about the fish are not getting enough oxygen. The surface tension must be broken up by the filter.

Food is made with fish oil.