Film on top - Good, Bad, Ugly?

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F

FreshFish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 27, 2006
18
0
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Indianapolis
I am pretty new to planted tanks and thought I would start off with a 10g. I have a few plants in it and am running some DIY Co2. I have peat under sand as the substrate and add some iron and micros every 2 weeks. Lately I have noticed this film forming on top of the water. Any air bubbles that get under it stay and any food dropped in just floats on this film until it becomes water logged. I am not running an aerator in this tank and am wondering if I should start so I can keep this film broken up.

So in conclusion, is this film bad or ok? I have 5 neons and some shrimp that are doing fine in it and I would prefer to keep them alive, so that is why I need to know.

Thanks for any help.
 
It is most likely due to a lack of water movement. Get some surface aggitation in there with like an air pump or power head and it should go away. I would recommend scooping it out with a net though.

Chad
 
If you add an air stone then it will out gas any co2 you are putting in. The best thing you can do is add a filter or powerhead that will break up the surface just enought to remove the film. For a quick fix you can lay some paper towels on the surface and it will suck up the film.
 
Oh yea I forgot about the whole Co2 thing. Yea I would add a filter if you don't have one already and if you do I would add a small power head just to give the water some current.

Chad
 
Skimmer would be nice and solve the problem but seems a little over kill on a 10 gallon.
 
spinnerbayt;489382; said:
Skimmer would be nice and solve the problem but seems a little over kill on a 10 gallon.
Click to expand...

I agree...
BUT....
At the same time. this is after all MONSTER FISH KEEPERS! so there really is no such thing as overkill in this case ;)
:naughty:
 
its just protien. use a paper towel to take it off. also increase your surface agitation
 
Mr.Geoff;490381; said:
its just protien. use a paper towel to take it off. also increase your surface agitation
Click to expand...

yeah increase surface agitation. also to decrease protein build up feed less if possible. it could be overfeeding.
 
it could be overfeeding
could be the substarte
could be lack of water movement
its also some plants just do, they make protien
 
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