Reply With QuoteI have the same problem! Is your tank open top?
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As you guys can see the film is quite thick and it is rather consistent it's unlikely that it is from an external source as the tank is place in my enclose room with the windows constantly close. I have tried using charcoal to help remove it but it doesn't seem to work any advise?
Thanks not advance
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I have the same problem! Is your tank open top?
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Yes it's totally open @bracehero, I am using a eheim pick internal filter and I try to push it up as high as possible to create surface agitation. I found out that surface agitation helps push away the film temporarily to expose the water beneaf
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It's just biofilm. https://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Bio-film
Use skimmer or aim power head at surface to increase your surface agitation.
Surface agitation doesn't seem to help, and it's a nano tank so I can't add a skimmer. I am doing daily water changes and reducing the amounts of food given hopefully it's helps:/
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The film could be caused by decaying matter, like a dead fish or a dying water plant or uneaten fish food. You can run a paper towel on the water surface to reduce the film.
I heard of the paper towel trick but how do I actually go about it? @Guppendler
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The paper towel must be the kind like the kitchenette towel and not toilet paper or tissue paper as they disintegrate in water too readily. Hold the 2 corners of the paper towel of one side and slide it under the organic oil film. Then slowly lift the paper towel up. The paper towel acts like a net allowing water to flow pass but the oil film will be trapped in the fibre of the towel paper. This trick will only help reduce the oil film on the water surface, if the source of the decay is not found and remove, the oil film will return.
Ohh ok the problem is I can't seem to din the source, I assume it's the decomposing waste trapped in the substrate, but I have already tried vacuuming the gravel but it didn't seem to help:/ perhaps I should try again
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Most planted tanks have this problem. Floating plants like frogbit and salvania natans or even red root floater will helps to take in this firm as their food source.
If the bio film output is more than the floating plants intake, den the film will still be there, but if the ratio is 1:1, then ur film will be gone within 1 day
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Originally Posted by Guppendler
Another way is to use the paper towel like a blotting paper. Just place the paper towel directly on top of the film and let the towel soak up the oil (and water) for a while, then remove the towel. Again not all the oil will be completely removed by this method.
All tanks, freshwater or saltwater will have this problem.
There are 3 ways to remove it.
1. Manual removal (using paper towel or scooping it out)
2. Increase surface agitation
3. Use a surface skimmer.
Allowing the film to accumulate into a thick layer will deprive the fishes of oxygen through oxygen exchange at the water surface.
There are HOB filters with surface skimmer for nano tanks. You may want to check it out.
It is good to ensure that the water surface is constantly well agitated. This can be best accomplished by means of an air-driven filter such as a sponge filter or similar filter contraption. The rising air should be directed in such a way that surface agitation is maximised and the vigorously-reacted water is pushed to the whole tank surface from one side. It is important to ensure that the airstream breaks the water surface. The outlet of a canister filter merely pushes water and thus only accomplishes this minimally as it does not break the water surface sufficiently.
All said, nothing can replace strict maintenance by way of frequent water changes to prevent huge accumulation of contaminating substances.
I am not an expert. I seen youtube videos that showed spraying hydrogen peroxide works.
Wow thanks guys for the helpful
advice, I have currently positioned my filter outlet slightly to increase surface agitation
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You can also try dosing Seachem Pristine to help out, its a blend of special bacteria that further breaks down sludge and waste in the aquarium, including organic fats/surface oil films. I've used it in my tanks and it works quite well.
Here is the info link: http://www.seachem.com/pristine.php
There still a limit to its effectiveness though, if your tank still has lots of sludge and oil film on the surface even after using the product, then you'll still need to reduce bio-load and clean the tank and filter more often.
I would stick to regular water change to help reduce the slicks would be more cost effective
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