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Unread 12/25/2013, 05:51 PM   #1
Amatuer21
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Surface Scum

Have a few questions in regards to reducing surface scum. I have a 20g nano all in one tank. I am noticing a thin film of debri that clouds the surface of my tank. Ive tried positioning the return nozzle all different angles in hopes of pushing the debri towards the intake but nothing seems to work. I do not have a skimmer, will a skimmer remove the surface scum? This tank has only been up for almost 3 weeks. I have an mp-10 opposite side of my return to evenly distribute water flow through out my tank. Any suggestions on how to remove the surface scum will be greatly appreciated. To me its a real eye sore, thanks for the help!


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Unread 12/25/2013, 06:12 PM   #2
Meanstreet5150
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Proteins in the water. Skimmer will definitely help with that. I also have a power head aimed at the water surface and pushing towards the overflow.


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Unread 12/25/2013, 06:27 PM   #3
Amatuer21
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Ok. I guess purchasing a skimmer would be beneficial to the tank in other ways as well. I just was gonna rely on water changes but since i did one after my cycle i thought that would help reduce surface scum but it just came right back the next day.


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Unread 12/25/2013, 08:15 PM   #4
Amatuer21
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Any other thoughts? Is the skimmer my best option?


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Unread 12/25/2013, 08:37 PM   #5
lonzoencho
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Chemi-pure may also help remove some of the scum in my experience


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Unread 12/25/2013, 08:47 PM   #6
Amatuer21
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I am running chemi pure elite. After 3 weeks do you think it could be exhausted?


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Unread 12/25/2013, 09:14 PM   #7
kevin32
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Highly recommend a skimmer. If you have coral it helps out sooooooo much. If fish only its not necessary. I would get one still if it were me. A hang in the back skimmer is better than nothing.


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Unread 12/26/2013, 12:49 AM   #8
JohnoL
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2 things:
1st: The proteins are "trapped" on the surface of the water - hence the scum. You can break the surface/scum by positioning some type of water flow (power head/return) at the surface to disturb it.
And/Or
2nd: install an overflow to "skim" the surface.

After either or both of these are done, then you can install the skimmer which then removes the proteins from the water column.

As far as I'm aware installing a skimmer itself will not remove this scum.


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Unread 12/26/2013, 10:06 AM   #9
zachts
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Only way to eliminate it is to have a surface skimmer over flow or install a surface skimming intake on a small power head or your skimmer intake if using a hang on model(they don't work all that well but are better than nothing). You didn't mention if you have a sump and overflow? I have a tom aquatics over flow and it is lousy for removing surface scum (it was $30 bucks so I didn't care at the time) but I've had to mod it to make it skim scum of the surface and it still doesn't get all of it even with the return aimed at the surface of the water and a very good protein skimmer.

Quality operating surface skimming intake or over flow box is the only way to get rid of the scum.

Alternatively, water falling into the tank like from a hang on power filter is very effective at removing the scum from the surface.


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Unread 12/26/2013, 11:01 AM   #10
Amatuer21
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Its an all in one tank. Sump is located right behind the display. Ill post some pics later of the setup.


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Unread 12/26/2013, 01:10 PM   #11
klwheat
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Do you have any other source of flow in the tank? A simple small powerhead in the tank aimed slightly up toward the surface may help a lot. Also, since you asked, I would still recommend a skimmer too.


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Unread 12/27/2013, 12:17 AM   #12
SaltieG
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I had thick surface scum that stunk horribly. Pointed the powerheads up further and began surface skimming which solved the problem.


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Unread 12/29/2013, 08:47 PM   #13
zachts
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Is the back compartment sealed from the display half except for some slots at the top where water goes back to the sump area? If so just lower the water level so water "falls" into the back sump area. That will eliminate the surface scum problem. You may need to invest in an ATO or just keep a closer eye on water level then. A skimmer is nice but not always needed and very small nano sized ones are hard to come by and usually a PITA to setup, clean, and keep working, IMO. If you do weekly water changes that is often enough on a nano tank depending on your bio load and if you are running GFO and carbon in the filter.


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Unread 02/04/2014, 06:47 PM   #14
Amatuer21
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Thanks a lot zachts, i didn't think about that. I usually keep it up high because i like the water level higher in my display. I actually ended up getting a cad lights pls-50 that pulls out a lot of skimate, but I'm still seeing the surface scum.


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Unread 02/04/2014, 07:37 PM   #15
zachts
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something has to break the surface with falling water or a lot of wave action to remove the scum. I have issues with it in my display from time to time when the return gets clogged up and reduces flow, or when the makeshift baffle I made in my annoying TOM Aquatics overflow comes loose and lets water under it instead of falling over it like a normal overflow design (lousy design that overflow is, some day I will replace it but it works, and I have it, so.......)


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Unread 02/04/2014, 10:24 PM   #16
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If you have the room for it, a dedicated surface skimmer might be what you need. I use a Eheim Skim 350 for my 50g sumpless tank.

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