Oil on water surface

[Lyne]

I using internal filter for my 2.5ft planted tank i notice there is a layer of oil on water surface. Anyone can advise me how to solve this problem?? thank u

[Simon]

u can position yr filter in such a way that the outlet flow is just at the water line to create a disturbance on the surface

[mandz]

hi i'm having the same problem too. but if my filter is positioned such that the flow is just at the surface, there will be lots of bubbles cos there is an air inlet at the top, then CO2 will be wasted?

[Simon]

another way would be manually remove it

[sherchoo]

Surface dwelling fishes like Mollies and guppies do eat up them up.

[pipsqueak]

It's a layer of protein film right? or was it oil?
I usually remove them with a shawllow container, when doing water changes, kinda like skimming the fat off oily soup.
TO solve the problem, you could either create a disturbance on the water surface like others have said, or invest in a protein skimmer?

was that right?

[learner]

surface, not protein.
only $13 from c328 or polyart

[wahboy]

hello gang,

in the first place, is that layer of "oil" giving you any problem? lyne, what you mentioned happens in my low light tank too. i leave it alone and my anubias and java ferns are all growing very well. my discus are healthy too.

if it is not broken don't fix it.

hope this helps.

wahboy

[CoryDorus]

I have this Films too.
Will the layer affects gaseous exchange ?

If using turbulants to dissolved it into water, any side effect ?

[sherchoo]

This layer of protein is quite harmless except to my eyes.

[S|aO_|aNG]

The layer of 'Oil' is a Protien layer.
Its will surely happen when ur tank is a planted one. The protiens are excreted by plants mainly. There's nothing u can do about it except to remove it.
2 ways to remove them.
U can either Remove them by laying a piece of Newspaper over the surface of the tank. The protien will sutomatically be sucked into the Newspaper. Dun ask me why. Cuz i dunno. This method is easy & fast to use and most suitable for tanks using Internal Filters. Dun worry about the newspapers harming ur fishes. I've been doing this for a year and my fishes are still alive and even breeding.
Or u can get a surface skimmer from LFS and connect it to ur Canister FIlter's inlet to suck up the layer of protien. As simple as tat.

[kenny_G]

one thing to note is that when using surface skimmer, you have to be using a external filter. and the tank preferably not smaller than 2 ft.

ken

[Allen_1971]

Actually I think there is some risk to leaving the protien film. It does block gaseous exchange... just take a look at all the air bubbles trapped underneath the water surface to get an idea of what I mean... So in the worst case, your CO2 buildup doesn't get outgassed, and any oxygen usage will not be refreshed.

[anttz]

Instead of using newspaper, I have been using those big roll of kitchen towel (those placed below deep fried food to remove the excessive oil)

[Lyne]

Hey! Guys


Thanks for all the advice

[elmike]

Lyne

I had the same problem before with surface oil which looked like something that ENV officers spray to rid mosquito larvaes off stagnant water. At one time, my wife and I thought it was from her heavy cooking and what I did was to scoop it up with a beaker. I believe you could also prevent a surface buildup by turning on your air pump... the water currents somehow gets the oil "circulated" into the water. It's the ugly sight of the oil on the surface that bothers me.

On the source of the problem... I just realised that the problem dissappeared as soon as my expired flake food ran out. So you see, I think the problem stemmed fr aged flake food.

My 2 cts' worth...
mike

[sherchoo]

----------------
On 2/14/2003 12:12:34 PM


On the source of the problem... I just realised that the problem dissappeared as soon as my expired flake food ran out. So you see, I think the problem stemmed fr aged flake food.

----------------

Had this in my 2ft even though new/unexpired food was fed to the fish.

[coryfav]

If you're using newspapers, try to use those non-coloured ones. Stick to pages with only black prints and you should be safe.

I've a lovebird which loves to shred newspapers into strips, and I've read in a book that newspapers with only black prints are non-toxic.

Whenever I buy the Straits Times, my lovebird gets the Classified Ads pages, while I get the rest.[]