White Film Layer-- Any Suggestions

djb2458 · 09/04/2007, 02:51 PM

hey everyone,
I have a 130g reef tank with an overflow system/sump/refugium and some left over rocks(old coral rocks) as filtration. I also have a protein skimmer and an extra peguin filter added in the sump for running a little carbon and just an extra filter.
I have the problem of this constant white film that remains on the top layer of water on my tank. Its not directly next to the overflow and not in the direct path of the 4 diff powerheads.
I read that a surface skimmer might help, but i already have an overflow and power heads breaking up the layer(and protein in the sump). I was wondering if there may be another problem or if I should just try the surface skimmer(the film also remains after water changes)?

thanks for any help

JetCat USA · 09/04/2007, 02:54 PM

how much flow do you have through the return???

djb2458 · 09/04/2007, 05:13 PM

Im not sure but the pump says 3000rpm and goes back into the tank through to outputs

djb2458 · 09/04/2007, 05:13 PM

two*

JetCat USA · 09/04/2007, 05:38 PM

is there a name on the pump??

NealNano · 09/04/2007, 08:12 PM

The film is waste and proteins that are not making it to the skimmer. Solutions include getting a better skimmer and or a power head pushing water towards the overflow so it can get to the skimmer.

K' Family Reef · 09/04/2007, 08:21 PM

why the double post for the same question and how about the answers the first time???

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...1#post10701791

JetCat USA · 09/05/2007, 06:03 AM

it doesn't matter how you adjust flow if the return is an excessive amount any proteins that have accumulated on the surface and get skimmed by the overflow are just mixed into all the extra water going down the overflow with it making it even more difficult for them to be skimmed out before they are pumped back to the tank.

K' Family Reef · 09/05/2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by JetCat USA
it doesn't matter how you adjust flow if the return is an excessive amount any proteins that have accumulated on the surface and get skimmed by the overflow are just mixed into all the extra water going down the overflow with it making it even more difficult for them to be skimmed out before they are pumped back to the tank.

i think the question was just about how to get them off the surface in the main display... if the flow is adjusted correctly (and there is enough of it) along w/ then the film will not be present in the aquarium...

Travis L. Stevens · 09/05/2007, 09:27 AM

I know this sounds cheesy, but you'll be surprised how often this is the culprit...

Check to make sure that your water level isn't high enough to touch the center brace (assuming you have a center brace). Often a white film will accumulate on the side without the overflow and slowly slip by to the other side as the center brace acts kind of like a dam.

Also, is your overflow a hang-on-the-back syphon based system? It the water level in the overflow box the same height as the water outside of the overflow?

Lastly, instead of randomly pointing powerheads at the surface of the water to aggitate the surface, only use powerheads that point towards the overflow to help corral the scum to the filter.

JetCat USA · 09/05/2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by WarrenAmy&Maddy
i think the question was just about how to get them off the surface in the main display... if the flow is adjusted correctly (and there is enough of it) along w/ then the film will not be present in the aquarium...

covering it up doesn't rid the system of it. slowing the return down to where it's actual efficiently surface skimming will allow the skimmer the opportunity to Remove it from the system completely and not just eye patching it.

djb2458 · 09/05/2007, 11:47 AM

Thanks eveyone one for the help, I ll try the various suggestions to see if anything works. . . maybe ill just perform more water changes/ I do about 25g every two to three weeks( which i figured was enough with the skimmer and refuge)

- I posted twice cause i thought i posted in the wrong area the first time.. sorry

-The name on the pump is Little Giant Pump Co. 115v 60hz 3000rpm, althought i have it slightly turned down becuase i connected the sump and fuge together myself and the water didnt flow fast enough from the sump to the fuge(or atleast as fast as i would like it)

-the skimmer is a hang on on in the sump which granted is porbably too small for this tank but, sadly, i really cant afford to put more money in this tank ... hoping for a cheaper solution

-Its not a hang-on overflow but one that is built in, in the center, although im not sure i know what you meant when you said the stuff about the dam and the centerbrace...

Thanks again everyone
(i agree though i dont think covering it up will rid it from the system.. more water changes perhaps...I wasnt too worried though becuase everything still looks healthy and the the nitrates are really low and ph is balanced...although i feel it obstructs the light since the light has to penetrate the film layer)

Travis L. Stevens · 09/05/2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

-Its not a hang-on overflow but one that is built in, in the center, although im not sure i know what you meant when you said the stuff about the dam and the centerbrace...

Is the water level inside of the overflow lower than the water level in the rest of the display? I assume it is, but just checking.

Also, does the water level of the tank touch the center brace in the tank? If so, the center brace can be acting as a dam by keeping the scum at one side of the tank. For example, you'll have more scum on one half of the tank and not the other.

djb2458 · 09/06/2007, 11:05 AM

no the water level in the overflow is way lower than in the tank. But when you said that dam thing it made me look at the 2 outflows that are next to the centeroverflow(one of the left one on the right) i had them pointed at an angle so some of the water would hit air before returing into the tank and realized that this was creating a dam effect for the top water layer of the tank, so i turned them horizontal and immediately all the film started to go into the overflow. Im not sure if this is what you were talking about but if it was correctomundo, and if it wasnt well atleast it made me think.
thanks

09/04/2007, 02:51 PM	#1
djb2458 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12	White Film Layer-- Any Suggestions hey everyone, I have a 130g reef tank with an overflow system/sump/refugium and some left over rocks(old coral rocks) as filtration. I also have a protein skimmer and an extra peguin filter added in the sump for running a little carbon and just an extra filter. I have the problem of this constant white film that remains on the top layer of water on my tank. Its not directly next to the overflow and not in the direct path of the 4 diff powerheads. I read that a surface skimmer might help, but i already have an overflow and power heads breaking up the layer(and protein in the sump). I was wondering if there may be another problem or if I should just try the surface skimmer(the film also remains after water changes)? thanks for any help

09/05/2007, 09:27 AM	#10
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	I know this sounds cheesy, but you'll be surprised how often this is the culprit... Check to make sure that your water level isn't high enough to touch the center brace (assuming you have a center brace). Often a white film will accumulate on the side without the overflow and slowly slip by to the other side as the center brace acts kind of like a dam. Also, is your overflow a hang-on-the-back syphon based system? It the water level in the overflow box the same height as the water outside of the overflow? Lastly, instead of randomly pointing powerheads at the surface of the water to aggitate the surface, only use powerheads that point towards the overflow to help corral the scum to the filter. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

09/04/2007, 02:54 PM	#2
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	how much flow do you have through the return???

09/04/2007, 05:13 PM	#3
djb2458 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12	Im not sure but the pump says 3000rpm and goes back into the tank through to outputs

09/04/2007, 05:38 PM	#5
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	is there a name on the pump??

09/04/2007, 08:12 PM	#6
NealNano Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilbert, Az Posts: 764	The film is waste and proteins that are not making it to the skimmer. Solutions include getting a better skimmer and or a power head pushing water towards the overflow so it can get to the skimmer.

09/04/2007, 08:21 PM	#7
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	why the double post for the same question and how about the answers the first time??? http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...1#post10701791

09/05/2007, 06:03 AM	#8
JetCat USA Moved On Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 2,847	it doesn't matter how you adjust flow if the return is an excessive amount any proteins that have accumulated on the surface and get skimmed by the overflow are just mixed into all the extra water going down the overflow with it making it even more difficult for them to be skimmed out before they are pumped back to the tank.

09/05/2007, 11:47 AM	#12
djb2458 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12	Thanks eveyone one for the help, I ll try the various suggestions to see if anything works. . . maybe ill just perform more water changes/ I do about 25g every two to three weeks( which i figured was enough with the skimmer and refuge) - I posted twice cause i thought i posted in the wrong area the first time.. sorry -The name on the pump is Little Giant Pump Co. 115v 60hz 3000rpm, althought i have it slightly turned down becuase i connected the sump and fuge together myself and the water didnt flow fast enough from the sump to the fuge(or atleast as fast as i would like it) -the skimmer is a hang on on in the sump which granted is porbably too small for this tank but, sadly, i really cant afford to put more money in this tank ... hoping for a cheaper solution -Its not a hang-on overflow but one that is built in, in the center, although im not sure i know what you meant when you said the stuff about the dam and the centerbrace... Thanks again everyone (i agree though i dont think covering it up will rid it from the system.. more water changes perhaps...I wasnt too worried though becuase everything still looks healthy and the the nitrates are really low and ph is balanced...although i feel it obstructs the light since the light has to penetrate the film layer)

09/06/2007, 11:05 AM	#14
djb2458 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 12	no the water level in the overflow is way lower than in the tank. But when you said that dam thing it made me look at the 2 outflows that are next to the centeroverflow(one of the left one on the right) i had them pointed at an angle so some of the water would hit air before returing into the tank and realized that this was creating a dam effect for the top water layer of the tank, so i turned them horizontal and immediately all the film started to go into the overflow. Im not sure if this is what you were talking about but if it was correctomundo, and if it wasnt well atleast it made me think. thanks