Water surface skum.

Dingo Dog · 07/04/2007, 11:51 AM

My water surface has a cloudy/bubbly film. I'm doing a water change every other week but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I did a water change yesterday and the surface film is still there. My skimmer runs 24/7 and the collection cup seems to be doing it's job. I have 2 MaxiJet 1200s with the Hydro Flo rotating deflectors that help keep the surface stirred up but the film remains. Is this normal?

mwwhite · 07/04/2007, 12:13 PM

Suggest having your powerheads in each corner of the tank pointing to the front middle glass - towards the top of the glass to keep the water stirred. On ours -- if you were to look top down on it you wouldn't see much because the water is stirring and moving so fast....

We have no problems with film on the top... are your powerheads strong enough to really churn the water?

slevesque · 07/04/2007, 08:12 PM

I was in the exact situation where you are.

I had a low PH problem as well so I decided to ad some air via an air pump to solve the PH problem. Ph climbed in a day. To my surprise, the greassy film disapeared at the same time. Maybe the bacteria needed more air to do there job. But since you already have a skimmer you probably have enough air already. My air pump is pushing in the main display. Might worth a try.

sjm817 · 07/04/2007, 08:19 PM

Is this a sumpless system? If so, that is a common issue. There is no overflow to do surface skimming. Some HOB skimmers have surface skimming options, but they dont work well.

am3gross · 07/04/2007, 08:47 PM

i always thought that the surface skim was because i kept putting my hands in the water and that was the oil coming off my hands and arms. do you put your hands in the tank much? if you do you might try washing them off with water just before you put your hands in there.

ludnix · 07/04/2007, 08:55 PM

I actually notice much more surface junk after I feed rather than from my hands. Often times flake food or even thawed frozen food will scum up the top.

There are surface skimmers you can buy for around $25 I believe. Try searching for one of those.

07/04/2007, 11:51 AM	#1
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	Water surface skum. My water surface has a cloudy/bubbly film. I'm doing a water change every other week but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I did a water change yesterday and the surface film is still there. My skimmer runs 24/7 and the collection cup seems to be doing it's job. I have 2 MaxiJet 1200s with the Hydro Flo rotating deflectors that help keep the surface stirred up but the film remains. Is this normal?

07/04/2007, 08:12 PM	#3
slevesque Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 377	I was in the exact situation where you are. I had a low PH problem as well so I decided to ad some air via an air pump to solve the PH problem. Ph climbed in a day. To my surprise, the greassy film disapeared at the same time. Maybe the bacteria needed more air to do there job. But since you already have a skimmer you probably have enough air already. My air pump is pushing in the main display. Might worth a try. __________________ Stephane Levesque The Shrimp Guy! Current Tank Info: 55 + 20L

07/04/2007, 08:19 PM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Is this a sumpless system? If so, that is a common issue. There is no overflow to do surface skimming. Some HOB skimmers have surface skimming options, but they dont work well. __________________ - Scott

07/04/2007, 08:47 PM	#5
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	i always thought that the surface skim was because i kept putting my hands in the water and that was the oil coming off my hands and arms. do you put your hands in the tank much? if you do you might try washing them off with water just before you put your hands in there. __________________ There are five things that you cannot recover in life: (1) The Stone...........after it's thrown, (2) The Word...............after it's said, (3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and ...(4) The Time.............after it's gone. (5) A person...............after they die Current Tank Info: 210 display, 75 gallon fuge

07/04/2007, 08:55 PM	#6
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I actually notice much more surface junk after I feed rather than from my hands. Often times flake food or even thawed frozen food will scum up the top. There are surface skimmers you can buy for around $25 I believe. Try searching for one of those. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

07/04/2007, 12:13 PM	#2
mwwhite Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Land O Lakes, FL Posts: 690	Suggest having your powerheads in each corner of the tank pointing to the front middle glass - towards the top of the glass to keep the water stirred. On ours -- if you were to look top down on it you wouldn't see much because the water is stirring and moving so fast.... We have no problems with film on the top... are your powerheads strong enough to really churn the water?