Problem: thin film on water surface

[sen5241b]

I did a water change out a week ago but today I noticed a thin white film on the surface of the water. The film is not uniform, it seems to be a little thicker in some places. A piece of floating food will create a little trail behind it clear of the film. There is good flow and a new charcoal filter is in place Anybody seen this before?

I did add some very salty water in slow increments to bring the salinity up starting a couple days ago.

[hibye]

whats ur salinity?

protein skimmer maybe producin too much bubles?

air pump?

[sen5241b]

Originally Posted by hibye

whats ur salinity?

protein skimmer maybe producin too much bubles?

air pump?

Salinity is a little on the low side at 1.021. I do not have a protein skimmer. Of all the things that can go wrong, water problems are the worst.

[yote]

We've all had that film at one time or another.Its desolved proteins.Which a good quality skimmer would help.
What kind of filtration are you running?

[Doc]

even a skimmer will not get rid of all the scum on the top of the water. Unless you use a surface skimmer (not necessary), you will have some film. The best way of handling this problem is pointing your powerheads upward to break (make lots of ripples) the water. it forces the scum into the water column so the filter can pick it up.

-Doc

[sen5241b]

thx, good answers. I have the Oceanic 29G BioCube with 1) charcoal/fiber, 2) wet/dry bioballs, and 3) a decent amount of live rock and sand.

[Doc]

point those powerheads up toward the surface of the water, that should take care of it

-Doc

[tddeggers]

i,m having problems with film to, but i do have a new protein skimmer and one power head. whats up with all i,m have problems with. 1-brown algea 2- scum on surface.

[Altohombre]

if you have the cash, buy an Aqua C Remora Pro Protein skimmer if you have a larger tank and get the preskimmer with it. The preskimmer will control the microbubbles better and take in more of the skimmate on the top surface.

[sen5241b]

Pointing the head upwards has gotten rid of the film but there is less flow on the rock.