scummy water

[so-smrt]

i am at a loss is have pertect water but a layer of scum is on the surface of my water. i have a skimmer and i just did a waterchange. that didnt seem to help. any suggestions??? and i have had a few fish die recently, coral looks great though... and conection?

[Texreefer]

when you say " skimmer" a protein skimmer or a surface skimmer?

[so-smrt]

protien... didnt know there were such things as surface skimmers

[ou812pezz]

run a power head close to the surface to mix things up.

[Texreefer]

what are you using for filtration? do you have an overflow to your sump?

[urban79]

I had the same thing going on with mine.. It went away and then just came back.. So I dont know. I didnt have a loses. I think its be cause of are crappy water right now.

[Noodle]

When doing a waterchange, get a cup and put it into the water (cup mouth up) until it starts to slowly skim off the top layer of organics. It will help in lessening the amount of the film that is on the surface.

[SaltyJim]

When doing a waterchange, get a cup and put it into the water (cup mouth up) until it starts to slowly skim off the top layer of organics. It will help in lessening the amount of the film that is on the surface.

Winja, I like your "ghetto" style. Simple solutions without lots of money. Good input ^_^

[so-smrt]

great input thanks for the help

[GaryP]

Having scum on the surface is actually a good thing. I wouldn't suggest using a power head to mix it up. The "scum" is fats and fatty proteins that are like oils and are lighter then water. This is the stuff that your skimmer take out.

By surface skimmer, I think he means an overflow box. If you don't have one on your tank, then just float some paper towels on the surface to remove the oils. If you do have an overflow, then probably you have flow on the surface that is keeping the oils from getting to the overflow. Take a look at how you have the flow in the tank set up and re-direct it to the mid and lower levels where it will do more good.

[urban79]

But where does the scum or fatty proteins come from??

[GaryP]

Food and stuff like Zoecon and Selcon. Check out your food and see if it claims to be high in HUFA. HUFA is basically fish oil. HUFA = highly unsaturated fatty acids. HUFA is good for your fish, but can leave a residue that you are seeing. This is an engineering problem, rather then a water chemistry or nutrition problem. Just figure out a way to deal with it.

[JeremyGlen]

I had the scummy film problem on my 10g as well. I set up a powerhead that disturbed the surface so that it didn't form. When I was going to do a water change, I turned off the pump like 2 or 3 hours before and the film would develop as the fatty oils would settle to the top. I then used my pitcher or cup to skim the surface off of the tank till I couldn't see it anymore. I then finished sucking out what water I was going to change, filled it up and turned the pump back on. Tends to work quite well since you don't see the film till your ready to do the water change and siphon it out.

[so-smrt]

man you goys rock!!! thanks for all the help. i was thinking about the paper towel trick but wasnt sure it was safe. i use to run a pool stofe in FL and i was thinking about a product we had called a scum ball that basicly did the sme thing... thanks again for all the help!