brown oily slime on water surface

aharvey · 06/05/2006, 03:18 PM

I was on vacation for a week and my father-in-law was keeping tank for me.
Everybody survived but I came home to a brown oily slime covering the entire top of the waters surface. I have been able to skim most of it out but I was curious what it was and what might have caused it
It's a 90 gallon with 26 gallon sump, ASM G-2 skimmer, with a real light bio load. Tank has been up for 4 months.

Blown 346 · 06/05/2006, 03:23 PM

Sounds like a bunch of proteins and organics that werent skimmed.

shoddyk · 06/05/2006, 03:25 PM

There is not enough water movement going across the surface and the skimmer was not sucking out enouigh skim mate. I have a G2 also and it does that when the tube is set too low.

aharvey · 06/05/2006, 03:56 PM

I have a cpr 102 in place and a Gen X pump moving about 1000 gph I guess. I had to throttle it back because it pumped more than the overflow could handle! I didn't look at the skim tube height. My father-in-law might have moved it by accident when he was adding water. Next project is auto top off and lights!

06/05/2006, 03:18 PM	#1
aharvey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Collierville, Tenn Posts: 282	brown oily slime on water surface I was on vacation for a week and my father-in-law was keeping tank for me. Everybody survived but I came home to a brown oily slime covering the entire top of the waters surface. I have been able to skim most of it out but I was curious what it was and what might have caused it It's a 90 gallon with 26 gallon sump, ASM G-2 skimmer, with a real light bio load. Tank has been up for 4 months.

06/05/2006, 03:56 PM	#4
aharvey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Collierville, Tenn Posts: 282	I have a cpr 102 in place and a Gen X pump moving about 1000 gph I guess. I had to throttle it back because it pumped more than the overflow could handle! I didn't look at the skim tube height. My father-in-law might have moved it by accident when he was adding water. Next project is auto top off and lights! __________________ "Sometimes the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few" Current Tank Info: (2) 100 Gallon Rubbermaid tubs

06/05/2006, 03:23 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Sounds like a bunch of proteins and organics that werent skimmed.

06/05/2006, 03:25 PM	#3
shoddyk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Yuma, Az Posts: 568	There is not enough water movement going across the surface and the skimmer was not sucking out enouigh skim mate. I have a G2 also and it does that when the tube is set too low.