[trooperjd]

I have a 38 gallon SA tank w/ 4 bolivians, 5 ottos, and 5 neon tetras. I have live plants with co2, w/ flora glow light. I feed 1x a day frozen blood worms, and all inhabitants eat this. I recently noticed that the top of the water has an oily apperance, a film on the very top. What is the cause for the film. I only feed enough that all worms get eaten, w/out any reaching the bottom. Water changes are 50% every two weeks with ro water. I do use root tabs as well as liquid fertilizer for plants. Any ideas how to eliminate or prevent this film?

 

[Supercoley1]

This is a common occurrence in CO2 enriched tanks. It can be often seen as a protein film but it is slightly different.

Normally from CO2 that reaches the surface rather than being spread around the tank.

Simply raising the water output to disturb the surface at night will eliminate the film. Lily pipes are easier for this purpose as they have their suckers on the outside of the tank but if a spray bar then simply do the same from the inside.

Andy

 

[trooperjd]

How do i add a spray bar or whatever is needed. Would adding a larger filter be the solution, or is this a DIY project? I have a penguin 200 w/ biowheel, perhaps one w/ a larger of volume per hour? Any help would be helpful.

 

[lotsofish]

Also, oily film can come from the bloodworm juices. I have a tank without CO2 and have had this problem. More water movement on the surface helps and you can get that from just lowering your water level so the filter makes a bigger splash.

Also, vary the diet some. Alternate other foods with the bloodworms. It will also be healthier for your fish.

 

[LED]

A 38G is kind of a deep tank if I am not mistaken. But, you can create your own skimmer of sorts. Might need to get a longer piece of tube though. Works pretty slick too. I use a sponge filter with an uplift tube that goes all the way up and basically almost equals the tank's water level. Then I throw a Whisper C or another small HOB filter onto the tank putting the suction tub down INTO the uplift tube on the sponge filter. If the water in the tank is just barely over the edge of the uplift it will pour into the sponge uplift to be sucked up by the small HOB. Then filtered and kicked back into the tank. Works SWEET!

 

[LED]

A 38G is kind of a deep tank if I am not mistaken. But, you can create your own skimmer of sorts. Might need to get a longer piece of tube though. Works pretty slick too. I use a sponge filter with an uplift tube that goes all the way up and basically almost equals the tank's water level. Then I throw a Whisper C or another small HOB filter onto the tank putting the suction tub down INTO the uplift tube on the sponge filter. If the water in the tank is just barely over the edge of the uplift it will pour into the sponge uplift to be sucked up by the small HOB. Then filtered and kicked back into the tank. Works SWEET! And, it may even pull some water in through the sponge for a bit more biofiltration. :thumb: