Foam and film, Help!

[BarroomHero]

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...

What kind of pumps use oil? Hob's and canisters don't, do they?

 

[Deaths Sting]

perhaps to much light or maybe ur over feeding ur fish or the mechanical media needs to be cleaned or replaced.

 

[BarroomHero]

perhaps to much light or maybe ur over feeding ur fish or the mechanical media needs to be cleaned or replaced.

I have been cutting back on feeding lately, I only run the lights 6-7 hours a day, and I clean all the mechanical media (in a bucket of tank water) once a week. The scum/foam/bubbles seem are barely there at all now though.

I am still trying to figure out what effect the iron in the pool filter sand might have on the tank, anyone have any input on this?

 

[brianp]

Skim the surface to remove the foam and oil. For example, you should be able to use a permanent coffee filter (or similar device) to remove the foam. Use a pop bottle or something you're comfortable with to skim the oil. Others have dealt with it in this fashion.

 

[BarroomHero]

Skim the surface to remove the foam and oil. For example, you should be able to use a permanent coffee filter (or similar device) to remove the foam. Use a pop bottle or something you're comfortable with to skim the oil. Others have dealt with it in this fashion.

Thanks. I used paper towels to help get it up. I just wish I knew what caused it.

 

[Deaths Sting]

Thanks. I used paper towels to help get it up. I just wish I knew what caused it.

is ur tank near a window or does it get a lot of sunlight? do u have little kids in the home who are $h!t disturbers? or anyone else who may have grudge against u who has access to the tank?

 

[BarroomHero]

is ur tank near a window or does it get a lot of sunlight? do u have little kids in the home who are $h!t disturbers? or anyone else who may have grudge against u who has access to the tank?

Nope, not near a window and no direct or even indirect sunlight. Its just me and my girl, she doesn't touch the tank in fear of doing something wrong, and she likes the fish so I don't think she has been sabotaging it lol.

 

[tcarswell]

Nope, not near a window and no direct or even indirect sunlight. Its just me and my girl, she doesn't touch the tank in fear of doing something wrong, and she likes the fish so I don't think she has been sabotaging it lol.

I was cleaning my moms tank at her new place last week and was showing her how to use the python and its attachments she added a 30 gallons worth of tetra aqua safe to a 10% full 20 gallon. It had serious foam on the surface. The only other time I have seen it was during heavy salt use. And even then I dont know if it was the salt use or not.

 

[FSM]

People use pool filter sand all the time; don't worry about it.

 

[NickinVA]

If I were a betting man I'd say you either over-treated the water during your changes or you were over-feeding, or both. They can both cause the film and bubbles you're describing. Just cut back on the feedings, like you've said you have, keep up the changes, and don't use too many chemicals. That should fix the problem, I think.