Nasty film

Brandon7878 · Mar 25, 2018

I've been having a nasty film lately in my tank. It's brown if I put my finger in there and wipe it on a towel. I haven't added anything to my tank. My levels are 0 except for my nitrate is 8ppm. I am doing a 25% water change today on my 10 Gallon tank. Not going away. Looking for help on this please.

tupes · Mar 25, 2018

I can't really tell what you are referring to in the picture but I'm assuming it's the film on top of the water surface, Is that correct?

easternreefer · Mar 25, 2018

what are you using for filtration?
what about water movement.?
It sounds like you don't have enough surface agitation and are getting a bacterial accumulation on the top of your water.

Brandon7878 · Mar 25, 2018

tupes said:
I can't really tell what you are referring to in the picture but I'm assuming it's the film on top of the water surface, Is that correct?

Yes water surface. I can't get a good picture of it.

Brandon7878 · Mar 25, 2018

easternreefer said:
what are you using for filtration?
what about water movement.?
It sounds like you don't have enough surface agitation and are getting a bacterial accumulation on the top of your water.

I have a Sicce whale mini 120. Water movement is a koralia 240gph.

NeedMoreReef · Mar 25, 2018

normal with no overflow and weak circulation. you can periodically collect that with a large cup. skim the surface, if you will. place whole cup in water until the rim of the entire cup is skimming water from surface. replace with saltwater.

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 25, 2018

I’d stick another head in there.

My old 30 Long I had t240 and a 400 Koralia.

My current 30 cube I have two jeabo wp10.

Brandon7878 · Mar 25, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
I’d stick another head in there.

My old 30 Long I had t240 and a 400 Koralia.

My current 30 cube I have two jeabo wp10.

Wouldn't it be too much for a 10 Gallon to have two though? Cause I have the water return from the canister filter too.

easternreefer · Mar 25, 2018

no.. the issue is that you don'thave enough flow. I had a 29g that had 3 mj1200's a s hob skimmer and a hob refugium for flow. at the minimum point the koralia towards the surface. I would suggest at least one more powerhead and I would suggest one that is in the 700-1000 gph an hour size.

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 25, 2018

Brandon7878 said:
Wouldn't it be too much for a 10 Gallon to have two though? Cause I have the water return from the canister filter too.

I think two 240 should be ok with hob.

I actually used the $3 12v dc pump in a 5 gal to shoot across the back of the rocks with an old 240. (They do slow down with age. )

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 25, 2018

Brandon7878 said:
I have a Sicce whale mini 120. Water movement is a koralia 240gph.

Looking at this pic, if you got another 240 , you set one the way that is , and add another that points up a bit , as the two streams meets, it gets turbulent.

Also look at the foods you Feed. In my sumpless 30 now, some foods (frozen mostly )give be the scum pretty fast after a week of daily feedings.
So I rotate foods out for good fish nutrition.

Brandon7878 · Mar 25, 2018

saltyfilmfolks said:
Looking at this pic, if you got another 240 , you set one the way that is , and add another that points up a bit , as the two streams meets, it gets turbulent.

Also look at the foods you Feed. In my sumpless 30 now, some foods (frozen mostly )give be the scum pretty fast after a week of daily feedings.
So I rotate foods out for good fish nutrition.

I should do that. Usually just feed flakes