Shwag on surface of water... What to do?

zamboni200000 · 02/03/2014, 03:48 PM

Hey all,

The surface of the water in my 50g breeder is dirty. It looks like part dust particles, part hair, part oils, part mini fibers from a towel, etc etc etc. You can't see it if you look from above, but only if you bend down and look through the tank at the water surface, you can see it and it looks gross!

Any idea how to get rid of this crap?

I run a reef octopus hob skimmer. Other than that, filtration is natural.... Lots of live rock and sand and power heads.

Any advice much appreciated.

Help! Thank you.

gt1009 · 02/03/2014, 03:57 PM

Seems like you need to add a little more surface aggitation. Is there a way you can direct some flow from a powerhead or your return pump back up towards the surface to break the tension a bit?

Nina51 · 02/03/2014, 05:02 PM

i had this happen with my 14g. i did exactly as gt1009 suggests. problem solved!

cloak · 02/03/2014, 05:11 PM

For a quick fix, just lay down a paper towel on the surface of the water. (flat) Once the towel becomes saturated, just pull it off and discard. Repeat if needed.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/03/2014, 05:52 PM

Disolved organics on the surface will trap all kinds of stuff. As mentioned, a powerhead aimed at the surface will help keep the disolved organics in suspension so the skimmer can pull it out.

zamboni200000 · 02/03/2014, 07:42 PM

Thanks everyone ill play w the power head positioning, thanks!

living_waters · 02/03/2014, 09:49 PM

The good part of having overflows leading to refugium is the surface is skimmed down to the refugium where your skimmer can pick it up. It used to happen on the last baffle of my sump until I added a power head aimed at the surface,sounds like your missing some surface agitation do as others have recommend and aim a power head at the surface.

02/03/2014, 03:48 PM	#1
zamboni200000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 135	Shwag on surface of water... What to do? Hey all, The surface of the water in my 50g breeder is dirty. It looks like part dust particles, part hair, part oils, part mini fibers from a towel, etc etc etc. You can't see it if you look from above, but only if you bend down and look through the tank at the water surface, you can see it and it looks gross! Any idea how to get rid of this crap? I run a reef octopus hob skimmer. Other than that, filtration is natural.... Lots of live rock and sand and power heads. Any advice much appreciated. Help! Thank you.

02/03/2014, 05:02 PM	#3
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	i had this happen with my 14g. i did exactly as gt1009 suggests. problem solved! __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

02/03/2014, 05:52 PM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Disolved organics on the surface will trap all kinds of stuff. As mentioned, a powerhead aimed at the surface will help keep the disolved organics in suspension so the skimmer can pull it out. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/03/2014, 03:57 PM	#2
gt1009 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 38	Seems like you need to add a little more surface aggitation. Is there a way you can direct some flow from a powerhead or your return pump back up towards the surface to break the tension a bit?

02/03/2014, 05:11 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	For a quick fix, just lay down a paper towel on the surface of the water. (flat) Once the towel becomes saturated, just pull it off and discard. Repeat if needed.

02/03/2014, 07:42 PM	#6
zamboni200000 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 135	Thanks everyone ill play w the power head positioning, thanks!

02/03/2014, 09:49 PM	#7
living_waters Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: coral springs fl Posts: 424	The good part of having overflows leading to refugium is the surface is skimmed down to the refugium where your skimmer can pick it up. It used to happen on the last baffle of my sump until I added a power head aimed at the surface,sounds like your missing some surface agitation do as others have recommend and aim a power head at the surface.