Film on surface! Make it go away!! Lol

dibeezy · 04/17/2011, 01:57 PM

So what's up with the film, or separation you might say, on my water surface? And how is my over flow supposed to skim it out with it doing circles from my power heads? Tank was started 7 weeks ago with Marco rock that wasn't rinsed thoroughly so I use a maxi 1200 to blow off rocks before a water change. I've only performed two water changes since it's birth. Could rock still have sediment causing this?

garygonzales · 04/17/2011, 02:51 PM

point one of your power heads toward the top of water .this will agitate the water and help it go into your overflow better.........

dibeezy · 04/17/2011, 03:20 PM

Surface ripples nicely but it does stay in the lower turbulent areas. Your suggestion makes sense but my tank has a surface area five feet in length and two in depth. It would take two power heads dedicated to just that. Should I do that? I have 4 evo's in there now and I still have dead spots! Any suggestions?

mike810 · 04/17/2011, 04:43 PM

more surface agitation..

hollister · 04/17/2011, 05:09 PM

Stop doing water changes and stop stirring up everything , just let it do its thing. Get a filter to filter out the debris and break the surface tension with a plus of carbon to remove unwanted waste. Also reduce amount of time your lights are on for a week or so.

cloak · 04/17/2011, 06:21 PM

I've always thought that the accumulation of film on top of the water were due to proteins. Hence a protein skimmer. Do you have on on your tank? What are your parameters?

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-0...ture/index.php

dibeezy · 04/17/2011, 06:41 PM

I have an aquamaxx am200s in the sump that does great for a tank with barely any nutrients in it. Keeps a head of good foam and produces dark greenish brown skimmate. I think I need more surface agitation. I'm going to re position my powerheads. Should I be using my returns for surface agitation?

cloak · 04/17/2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dibeezy

I'm going to re position my powerheads. Should I be using my returns for surface agitation?

I don't know. Your just going to have to experiment and see what works. Once you do reposition a pump/s, give it a day or so before you do it again. It's not going to go away right away. Good luck.

artman18944 · 04/17/2011, 06:57 PM

[QUOTE= Should I be using my returns for surface agitation?[/QUOTE]

....thats what i do and let the powerheads circulate the water in the tank.

on the spot · 04/17/2011, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

I've always thought that the accumulation of film on top of the water were due to proteins.

Truth bump...

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Stop doing water changes and stop stirring up everything , just let it do its thing. Get a filter to filter out the debris and break the surface tension with a plus of carbon to remove unwanted waste. Also reduce amount of time your lights are on for a week or so.

I'm not sure I'd try any of that for this issue. YMMV

duncantse · 04/17/2011, 07:30 PM

If the film looks like chunks of debris, then likely you don't have any surface agitation. Debris from your water column will float to the surface and just stay there. With surface agitation, the water will push the dirt down into the water column and then get sucked into your sump/filter. Try aiming 1/2 powerhead at the surface. You can try pointing your return at the surface too. I think this is more eficient because your pump is probably stronger.

frankpayne32 · 04/18/2011, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollister

Stop doing water changes and stop stirring up everything , just let it do its thing. Get a filter to filter out the debris and break the surface tension with a plus of carbon to remove unwanted waste. Also reduce amount of time your lights are on for a week or so.

Poor advice. Water changes and "stirring things up" are two of the best ways to keep a tank healthy.

Point a powerhead at the surface. That will break it up.

04/17/2011, 01:57 PM	#1
dibeezy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las vegas nv Posts: 98	Film on surface! Make it go away!! Lol So what's up with the film, or separation you might say, on my water surface? And how is my over flow supposed to skim it out with it doing circles from my power heads? Tank was started 7 weeks ago with Marco rock that wasn't rinsed thoroughly so I use a maxi 1200 to blow off rocks before a water change. I've only performed two water changes since it's birth. Could rock still have sediment causing this? __________________ I wasn't born like this, the world changed me! Current Tank Info: 150 gallon (5x2x2) 40 breeder sump.

04/17/2011, 03:20 PM	#3
dibeezy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las vegas nv Posts: 98	Surface ripples nicely but it does stay in the lower turbulent areas. Your suggestion makes sense but my tank has a surface area five feet in length and two in depth. It would take two power heads dedicated to just that. Should I do that? I have 4 evo's in there now and I still have dead spots! Any suggestions? __________________ I wasn't born like this, the world changed me! Current Tank Info: 150 gallon (5x2x2) 40 breeder sump.

04/17/2011, 06:41 PM	#7
dibeezy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Las vegas nv Posts: 98	I have an aquamaxx am200s in the sump that does great for a tank with barely any nutrients in it. Keeps a head of good foam and produces dark greenish brown skimmate. I think I need more surface agitation. I'm going to re position my powerheads. Should I be using my returns for surface agitation? __________________ I wasn't born like this, the world changed me! Current Tank Info: 150 gallon (5x2x2) 40 breeder sump.

04/17/2011, 06:57 PM	#9
artman18944 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milton, Pa. Posts: 168	[QUOTE= Should I be using my returns for surface agitation?[/QUOTE] ....thats what i do and let the powerheads circulate the water in the tank. __________________ .....its all about the water Current Tank Info: 36 gal bow front, aqueon pro flex 1 sump, asm mini g skimmer, aquaticlife 4 bulb t5ho, reef octopus overflow box, RKL controller, foam/rock back wall.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Surface film on overflow tank.	Rahair	New to the Hobby	4	11/27/2009 12:10 PM
Reccomendations for power head to rid of film on surface??	HornetMech242	New to the Hobby	7	04/06/2007 07:39 PM
Kalkwasser - Film on Surface of Jug	DT's_Reef	Reef Discussion	3	12/05/2006 11:48 AM
film on surface of water.	annewayne	Greater Iowa Reef Society	9	11/15/2006 08:26 PM
green algal film on surface of water, blocking light penetration	adrian75	New to the Hobby	3	11/01/2006 11:20 PM

04/17/2011, 02:51 PM	#2
garygonzales Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: WEST ALLIS ,WI Posts: 922	point one of your power heads toward the top of water .this will agitate the water and help it go into your overflow better.........

04/17/2011, 04:43 PM	#4
mike810 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 2,235	more surface agitation..

04/17/2011, 05:09 PM	#5
hollister Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 2,037	Stop doing water changes and stop stirring up everything , just let it do its thing. Get a filter to filter out the debris and break the surface tension with a plus of carbon to remove unwanted waste. Also reduce amount of time your lights are on for a week or so.

04/17/2011, 06:21 PM	#6
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I've always thought that the accumulation of film on top of the water were due to proteins. Hence a protein skimmer. Do you have on on your tank? What are your parameters? http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-0...ture/index.php

04/17/2011, 07:30 PM	#11
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	If the film looks like chunks of debris, then likely you don't have any surface agitation. Debris from your water column will float to the surface and just stay there. With surface agitation, the water will push the dirt down into the water column and then get sucked into your sump/filter. Try aiming 1/2 powerhead at the surface. You can try pointing your return at the surface too. I think this is more eficient because your pump is probably stronger.