Bubbles on top of tank

[merfury1989]

Hi, in the last 2 days I am seeing these bubbles on top of my tank, wanted to know what causes it and how to get rid of them.

Also are they harmful?

In terms of my other numbers, they are good.

Alk 8.3
Cal 440
Mag 1400
Nitrate 10-15ppm
Phos - 0.03-0.05ppm

I have attached pics from all angles. Also of o were to describe these bubbles visually, they are small and most are combined together as a batch, along with bubbles they also have trail of slimy layer it floats on, you can see in the photos. On some occasions there are 1-2 large bubbles too.

 

[Nano_Man]

Do you use a skimmer
In the picture the surface doesn’t look like it has much movement could just be the picture

 

[merfury1989]

Ya I use skimmer, but removed the top lid/cover for the time being as i wanted gas exchange and not the waste removal due to me battling dinos for the past 2 weeks. The dinos are almost gone though.

 

[Garf]

Ya I use skimmer, but removed the top lid/cover for the time being as i wanted gas exchange and not the waste removal due to me battling dinos for the past 2 weeks. The dinos are almost gone though.

When going skimmerless it’s probably somewhat normal to get scummy floaty stuff. In my experience it takes a few weeks for the tank to be able to process it, instead of removing it.

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Looks like your overflow isn’t functioning correctly otherwise that surface scum would skim off into your mechanical filtration.

Either clean / replace your mechanical filtration, lower rear chamber water levels or both.

 

[reefsUP2]

Hi, in the last 2 days I am seeing these bubbles on top of my tank, wanted to know what causes it and how to get rid of them.

Also are they harmful?

In terms of my other numbers, they are good.

Alk 8.3
Cal 440
Mag 1400
Nitrate 10-15ppm
Phos - 0.03-0.05ppm

I have attached pics from all angles. Also of o were to describe these bubbles visually, they are small and most are combined together as a batch, along with bubbles they also have trail of slimy layer it floats on, you can see in the photos. On some occasions there are 1-2 large bubbles too.

Clean & Remove some of the filter floss as it’s probably what’s backing it up.
Skim the top with a fine mesh net

 

[merfury1989]

Is this surface scum bad in general though? apart from bad to look at.

 

[Nano_Man]

Is this surface scum bad in general though? apart from bad to look at.

You have a couple of opinions imo buy surface skimmer/ get a pump connect to and big spray bar / or power head moving the surface water around a lot making it turn over the film . The scum is unsightly and needs mixed in so filters can take it out .

 

[Garf]

Is this surface scum bad in general though? apart from bad to look at.

Doubt it’s very good for gas exchange

 

[Dan_P]

Hi, in the last 2 days I am seeing these bubbles on top of my tank, wanted to know what causes it and how to get rid of them.

Also are they harmful?

In terms of my other numbers, they are good.

Alk 8.3
Cal 440
Mag 1400
Nitrate 10-15ppm
Phos - 0.03-0.05ppm

I have attached pics from all angles. Also of o were to describe these bubbles visually, they are small and most are combined together as a batch, along with bubbles they also have trail of slimy layer it floats on, you can see in the photos. On some occasions there are 1-2 large bubbles too.

This film is likely a microorganism film, a mixture of diatoms, and dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria. Film formation usually doesn’t occur in systems that recirculate water to a sump by withdrawing surface water from the display tank. The level in the back chamber of your system is too high, allowing water to be withdrawn from the tank under the surface.

 

[Troylee]

That’s a bacterial bloom.. you need to start breaking the surface tension and get your o2 levels up… use a power head or paper towels to start soaking some of that up since you don’t have a skimmer to pull it..

 

[merfury1989]

Hmm OK, I will take the top bit out using paper tower, and lower the water level of rear chamber + start using skimmer.