Film on surface

[Briko03]

I've been noticing a film on the surface of my tank and I'm beginning to wonder if my skimmer isn't doing its job. It has been cleaned out about two to three weeks ago and has only pulled a little skimmate. I have an overflow /sump setup and I am wondering if it is just never making it to the slimmer. Any thoughts?

 

[RadReefer]

Maybe flow related...do you run carbon or anything?

 

[inverted]

Yeah, sounds like you need some more surface agitation or flow. The skimmer should pull the gunk out, but it needs to be in the water, not on the surface. Usually pointing a powerhead at the surface, or increasing flow to and from your sump will help.

 

[Briko03]

ill try that. For some reason I always thought you wanted the gunk to go to the surface to be skimmed off but it makes sense that it would need to be in the water.

 

[JohnK]

This is why we talk about surface skimming. Skim the gunk off and into the overflow where it mixes together as it makes it's way to the skimmer.

Is there anything keeping the very top of the surface from feeding into the overflow?
Or,
is it feeding into the overflow near the overflow but accumulating on the other 2/3 of the surface? (if so, then you need to redirect the flow in the display a bit so that it all feeds into the overflow.)

 

[stingythingy45]

Before you get the surface aggitation going.Lay a couple paper towels on the surface of the tank and lift off quickly and disguard.This will get most of the stuff.
One question,what are you dosing?

 

[wrassefan]

Aim a powerhead at the surface 2 or 3" below the water line....I don't run a skimmer but it will build a film on the surface without the high flow and agitation

 

[Briko03]

It was the whole surface (not just one area) and the surface was not obstructed to the overflow. Sounds like it is def a flow issue, I will try playing with it to see if i can get better results.

 

[Briko03]

No dosing yet, I am however running a dual gfo / carbon reactor.

 

[stingythingy45]

Ok.cause I had a film when dosing kalkwasser top off.
It was more of a slurry as the top-off container was really low on ro/di.

 

[Briko03]

here is the film.....

 

[jango]

Seems like your turnover rate is to low to skim the surface. The overflow should be pulling all that stuff in.