Water Surface Film

[jdeb101]

The past few weeks Ive noticed the surface of my water looks dirty and along the glass at the surface is some brown gunk. Im thinking it may be from the distilled vinegar I used to clean my glass cover a few weeks ago, but could it be anything else? What do you guys think?

THanks.

 

[JayM]

I think it's normal buildup. Do some additional skimming, and maybe a water change.

 

[Andy O]

It sounds like a film of protein forming at the surface. As mentioned above keep up with the skimming and if you can, point a powerhead toward the surface to ripple the watter and keep breaking it up.

 

[newfish]

you need a surface skimmer or it will come back

 

[jdeb101]

Hmm...Ill try pointing my powerhead to the surface. What would cause this buildup? My tanks been running for about 4 months and didnt have this film until maybe 2 weeks ago.

 

[Dave]

Water change will take care of it. Some foods will cause it. When i feed cyclopeeze it can cause the water surface to get a film.

 

[Andy O]

I had the same problem when I had my 36. Problem is that a lot of hang on skimmers (not sure if that is what you have) can't skim the surface which is why them make skimmer boxes that attache to the pump to draw from the top of the water. Usually with overflows you don't have a film problem b/c the water is overflowing right from the surface into a sump below.

 

[fishfingers]

Doubt it is vinegar. Some people are deliberately adding small amounts of vinegar to their reef as a carbon source for denitrification.
Sounds like a good idea to point the powerheads towards the surface - I have film problems in my caulerpa refugium because the flow isn't enough to take it down to the skimmer inlet.
One day I'll have a nice tank with overflow weirs ..... , maybe.