got a new one

[urban79]

There is film on top of the water. doesnt feel greasy, just looks nasty. and my water is fine. Its just on top. I tested it and that normal.

Plus yesterday I saw the film. so I clean my skimmer. which wasnt bad just thought that might help. Well after I did it> i cant get the water back up to water line. the air inlet is all the way open. Please help thanks

[cpreefguy]

you just need some sort surface skimmer, like an overflow box that takes water from the surface

[sharkboy]

Possibly some turbulent water flow so that the film doesn't accumulate.

[urban79]

got them both..

[Noodle]

Kind of a ghetto method... but before I ran a skimmer, I would take a paper towel and drape it across the water surface to soak up the oily film.

[urban79]

LOL

[emilbus]

the paper towel trick worked fine for me

[JimD]

Add an airstone.

[urban79]

see That I was wondering about.. But if you have a air stone with alot of live rock wouldnt the sir bubbles get stuck and become bad after while????

[GaryP]

No, they won't become "bad." The worse that can happen is that you will get some salt creep. Actually getting the film on top is a good thing. You want it to form on top so that your surface overflow will get it and send it to the sump where the skimmer can remove it. The last thing you want is for it to be disturbed and mixed throughout the water. The "scum" is fatty acids that will be removed by the skimmer. If its building up on the surface that usually indicates that powerheads or something else is pushing it away from the overflow. I would suggest that you may want to take a look at the flow pattern on the surface of the tank. You don't really want a lot of flow on the surface.

I would suggest you might want to breaker down your skimmer pump and clean it. Make sure its not scaled up or has something in it that is keeping it from operating at peak performance. You may also want to run some vinegar through the eductor of your skimmer. Sometimes scale, sand or "gunk" will partially block it.

[safeuerwehr]

good to see you back gary....

[Marlin]

I had a problem with surface scum on one of my tanks, it turned out that I had the water level too high and the center brace was acting like a dam preventing the surface scum from moving toward the overflow. I lowered the water level 1/4" and solved the problem.