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Oily film on top of water...??
- Thread starter broy069
- Start date
What kind of skimmer do you have? If it's a HOB skimmer does it intake from some sort of surface attachment? If it's just a HOB skimmer with the pump that is taking in water from the middle of the tank then this film is totally normal; I used to have it all the time before I got a sump setup.
You can help combat this by pointing a powerhead towards the top of the water and increasing the surface agitation. This will help get that gunk into the water where the pump for the skimmer can help take it out... Hope this helps...
You can help combat this by pointing a powerhead towards the top of the water and increasing the surface agitation. This will help get that gunk into the water where the pump for the skimmer can help take it out... Hope this helps...
aiaman
Non-member
I get that as well but it looks like a very thin film layer (almost unnoticeable) for my small tank w/o a sump.
I have a tunze nano skimmer that takes water in from mid-tank and an external filter w/the return pointed at the top of the water level.
Never had a problem (knock on wood), just add the extra movement to rid the water of this debris.
Thanks Dave for the reasoinig, makes sense now
I have a tunze nano skimmer that takes water in from mid-tank and an external filter w/the return pointed at the top of the water level.
Never had a problem (knock on wood), just add the extra movement to rid the water of this debris.
Thanks Dave for the reasoinig, makes sense now
delta
Impatient Reefer
Get yourself a surface skimmer I know a few companies make them. They attach to the skimmer intake and act as an overflow box. It will make you skimmer more efficient by skimming off the surface film.
Surface skimmers also auto adjust to water height, for tanks that do not have sumps
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Yeah I have this issue on my small tank. As others have said.. basically
-surface skimmer helps, whether it is an overflow to a sump, or a surface skimming intake for a HOB skimmer.
-more surface agitation helps. Either move an existing powerhead to point upward, or put on another small powerhead into the tank just to agitate the surface to mix it up. I try not to make the surface too rough on my system as I want the sump overflow to suck a lot of it down.
-add carbon filtration. Whether a filter sock with carbon, or a reactor with carbon. Carbon helps suck out organics among other impurities and helps clear the water.
Also when I do water changes, I siphon on/near the surface of the display tank to suck down any extra film. I then refill from the sump. But, good to try a few things and see what works best for you.
-surface skimmer helps, whether it is an overflow to a sump, or a surface skimming intake for a HOB skimmer.
-more surface agitation helps. Either move an existing powerhead to point upward, or put on another small powerhead into the tank just to agitate the surface to mix it up. I try not to make the surface too rough on my system as I want the sump overflow to suck a lot of it down.
-add carbon filtration. Whether a filter sock with carbon, or a reactor with carbon. Carbon helps suck out organics among other impurities and helps clear the water.
Also when I do water changes, I siphon on/near the surface of the display tank to suck down any extra film. I then refill from the sump. But, good to try a few things and see what works best for you.
aiaman
Non-member
I did a little search on yahoo and found this
http://mycichlidtank.oneinfostop.com/skimmer.htm
it has a bit more info and a diagram on how extraction takes place
I'm gladd that there is something to rid me of that film and make the take a little better, thanks
http://mycichlidtank.oneinfostop.com/skimmer.htm
it has a bit more info and a diagram on how extraction takes place
I'm gladd that there is something to rid me of that film and make the take a little better, thanks
