Film on the water surface I can't get rid of...

deputydog95 · 10/17/2016, 03:57 PM

I have one of those new red sea open top tanks. Never had an open top before, so this is a new problem for me.

There's a film on the surface. No matter how I agitate the water with the return flow, the film always seems to move away from the overflow box.

I've tried lower the water level in the overflow box to hopefully create more of a draw, but that doesn't seem to help. I even have a gyre near the water surface, pulsing. Nope, just pushes the film to one side. Grrrr.

I have no idea what the film is.. Dust debris? Who knows...

Any suggestions?

Mishri · 10/17/2016, 04:03 PM

you can remove it with a fine mesh fish net, I do it on mine every few days/week..

I think if you had a gyre on both ends you wont see it (that's my plan with my 300 gallon, with my overflow in the middle.

biecacka · 10/17/2016, 04:12 PM

Better surface skimming should help. It is usually organics from food that is fed, as well as other things in the air, smoke of sorts, aerosol cans that have been used.

Corey

joshbrookkate · 10/17/2016, 04:15 PM

I had that happen in my 75g. When I moved the return nozzles so they broke the surface a bit, the film disappeared.

deputydog95 · 10/17/2016, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mishri

you can remove it with a fine mesh fish net, I do it on mine every few days/week..

I think if you had a gyre on both ends you wont see it (that's my plan with my 300 gallon, with my overflow in the middle.

That's a pricey proposition right there. Isn't there a cheaper way? lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

Better surface skimming should help. It is usually organics from food that is fed, as well as other things in the air, smoke of sorts, aerosol cans that have been used.

Corey

When you say better surface skimming, what do you mean? I have the overflow box obviously, but what more than I do? I totally agree with you, but have no idea on how to do it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbrookkate

I had that happen in my 75g. When I moved the return nozzles so they broke the surface a bit, the film disappeared.

Right now I have the gyre pulsing at the water surface, as well as the return nozzle breaking the surface. Just seems to push the film around. Super annoying as I'm sure there's some loss of oxygen exchange with this slick floating on top.

shadowmonster · 10/17/2016, 04:42 PM

For a quick fix you can always lay a paper towel down flat on the surface of the water. As soon as it becomes saturated remove it slowly and repeat if necessary.

Mishri · 10/17/2016, 04:48 PM

for surface skimming he is talking like a coast to coast type system being ideal, edge to edge overflow so it can skim the entire surface. the bigger your surface skimming surface the better.

I wonder if you have an oily substance in the water, such as hand lotion that might be causing it to hold enough surface tension to not as easily go down.

overall, i'd say your least expensive option is physically removing it via a fine mesh fish net, or use filter socks..

biecacka · 10/17/2016, 05:12 PM

Yes what Mishri says. Or maybe try more surface agitation

Corey

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

deputydog95 · 10/19/2016, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biecacka

Yes what Mishri says. Or maybe try more surface agitation

Corey

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Surface agitation seems to have done the trick. Downside of my return nozzle not being completely submerged is that's it's noisy, creates bubbles, and creates a lot of salt creep on the front glass panel.

Need to find a happy medium there. Maybe I'll just slowly keep adjusting back down into the water in hopes of eliminating the film while keeping it quiet with minimal creep.

Appreciate the tips!

Hudzon · 10/19/2016, 04:15 PM

what is your return rate? you might just need to push more water over the overflow, a lot of times people take and reduce their return down to half inch and they think they are getting plenty of flow but it's not it's just pressure.

deputydog95 · 10/19/2016, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudzon

what is your return rate? you might just need to push more water over the overflow, a lot of times people take and reduce their return down to half inch and they think they are getting plenty of flow but it's not it's just pressure.

The pump is around 1000gph. Ballpark. The plumbing came with the red sea setup so I'm taking their advice on how they built it. Head is around 4 feet.

I also have two ET MP10's and a Gyre in there. With the Gyre pulsing at the surface and the MP10's down low to keep things moving on the bottom.

The return nozzle is set now as close as I can get it to break up the surface without making too much racket or splashing.

sil40sx · 10/19/2016, 05:13 PM

Whatever it is, its coming back after being skimmed. - did you try changing your filter socks yet? (Felt socks is ideal for situation like that)

Edit: looks like agitating your water surface kinda fixed it already.

exsequor · 10/19/2016, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deputydog95

That's a pricey proposition right there. Isn't there a cheaper way? lol

When you say better surface skimming, what do you mean? I have the overflow box obviously, but what more than I do? I totally agree with you, but have no idea on how to do it.

Right now I have the gyre pulsing at the water surface, as well as the return nozzle breaking the surface. Just seems to push the film around. Super annoying as I'm sure there's some loss of oxygen exchange with this slick floating on top.

Lol my most prolific reef tank is in my man cave / smoke room. Haha never seen any "residue" from hot boxing the room. In fact the tank seems to thrive more then the tanks in the other rooms that don't have herb smoking going on in them. Hrmmm...

ReefsandGeeks · 10/20/2016, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exsequor

Lol my most prolific reef tank is in my man cave / smoke room. Haha never seen any "residue" from hot boxing the room. In fact the tank seems to thrive more then the tanks in the other rooms that don't have herb smoking going on in them. Hrmmm...

Jah2707 · 10/20/2016, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowmonster

For a quick fix you can always lay a paper towel down flat on the surface of the water. As soon as it becomes saturated remove it slowly and repeat if necessary.

Just do this a few times a week. Eventually you will be doing it less and less.

10/17/2016, 03:57 PM	#1
deputydog95 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 966	Film on the water surface I can't get rid of... I have one of those new red sea open top tanks. Never had an open top before, so this is a new problem for me. There's a film on the surface. No matter how I agitate the water with the return flow, the film always seems to move away from the overflow box. I've tried lower the water level in the overflow box to hopefully create more of a draw, but that doesn't seem to help. I even have a gyre near the water surface, pulsing. Nope, just pushes the film to one side. Grrrr. I have no idea what the film is.. Dust debris? Who knows... Any suggestions? __________________ Red Sea Reefer 500 Peninsula, Apex Controller, Apex Wav (2), Apex DOS, Kessil 360WE (3), T5's (4), Kessil H160 Fuge light, RO Regal 150SSS Skimmer, RO DC Return Pump, Red Sea A&B

10/17/2016, 04:03 PM	#2
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	you can remove it with a fine mesh fish net, I do it on mine every few days/week.. I think if you had a gyre on both ends you wont see it (that's my plan with my 300 gallon, with my overflow in the middle. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

10/17/2016, 04:48 PM	#7
Mishri Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Great Falls, MT Posts: 1,404	for surface skimming he is talking like a coast to coast type system being ideal, edge to edge overflow so it can skim the entire surface. the bigger your surface skimming surface the better. I wonder if you have an oily substance in the water, such as hand lotion that might be causing it to hold enough surface tension to not as easily go down. overall, i'd say your least expensive option is physically removing it via a fine mesh fish net, or use filter socks.. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft long, 2x xf250 gyre, reef octopus 250-int - work in progress Aquarist since 1986

10/17/2016, 04:12 PM	#3
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Better surface skimming should help. It is usually organics from food that is fed, as well as other things in the air, smoke of sorts, aerosol cans that have been used. Corey

10/17/2016, 04:15 PM	#4
joshbrookkate Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Windsor, ON Posts: 618	I had that happen in my 75g. When I moved the return nozzles so they broke the surface a bit, the film disappeared.

10/17/2016, 04:42 PM	#6
shadowmonster Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Haddonfield, IL Posts: 197	For a quick fix you can always lay a paper towel down flat on the surface of the water. As soon as it becomes saturated remove it slowly and repeat if necessary.

10/17/2016, 05:12 PM	#8
biecacka Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 6,361	Yes what Mishri says. Or maybe try more surface agitation Corey Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

10/19/2016, 04:15 PM	#10
Hudzon Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 267	what is your return rate? you might just need to push more water over the overflow, a lot of times people take and reduce their return down to half inch and they think they are getting plenty of flow but it's not it's just pressure.

10/19/2016, 05:13 PM	#12
sil40sx Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 686	Whatever it is, its coming back after being skimmed. - did you try changing your filter socks yet? (Felt socks is ideal for situation like that) Edit: looks like agitating your water surface kinda fixed it already.