Trapped Oxygen?

[velanarris]

A big water change won't wipe out Iron based bacteria as it sticks to everyhting and multiplies like gangbusters.

If it is Iron bac, the way I've defeated it was to get some serious surface agitation going for a whiel and lower my iron fertilization regime. Or, sopping it all up with paper towels if it gets especially thick.

Are you dosing your plants with ferts at all? If so, double check to make sure you aren't adding both a trace that contains chelated iron and another source of iron. They won't kill your fish, and some even eat them. Usually they look like a slime or film or even an oil slick type of material.

 

[paulz01]

As oils are lighter than water, they float... I've had many tanks with little surface agitation have what appears to be oil collect at the surface. I can only speculate what caused it, but ove many years it has been a common thing to find and has I've never associated any problems with it...

Surface agitation should prevent oils from building up at the surface... and the oils at the surface are likely what is preventing the bubbles from disipating into the air... in other words, surface agitation will solve both problems...

alrighty ill point one of my fans up in the surface then

 

[paulz01]

A big water change won't wipe out Iron based bacteria as it sticks to everyhting and multiplies like gangbusters.

If it is Iron bac, the way I've defeated it was to get some serious surface agitation going for a whiel and lower my iron fertilization regime. Or, sopping it all up with paper towels if it gets especially thick.

Are you dosing your plants with ferts at all? If so, double check to make sure you aren't adding both a trace that contains chelated iron and another source of iron. They won't kill your fish, and some even eat them. Usually they look like a slime or film or even an oil slick type of material.

i dont have any sort of fertilizer except my co2 canister and the fert sticks you stick under the plants

 

[MadRussian79]

The easiest way to permanently solve this problem is get an overflow box with a sump, this removes the slime from the tank. I haven't seen a cycled tank yet that did not have at least a little surface slime without a skimmer box or similar. As far as I know this will not affect your fish unless it gets thick enough to block oxygen exchange, usually prevented with surface agitation.

When I had a bad build up of this I took a 2L Poland Spring bottle and used it to surface skim. While slow it did the job.

i dont have any sort of fertilizer except my co2 canister and the fert sticks you stick under the plants

Most fert sticks contain iron, which ones are you using.

 

[Toby_H]

The easiest way to permanently solve this problem is get an overflow box with a sump

While I cannot argue that this approach will solve the issue... and I cannot argue that sumps can be a great form of filtration...

Since the tank in question already has two powerheads and two canisters, wouldn't it be significantly easier and just as effective to simply redirect the powerheads and/or the canisters to cause sufficient surface aggitation?

What additional benefits would an overflow box & sump offer that this wouldn't?

 

[MadRussian79]

What additional benefits would an overflow box & sump offer that this wouldn't?

Except removing the slime in this tank not much.

I have heard of surface extractor for canister filter but not sure how well the work. Eheim makes one ~$40 on Foster smith and a no name brand unit for $9.99. I haven't used either so someone else would have to speak about ease of use and maintance.

 

[swede]

certain additives such as stress coat and other water conditioners/ slime coat enhancers can cause this bubbly build up at the top of your water. insufficient surface agitation is to blame for this.

 

[Toby_H]

Except removing the slime in this tank not much.

Please do not take this as challenging or being argumentative, I'm simply asking to see if I am overlooking something...

Would the sump/overflow actually "remove" the slime in a way that the canister/powerhead wouldn't? From my understanding either filter will simply distrurb the surface preventing the "slime" or oils from collecting at the surface. Either form of filtration (canister or sump) could use chemical filtration such as carbon or similar to remove slime/oils...

 

[paulz01]

Thanks all for the comments, I will first redirect my powerheads to the surface. If that doesnt work i will dig up some of my fert sticks.

edit: will keep you guys posted

 

[dmopar74]

if your running co2 you dont want surface agitation correct? cause to co2 to gas off too fast.