hi all,
i just started my planted thank ard 2 to 3 weeks ago, plants a bubbling and growing well.but i discover a layer of oil on the water surface of my tank. is this harmful to the fishes or plants. should i leave the layer of oil along? and is this the reasons why my malayan and yamato died? but my SAEs still doing very well...
pls advise
The layer of oil is actually a protein film which I myself do not know where it come from. It's quite harmless and probably not the reason to your shrimps deaths.
To remove this layer thingy, surface skimmer can be use in conjunction to your external filter. If not, you can get surface dwelling fish that eats up this protein film. Fish that you can consider are guppies, mollies or swordtails.
Hi,
Wat Sherwin said is correct. U can buy a Surface Skimmer which cos only $15-18. Otherwise if after lights & co2 off, e oil is still there....after hours later, u will see all ur fishes on e water surface grasping for air. By e way, e oil comes fr e flake food tat u feed ur fishes. (if i am not wrong). Another way is to get Black Mollies, more efficient in geeting rid of e oil, of course other mollies or guppies also can. Good Luck!
Rgds,
New2Planting[]
If you have surface plants like duckweed or frogbits, then it may clog the skimmer. my guppies are hopeless in cleaning the oil...thinking of black mollies now.
[quote]
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The layer of oil is actually a protein film which I myself do not know where it come from.
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Sherchoo,
I think the oil comes from the plants. I didn't quite believe this when someone told me about it but I've noticed that if there are big plants like Echinodorous in the tank, there always seem to be a layer of oil. Tanks with only stem plants do not seem to have this problem.
Loh K L
surface skimmer can get at $9.80 at petmart. but i dunno whether the offer is still on anot
sorry for newbie question.. surface skimmer can only be used on canister? can use on internal filter?
Loh,
My office tank with minimal large plants but still experiencing protein film build up.... could it coming from somewhere else?
New2planting,
I've yet to do anything to remove the layer of 'oil' and so far no fish gasping for air. Another thing is that my tank did not do any feeding (and I mean zero feeding) but the layer of 'oil' still formed.
[quote]
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Loh,
My office tank with minimal large plants but still experiencing protein film build up.... could it coming from somewhere else?
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Sherchoo,
I suppose if you said minimal, there must be at least one large plant in your office tank. One large plant could leak enough oil to form a layer on the surface of the water, more so if one or more of the leaves is damaged. If you don't mind breaking one of the leaves on your large plant, try doing an experiment. Break one leaf and see if the layer of oil becomes even thicker after that. I believe there would be a difference.
Loh K L
If the layer of oil is harmless then why bother to remove them. I suppose regular water change shld help to reduce them.
BTW, i have this tiny bubbles formed on the water surface when i feed my fishes with flakes (probably overdue). Are this bubbles harmless as well(My fishes are ok though)?
However they form quite a nice view when the water from the rainbar pushes it down to the front of the tank.
Yes i think so, cuz they need to be connected to an inlet(input) hose, and i dont think an internal filter uses any inlet hose..----------------
On 6/5/2003 11:26:03 PM
sorry for newbie question.. surface skimmer can only be used on canister? can use on internal filter?
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_______________________
Say no to protesters!
since we talking about protein film on the surface.. have anyone using ADA aquasoil without a surface skimmer face having a layer of brownish slime on the surface? my office tank constant have a layer and everytime i put my hand in, the slime covers my hand
I read from Oil Slicks that the oily film prevents good gaseous exchange with the atmosphere.----------------
On 6/6/2003 9:06:58 AM
If the layer of oil is harmless then why bother to remove them. I suppose regular water change shld help to reduce them.
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Personally, I wonder if the oil causes the tank water to heat up. Our lighting can heat up the water, and if it does not evaporate (because of the oily film), the heat will be contained inside.
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
I have a rather thick organic layer floating on the surface of the water. No problem at all. I have not bothered to do anything about it anymore.
BC
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I have a rather thick organic layer floating on the surface of the water. No problem at all. I have not bothered to do anything about it anymore.
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If you remove it however, you will find that your plants will begin to pearl, if of course, they haven't been doing so lately.
Loh K L
just put in a black mollie and it will do clear the layer of oil for u. I use to have this problem, after i put in 2 mollies in my 4ft, the oil problem disappear
Regarding the oily film, here are what i heard from people:
1) from fish food - I dont think so cause I was using the same fish food for a long time (more than 2 months) until the oily film appeared.
2) from the plant, kind of protein - some people said get stronger light then can get rid of the film
3) surface skimmer to get rid of it - I agree and it is up to you to install it
4) use tissue or newspaper to absorb the film - I used newspaper, hehe.
5) some investigator said it is actually a kind of biofilm, that means there is the place where bioactivity exists (bacteria), and to get rid of it: use the outlet of the pump to "blow" the film and it will disappear
6) my experience: i realized that the film in my tank is caused by the green matt that i used to grow ricca. The green matt looks like mosquito net that people put on the window, and both matt and net are oily and smelly if you dip inside the water (there are chemicals incorporated in the mosquito net). I removed the green matt and no more oily film for me.
So that is my experience, just to share.
I've a small 2ft tank that does not contain any large plant, but the oil layer is always there.----------------
On 6/6/2003 7:32:32 AM
One large plant could leak enough oil to form a layer on the surface of the water, more so if one or more of the leaves is damaged.
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Simon, mine cleared after a couple of days, using Liberty 100.----------------
On 6/6/2003 9:42:06 AM
since we talking about protein film on the surface.. have anyone using ADA aquasoil without a surface skimmer face having a layer of brownish slime on the surface? my office tank constant have a layer and everytime i put my hand in, the slime covers my hand
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why I don't do garden hybrids and aquarium strains: natural species is a history of Nature, while hybrids are just the whims of Man.
hexazona · crumenatum · Galleria Botanica
The biggest plant I have is Cryptocoryne wendtii. I'll try the experiment you mentioned once I get back to office maybe next month (overseas again). Hopefully, it will shed some light where this mysterious protein layer is coming from.----------------
On 6/6/2003 7:32:32 AM
Sherchoo,
I suppose if you said minimal, there must be at least one large plant in your office tank. One large plant could leak enough oil to form a layer on the surface of the water, more so if one or more of the leaves is damaged. If you don't mind breaking one of the leaves on your large plant, try doing an experiment. Break one leaf and see if the layer of oil becomes even thicker after that. I believe there would be a difference.
Loh K L
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