FOAM in Tropical tank

[mshill90]

I have a 75 gallon tank.

1 whisper 60 dual overhead power filter
1 penguin 350 biowheel

1 6inch air stone
1 2 inch airstone

Some decorations and a small piece of driftwood as well as some small parrots feather plants.

I noticed some brownish/yellow foam accumulating at the top of my tank.
I know it's not good, but I don't know what it's from or how to get rid of it.

Water temps are 75.

All small tetra like fish and 2 small gouramis, 2 loaches and a pleco.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

How about water changes?

What's your water chemistry (pH, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, iron, gH, kH)? How established is the tank?

HarleyK

 

[mshill90]

Howdy,

How about water changes?

What's your water chemistry (pH, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates, ammonia, iron, gH, kH)? How established is the tank?

HarleyK

Water changes don't help. The foam just comes back.

The tank has been established for 2 months before any fish were added.

the water parameters are perfect, as I have to test them in my koi tank as well so they all get tested at the same time.

It's not building up (Other than around the heater) but it's like 1/4th of an inch of foam the whole way round the tank, but only around the edges. It's not free floating on the top of the water or anything.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Sorry to be picky, but you do not exactly give detailed information - you make it hard to help you...

Water changes don't help. The foam just comes back.

How much water is changed how often? What conditioners/additives are used? How soon does the foam come back?

The tank has been established for 2 months before any fish were added.

How did you cycle the tank w/o fish, and how long has it been set up in total? Any decor like driftwood?

the water parameters are perfect

This, I can again do very little with ... Please provide data (i.e. values) on the parameters I mentioned above.

• pH
• nitrites
• nitrates
• phosphates
• ammonia
• iron
• gH
• kH

HarleyK

 

[mshill90]

Howdy,

Sorry to be picky, but you do not exactly give detailed information - you make it hard to help you...



How much water is changed how often? What conditioners/additives are used? How soon does the foam come back? Water is changed 10-20% every other week. The foam starts coming back as soon as I turn everything back on. To start I used Amquel+ as a conditioner.


How did you cycle the tank w/o fish, and how long has it been set up in total? Any decor like driftwood? It was cycled with already seeded filters. And yes, I have a small piece of driftwood. It's been set up for 2 and a half months total now.


This, I can again do very little with ... Please provide data (i.e. values) on the parameters I mentioned above.

• pH 7.8
• nitrites 0
• nitrates 0
• phosphates
• ammonia 0
• iron
• gH 7
• kH 11

I am not new to tanks, or fish keeping, I am new to tropical, but I know it's not difficult.

If you would like, I can TRY to write you a book with more detail as there in not much more I can tell you.

HarleyK

I hope you understand.

 

[JakeH]

I hope you understand.

uuuuuuuhhhhh...... what? I dont understand. EDIT: If theres fish in the tank, you can't have zero Ammonia, zero nitrite, AND zero nitrate.

 

[mshill90]

uuuuuuuhhhhh...... what? I dont understand.

I accidently put my answers with his quote.. See the quoted text, and you will see my answers.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

While you are writing that book you mentioned , would you mind adding a chapter on feeding (any frozen or live foods) and on the history of your driftwood? Also, are these water parameters measured before or after water changes or half-way thru? Thanks!


HarleyK

 

[mshill90]

Howdy,

While you are writing that book you mentioned , would you mind adding a chapter on feeding (any frozen or live foods) and on the history of your driftwood? Also, are these water parameters measured before or after water changes or half-way thru? Thanks!


HarleyK

Just tropical fish granules 2 times a day. Just a small pinch so everything gets eaten.

The driftwood was new from the pet place when I got it. It's a small piece about 6 inches long.

These are the parameters before water changes and after.

 

[FSM]

I have a bit of bubbles that seem to accumulate in my 29 gallon. The end up clustered around the plants that reach the surface. No clue why, the fish seem healthy.
I also have a slight amount of surface film in the tank, do you?