2 problems

[Al Vance]

Hello:
I have found a layer of film on top of the water I have more then enough flow and skimmer seems to be working o.k. What is this? I have 20 Gallon Tank with 2 powerheads straight and one that goes back and forth. I also have a little flow coming from my UV sterilizer and the protein skimmer.

My sand sifting star fish seems scared to go into the sand. 2 of his limbs seem half bitten off. He was climbing the glass yesterday and today seems to be hiding on a rock just above the sand. Could I have a bad bristle worm problem. I seen the first one the other day. It was stealing food from a crab and an anemone. Love that Starfish want him to make it.
What do you guys think?

Thanks,
AL

 

[Al Vance]

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[Al Vance]

 

[Al Vance]

do you think UV sterilizer is working o.k.

 

[Bifferwine]

The bristleworms would not bother the starfish unless it was dead or dying. Odds are, in a 20 gallon tank, the sand sifting star is starving to death. They starve to death very easily (even in tanks 5 times that size) because they clear the fauna out of the sand so quickly. Before you know it, they have no food. 20 gallons is just way too small to keep that starfish long term.

As for the film, that seems to happen if you don't have enough flow at the surface of the tank. Do you have water movement at the top enough that the surface is rippled at all times? If not, aim a powerhead up in that direction.

Your skimmer appears to have gunk in the collection cup, so it looks like it's working okay. When you do water changes, siphon the crud of the surface of the water and that should help.

 

[cthegame]

Biff has you covered

 

[Al Vance]

I usually hand feed the starfish once a week
Make a difference.
I just slide it under him. Usually Brine Shrimp

 

[Al Vance]

Tons of Diatoms on sand shouldn't he eat that before he starves

 

[Bifferwine]

Diatoms are a type of algae. They don't eat diatoms.

 

[mng777777]

The film is because you don't have any kind of surface skimming going on and you probably have a lot of dust in the air. The trouble with smaller tanks without overflows and sumps is that even with powerheads aimed at the surface, there is no means to remove debris that settles on the surface. You should try to remove water from the surface when you are doing water changes and as stated, get as much surface ripple with your powerheads as you can. Your best combat for this problem is to increase your flow.

 

[dcantucson]

You can also use a couple of paper towels to soak up the film. Turn off your power heads and gently lay the paper towels on the surface and let them soak up the film, them pull them off and toss them. It's a little tricky at first until you get the hang of it.

 

[Bifferwine]

You can also use a couple of paper towels to soak up the film. Turn off your power heads and gently lay the paper towels on the surface and let them soak up the film, them pull them off and toss them. It's a little tricky at first until you get the hang of it.

Hey! This is my trick! You stole my trick! And not only did you steal it, but you then try to take credit for it! :grumble::grumble:

 

[dcantucson]

:nanananan:nanananan:nanananan:nanananan:nanananan

 

[Al Vance]

I now Diatoms are algae but I thought they consumed this. He seems to clear all red sand patches. I thought they were diatoms?
I know now I am wrong thanks BIFF

 

[Al Vance]

paper towels don't leave anything behind?
Cool I will try
Thanks

 

[bjohanson1234]

Also, what are your nitrates at? Stars can start to fall apart when the nitrates are high. They are very sensitive.

The red film on the sand is most likely red slime algea. Diatoms are kind of dusty and blow around when disturbed

 

[Al Vance]

I'm trying to combat the red stuff.
It seems to keep coming back.

 

[Al Vance]

usually one of my anemone's will let me know if they has been a water para change.
All at 0

 

[yote]

Sounds like you got a case of cyano bacteria.
When you do your next water change,change 20 to 30%.Siphon out as much of the cyano as possible.Then kill the lights for 3 or 4 days.The day you turn the lights back on,do another 20 to 30% water change,again siphoning out any cyano you see.
That will at least give you a head start on the battle.

You ninjaed me:D

It could just be a low flow problem then.

 

[wontonflip]

My 10 gallon used to get film on top, even though I had a powerhead rippling the surface. I didn't have an overflow; just a hob skimmer that sucked, and because the intake tube was pointed downward and not sucking from the surface, it didn't do anything for the surface's gunk.

But sounds like you have good advice :)