What could this White film on the top of my main tank

roxsburyrage · 11/30/2008, 08:13 PM

I don't know what is going on but the last few weeks even after water changes I notice a light while film on the top of the water in my main tank.My Sump is in the basement and there is nothing on the surface in there.Does anyone know what this could be from.I changed the water and it cleared up and then after a few days it starts to come back a little bit.

Fish_wiz2 · 11/30/2008, 08:17 PM

It's scum, remove it by having a big overflow or point powerheads or returns towards the surface.

mc-cro · 11/30/2008, 08:20 PM

sounds like surface skum to me. It is a build up of protiens and other things. How is your overflow set up? You need to be sure you have an overflow that pulls water from the surface.

and like fish wiz said, be sure to try and have something to break up the surface like a power head if correcting the overflow isnt possible

RicksReefs · 11/30/2008, 08:23 PM

otherwise known as protien build up.
adjust your flow so that the overflow skims it off. pointing flow towards the overflow will actually push it away from the overflow.

AC11337 · 11/30/2008, 08:54 PM

One way to prevent scum buildup is to strain your frozen foods. Thaw it in water and then dump the water into a drain through a brine shrimp net or something similar. That way you get the food not the oily stuff. This works especially well when feeding primarily mysis.

11/30/2008, 08:13 PM	#1
roxsburyrage Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 352	What could this White film on the top of my main tank I don't know what is going on but the last few weeks even after water changes I notice a light while film on the top of the water in my main tank.My Sump is in the basement and there is nothing on the surface in there.Does anyone know what this could be from.I changed the water and it cleared up and then after a few days it starts to come back a little bit.

11/30/2008, 08:17 PM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	It's scum, remove it by having a big overflow or point powerheads or returns towards the surface. __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

11/30/2008, 08:20 PM	#3
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	sounds like surface skum to me. It is a build up of protiens and other things. How is your overflow set up? You need to be sure you have an overflow that pulls water from the surface. and like fish wiz said, be sure to try and have something to break up the surface like a power head if correcting the overflow isnt possible __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

11/30/2008, 08:54 PM	#5
AC11337 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melbourne FL Posts: 354	One way to prevent scum buildup is to strain your frozen foods. Thaw it in water and then dump the water into a drain through a brine shrimp net or something similar. That way you get the food not the oily stuff. This works especially well when feeding primarily mysis. __________________ <;>< Tony Current Tank Info: 55 gallon S. Florida biotope

11/30/2008, 08:23 PM	#4
RicksReefs Moved On Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In America's Dangling Junk State. Posts: 6,413	otherwise known as protien build up. adjust your flow so that the overflow skims it off. pointing flow towards the overflow will actually push it away from the overflow.