Film on Water Surface

[TankMaid]

What is the film on the surface of my water? Is it dangerous? You can somewhat see it in the other picture. Thanks for the help!

recently added more blue legged hermits, 2snails and a head of a hammer.

 

[r20crazy]

do you have a surface skimmer, skimmer, or overflow? if not its normal... increasing water surface agitation helps it to be less noticeable. FYI pics with less blue lighting help with future diagnosis... or blue light filters

 

[CuseReefer84]

its just proteins from feeding and maybe even your fish. Get a protein skimmer. And put some flow on your surface to stir it up.

 

[MichaelReefer]

What everyone else said, normal without a protein skimmer.

 

[TankMaid]

I have a protein skimmer and it’s still there

 

[fishguy242]

hi ,do you only run skimmer sometimes? agree w more surface movement,just me ,but run skimmer 24/7

 

[Billldg]

I see the same thing every once and a while. I don't sweat it as it can be several things. The only time I am even concerned about it is if I did something in my house like sanding drywall mud or something of the like. Then I just do a water change and try to remove the water on the top.

 

[Biglew11]

More surface flow pushing surface water towards the overflow.

 

[TankMaid]

Thank you all, I do run my skimmer all of the time. I will do a WC tomorrow to see if that will remove it.

 

[SliceGolfer]

Is your tank water level above the weir of the overflow box? If so you aren’t surface skimming.

 

[ReQuackulous]

I had a white film when I set my tank up, it was from using dried rock without washing it. Your rock looks pretty new so that may be it. It is a protein film and is pretty annoying. I would use a napkin and skim the top and remove it. It took a while but its gone now.

Not sure where I read it, but the film was thick and I believe there was a risk of it stopping oxygen exchange without sufficient surface agitation.

 

[Jilly92]

Is your tank water level above the weir of the overflow box? If so you aren’t surface skimming.

Weir? I want to make sure my skimmer is right too lol

 

[un5tab1e]

Weir? I want to make sure my skimmer is right too lol

Just means the teeth your water flows thru going into your overflow.

 

[LRT]

Totally normal without proper water surface movement and overflow back to skimmer for removal.