Film on sump water

[Dan7575]

I have noticed a film developing on the water in the sump that is trapping air bubbles does anyone know what this is or if it’s ok? I recently changed my rocks around and took a few out but as I wasn’t completely sure I put them in the sump so they wouldn’t die off, I assumed that this would be ok.

 

[homer1475]

Stagnation from the water in there not moving at the surface. I get it also, but almost daily I swish the water around with my hands(I have my dry fish food in the cabinet so I stir it up when I feed the fish), and have the output from my carbon reactor right at the surface to keep it agitated. Nothing to be really concerned with TBH. Drop a small PH in there to keep it moving, or don't even worry about it.

 

[lapin]

The rock did not die off. Like above said you prob have a algae like film developing on the surface. This will happen to any stagnant body of water. Now if your sump has good flow that causes ripples or flows over a weir and you have this happen then it might be something else starting to grow.

 

[Jeff Jarry reef]

I put a small power head in my sump to keep some movement so it wouldn't be stagnant water. It helps out alot IMO.

 

[C. Eymann]

I put a small power head in my sump to keep some movement so it wouldn't be stagnant water. It helps out alot IMO.

This^^ also keeps detritus in suspension so it eventually gets removed by skimmer and mechanical filtration instead of breaking down into DOC in the system.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

I have a little Jebao wave maker that turns on every hour to stir things up. Works great.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Another method I have heard others using...... But no idea if it is proper, is to just let it be......

Once the film gets REALLY thick (months or year) just skim it off the top manually with a small fish net etc

 

[Reefrats]

The surface of my sump is stagnant too despite having the protein skimmer, algae reactor, and media reactor in there. I cut the return tubing from the algae reactor so it discharges above the water and breaks the water surface. This solved the problem, but now it always sounds like water is running. What power head or wave maker is inexpensive but reliable to use?

 

[homer1475]

I have a cheapo hydor korallia nano in my sump. Think it was like 19$ at petco.

 

[C. Eymann]

I used a maxijet "mod" in mine, had it turn on for a few hours in the middle of the night during optimal feeding time.

That filth muck in your sump = coral food

 

[RocketEngineer]

IMO this means your sump is designed wrong. But what do I know, I’m just an engineer......

 

[Reefrats]

I ordered a sicce voyager nano 1000. It’s a waterbox 130.4. New to the hobby and learning as fast as I can. Thanks for the insight.