Layer of oil film on water

[Reginald Ho]

Hi bros, will like to ask, other than using a surface skimmer/filter, is there any effective way to remove the film of oil that constantly apears on the surface of the water? I have tried sucking it up with a piece of paper towel, but is realy quite a messy job..

[AquaObsession]

Get a molly!

[EvolutionZ]

i have never have any oil film of water. i don't use surface skimmer.
i tilt my filter out put alittle upwards to create a little wavy effect. and my fan blowing my water also disperse the oil film.

[taz_boy]

avoid overfeeding

[lolo]

Black molly!

[catohcat]

the most simple method is to plug in an air pump + airstone, oxygen will do the magic :P

[Cloud-Strife]

I agree with catohcat. The most economic way is using airstone to disturb the water surface. But it will dirty your tank surface.

[CrAnKCaM]

i have never have any oil film of water. i don't use surface skimmer.
i tilt my filter out put alittle upwards to create a little wavy effect. and my fan blowing my water also disperse the oil film.

i did that too but the problem still occured.But after i introduce a sponge filter in it and the problem is solve

[benkho]

how does getting a molly solve the problem? i have a filterless shrimp tank and i also have this problem...hmmm...but molly i afraid will eat my shirmps..

[corywink]

black mollies are supposed to eat the protein film, but yeah it would probably feast on your baby shrimps just the same

[Reginald Ho]

Thanks for the response! Mine's also a shrimp tank.. so guess Mollies are out of the solution. Hmm... will try to diy a surface overflow. Any suggestions how to do one to fit an internal filter?

[fireblade]

invert a powerhead filter and put the sponge area near to water surface.

[Tony]

Use a surface skimmer, it will maintain the water surface clean.

[Jervis]

I didn't know black Molly can be so useful... will give them another look next time

[Verminator]

Mollies are ugly, over active, annoyingly dull fish

that somehow do wonders for the tank, there astounding at times. Even they're algae eating attributes are amazing!

[Jervis]

And not to mention Mollies have very long intestines... 20 times longer than most fishes... making them more efficient... more go in less come out

[Verminator]

Well, mine shat like they were trying to enter the olympics or something. They produced copious amounts of waste in my tank. Hmmm.....

[StanChung]

Other than mollies and surface skimmer,

For small tanks,
A HOB filter will take care of the problem. It's splashing action rids of the scum.

A canister hooked to a lily pipe would suck in the surface film if positioned just right.
Do cover your filter inlet with a fine sponge in both cases since you're keeping shrimps.