Film on water surface

[Jack Brown]

Sitting beside my tank, I look up at the surface and see what looks like an oily film. Water returning from a canister filter creates an opening in the film. There are slight colors in the film like would be in an oil film. The film is thin and moves easily. When I do a 20 percent water change the film is gone, but reappears later. A Pleco is ripping some leaves off plants even though fed algae chips.

I wonder what is causing the film, and what is it?

 

[artemis1]

Water change time.
OR a protein skimmer........

 

[crowconor]

could be from floating fish food?

 

[Jack Brown]

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[Jack Brown]

Thank you for your idea.

 

[spexmoneymaker]

Yea you're gonna need something else to break up the surface of the water. Some type of aerator or HOB filter should help.

 

[Greenspot]

I had this on my betta tank, you just have to get the surface moving more, I used a HOB filter. I think its a natural protien in all tanks but because your tanks surface is not as agitated it builds up. Id do a waterchange and have extra surface movement, that should fix it.

 

[djarmstrong]

Not enough water surface movement , maybe ?

 

[Bucko]

Here is an interesting link that describes several algae problems plus surface scum.
http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.com/

 

[Deaths Sting]

you need something to break the surface of the water. i.e. powerhead, protein skimmers, or a sprayer bar. more dissolved oxygen will be the result also!