Foam and film, Help!

[BarroomHero]

I am not sure if this is the right thread or not.

Lately I have been having a oily look film at the surface of my 75 gallon. I have also noticed that there is a lot of bubbles/foam at the top around the edges.

I have a lot of surface agitation, 2 xp3's pointed at the surface with the spraybar, 2 ac110's, and 1 400gph powerhead used for surface agitation.

The only thing that has changed lately is changed from crushed coral substrate to pool filter sand. It says on the bag that it is quartz (silica) sand of extreme purity and says its inert. I noticed today though that the sand is magnetic, which I found kind of strange.

 

[BarroomHero]

I meant to say that the sand sticks to a magnet, not that it is magnetic.

 

[Nic]

for the oily foam do a few 50% water changes... as far as your sand i would ditch it... get a real fine gravel instead

 

[BarroomHero]

for the oily foam do a few 50% water changes... as far as your sand i would ditch it... get a real fine gravel instead

Ive done like 6 50% water changes over the past 2 weeks, and I have been using carbon, and its still there. I like the sand, I much prefer it to the crushed coral I had before, but if its hazardous I guess I will have to use something else. I see a ton of other people that use pool filter sand though and I havent seen any problems associated with it.

 

[Nic]

poor filter sand be good... but i would get that sand out of there asap... and keep doing those water changes..

 

[BarroomHero]

poor filter sand be good... but i would get that sand out of there asap... and keep doing those water changes..

This is pool filter sand, thats what I dont get. Its just regular pool filter sand from a pool supply place, says its 100% quartz(silica) and that it is inert.

I also don't get what could have caused the foam/bubbles all of the sudden, unless its related to the sand somehow.

 

[BarroomHero]

Also it only sticks to a very strong magnet, the magnet that my sand sticks to is an "industrial" magnet. It will not stick to my magfloat or fridge magnets.

 

[CHOMPERS]

I think one of your pumps is leaking oil (check to see if any are oil filled). Sand isn't going to be able to produce that much oil/scum without you knowing something was up when you put it in the tank (especially considering those water changes).

 

[Nic]

I think one of your pumps is leaking oil (check to see if any are oil filled). Sand isn't going to be able to produce that much oil/scum without you knowing something was up when you put it in the tank (especially considering those water changes).

i did have this happen and 2 things happened that made me not say it 1 my fish were dying....2 i heard the motor on the pump and temp went up from pump running extremally hot...

 

[BarroomHero]

I think one of your pumps is leaking oil (check to see if any are oil filled). Sand isn't going to be able to produce that much oil/scum without you knowing something was up when you put it in the tank (especially considering those water changes).

My filtration is 2 ac110's and 2 xp3's, as far as I can tell neither one is oil filled nor leaking anything. Fish havent been acting strange at all, everything seems normal besides the scum & foam.

Anyone have any insight to my issue of the pool filter sand/quartz/silica sand sticking to a magnet? I mean I figure its iron in the sand, but is this going to cause me problems?