film on top layer in main tank...

pong · 04/18/2008, 12:22 AM

there is a thin film developing on the top layer of my main tank...

what is this? and how do i get this out?

near d pumps and the drain to the sump, there is none...
but everywhere else, covered...

FBNitro · 04/18/2008, 12:24 AM

Next water change you do, lay a paper towel on top of the water to draw that stuff up.

ihavtats29 · 04/18/2008, 12:34 AM

are you surface skimming?

Gabriel_T · 04/18/2008, 12:36 AM

I think it might be proteins in the water column. They stay at the surface because half of their structure is hydrophobic or something like that. Not sure, though.

Ohh, and to get it out just skim the surace of the water with a siphon.

pong · 04/18/2008, 12:44 AM

surface skimming?

i dont have that skimmer,
i do have a sump... and a skimmer is there...

any other ways to remove it?

RyanMcLaughlin · 04/18/2008, 12:46 AM

If you have more flow at the top of the tank to agitate water it will push in into the water column so it gets drained into your sump where the protein skimmer/filter sock can remove it.

ihavtats29 · 04/18/2008, 12:49 AM

skimming the water from the surface not the mid od near bottom of your tank over flow boxes and predrilled tanks skim the surface of the water of your tank its where all the proteins an other gunk collect in your tank

ihavtats29 · 04/18/2008, 12:50 AM

od= or

pong · 04/18/2008, 12:59 AM

hmmmm....

so agitating the top layer of the water will in essence get this gunk out since it will push that to the sump...

am i getting this right?

so if i direct the flow of my power heads upward,
agitating the water and making it ripple, then good
right?

or would it be better to simply add another koralia 4
near the top of the tank, opposite to the drain to
push the water that direction? length of travel of water would be roughly 70 inches since it will be a diagonal

ihavtats29 · 04/18/2008, 01:07 AM

wavy top water is good , huricane messy. it will help mix it in to the water i keep a koralia near the top of the tank those thinks move water in every direction

pong · 04/18/2008, 01:12 AM

wait a minute?

which is better? regular waves or something that is like a hurricane?

ihavtats29 · 04/18/2008, 01:20 AM

lol

snorvich · 04/18/2008, 05:23 AM

Get the surface of your tank moving and you should solve the problem as it will all go into the overflow. If you do not, it inhibits exchange of gases.

04/18/2008, 12:22 AM	#1
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	film on top layer in main tank... there is a thin film developing on the top layer of my main tank... what is this? and how do i get this out? near d pumps and the drain to the sump, there is none... but everywhere else, covered...

04/18/2008, 12:34 AM	#3
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	are you surface skimming? __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

04/18/2008, 12:49 AM	#7
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	skimming the water from the surface not the mid od near bottom of your tank over flow boxes and predrilled tanks skim the surface of the water of your tank its where all the proteins an other gunk collect in your tank __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

04/18/2008, 12:50 AM	#8
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	od= or __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

04/18/2008, 01:07 AM	#10
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	wavy top water is good , huricane messy. it will help mix it in to the water i keep a koralia near the top of the tank those thinks move water in every direction __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

04/18/2008, 12:24 AM	#2
FBNitro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 641	Next water change you do, lay a paper towel on top of the water to draw that stuff up.

04/18/2008, 12:36 AM	#4
Gabriel_T Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 130	I think it might be proteins in the water column. They stay at the surface because half of their structure is hydrophobic or something like that. Not sure, though. Ohh, and to get it out just skim the surace of the water with a siphon.

04/18/2008, 12:44 AM	#5
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	surface skimming? i dont have that skimmer, i do have a sump... and a skimmer is there... any other ways to remove it?

04/18/2008, 12:46 AM	#6
RyanMcLaughlin Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Anaheim Posts: 982	If you have more flow at the top of the tank to agitate water it will push in into the water column so it gets drained into your sump where the protein skimmer/filter sock can remove it.

04/18/2008, 12:59 AM	#9
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	hmmmm.... so agitating the top layer of the water will in essence get this gunk out since it will push that to the sump... am i getting this right? so if i direct the flow of my power heads upward, agitating the water and making it ripple, then good right? or would it be better to simply add another koralia 4 near the top of the tank, opposite to the drain to push the water that direction? length of travel of water would be roughly 70 inches since it will be a diagonal

04/18/2008, 01:12 AM	#11
pong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: philippines Posts: 600	wait a minute? which is better? regular waves or something that is like a hurricane?

04/18/2008, 01:20 AM	#12
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	lol __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

04/18/2008, 05:23 AM	#13
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Get the surface of your tank moving and you should solve the problem as it will all go into the overflow. If you do not, it inhibits exchange of gases. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~