How to remove oil layer from water

[MrsDragon]

I recently purchased some salt water from my LFS and when I added it I realised that I had a rather thick oil layer on it. Don't know what from. Hubby was much calmer than I was when this happened and went to get the paper towel and laid that on top of the water and removed most of it.

When I rang the store I was told it was probably something in the containers (containers from them) and that it was not harmful at all in terms of the type of oil.

My question is, how do I get rid of the remaining oil? I have Googled and all I come up with is in terms of the normal oils and fat residues from overfeeding, etc and to increase surface agitation, don’t feed as much…. These are also for freshwater aquariums. How will this affect my fish and corals, actually, I don’t care about whether ti will or won’t. I know it must have some sort of adverse effect (otherwise there wouldn’t have been such a big stink about the Exxon Valdez) and how do I get rid of it for the health of my tank?!!!

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your running a skimmer, take your powerheads and point them more towards the surface to break it up and keep it in the water column, the skimmer will eventually get it out. Surface skimmer would be best, but if you don't have it, the powerheads take care of it.

 

[Pete polyp]

More than likely it was protien. It can look like am oily film on the waters surface. The paper towel can remove the majority of it, and the nitrificaction cycle can take care of the rest.

 

[MrsDragon]

I've seen a protein film on my freshwater tanks in the past. That was definitely not the same as this. It was more than the amount of oil I would put in the pot to stop my pasta sticking together. It was easily 2-3 mm thick.

 

[Pete polyp]

Yuck! I would not get water from them any longer

 

[MrsDragon]

Yeah. I wasn't real impressed about that. And they have been brilliant in the past. Just this one thing.

 

[Pete polyp]

That happens... I had a great lfs... Got burned twice and refuse to step foot in that place! I go to petco across town instead!

^ that should tell you something!

 

[AZDesertRat]

Float a couple paper towels or a sheet of newspaper on the surface for a couple minutes and it will absorb it for a quick clean up. Its not a permanent fix but it works well for a one time use.

 

[MrsDragon]

We'll, I have gotten most of the oil off the surface now. Water parameters are good except pH is sitting at 7.8 and won't budge.

I asked the owner of the LFS (I had spoken to one of the employees previously) about the oil in the containers and she said it was the natural oils coming out of the plastic. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I'm off to Google it now to see if I can find out anything.

 

[Dalmatia]

I recently purchased some salt water from my LFS and when I added it I realised that I had a rather thick oil layer on it. Don't know what from. Hubby was much calmer than I was when this happened and went to get the paper towel and laid that on top of the water and removed most of it.

When I rang the store I was told it was probably something in the containers (containers from them) and that it was not harmful at all in terms of the type of oil.

My question is, how do I get rid of the remaining oil? I have Googled and all I come up with is in terms of the normal oils and fat residues from overfeeding, etc and to increase surface agitation, don’t feed as much…. These are also for freshwater aquariums. How will this affect my fish and corals, actually, I don’t care about whether ti will or won’t. I know it must have some sort of adverse effect (otherwise there wouldn’t have been such a big stink about the Exxon Valdez) and how do I get rid of it for the health of my tank?!!!

Don't know what that could be? Next time put in an air stone and add some flow with some floss filter on top of your water, should act like a skimmer and trap your unwanted matter in the floss
I do it just when mixing my salt, you'd be surprised of the impurities that the salts contain (that aren't mentioned on boxes like simple dirt!)

 

[Pete polyp]

We'll, I have gotten most of the oil off the surface now. Water parameters are good except pH is sitting at 7.8 and won't budge.

I asked the owner of the LFS (I had spoken to one of the employees previously) about the oil in the containers and she said it was the natural oils coming out of the plastic. Has anyone ever heard of this before? I'm off to Google it now to see if I can find out anything.

Plastic contains nothing "natural" and your lfs is crazy. If any oils came from the plastic then it is not the right plastic and its leaching toxins. Plastic is a product of petroleum, so maybe this is what she is talking about. Just my .02

 

[MrsDragon]

Lol thanks guys. Was going to do the detergent scrub on them rinse really well and go visit a beach. Found out that their saltwater is only premixed stuff and not ocean water.

Just a shame because I really like these guys. Just going to wait until their next bunch of corals comes down from Queensland on Fri and cash in my $150 store credit Will also be a bit more discerning with the advice I take.

 

[jking]

It today's world I'd trust a salt mix with rodi water over ocean water any day. With all the pollution and such in our worlds water. I don't think my fish would like a tank full of fertilizer or random medications.

 

[Dalmatia]

Lol thanks guys. Was going to do the detergent scrub on them rinse really well and go visit a beach. Found out that their saltwater is only premixed stuff and not ocean water.

Just a shame because I really like these guys. Just going to wait until their next bunch of corals comes down from Queensland on Fri and cash in my $150 store credit Will also be a bit more discerning with the advice I take.

We all mix out salt's, it's cleaner than your LFS or the ocean! Get a ro/di unit and make it your self.
Mix to 1.025 with using a refractometer