Surface Scum In Filtration Area

[JL15219]

Don't know if any other AIO owners have gotten surface scum in the back portion of the tank where all the filtration is? Any advice would be appreciated......
I posted it in my AIO build thread but didn't get any responses so decided to start a thread....Thanks!

 

[JL15219]

 

[MaxTremors]

What kind of tank is it and do you have any mods or extra equipment in the back?

 

[JL15219]

What kind of tank is it and do you have any mods or extra equipment in the back?

It's an Aquatop Recife ECO 40. No mods and just the equipment that came with it except the protein skimmer.

 

[MaxTremors]

Saw a photo of the filtration chamber on those and I think the reason that you’re seeing film on the top of the water in the return chamber (I’m assuming that’s where you’re seeing it), is that it’s fed from the bottom, so there’s no surface agitation in that chamber. In both my old biocube and in the Nanocube I’ve got going now, the return chambers are top fed from an overflow so there is quite a bit of surface agitation. The only solution I can think of, without doing major mods, is to either upgrade your return pump (though that may not fully solve the problem), or add a tiny power head to that chamber so the water has some surface movement (you could fit a tiny little pump made for a desktop water fountain that’s <50gph).

 

[JL15219]

Saw a photo of the filtration chamber on those and I think the reason that you’re seeing film on the top of the water in the return chamber (I’m assuming that’s where you’re seeing it), is that it’s fed from the bottom, so there’s no surface agitation in that chamber. In both my old biocube and in the Nanocube I’ve got going now, the return chambers are top fed from an overflow so there is quite a bit of surface agitation. The only solution I can think of, without doing major mods, is to either upgrade your return pump (though that may not fully solve the problem), or add a tiny power head to that chamber so the water has some surface movement (you could fit a tiny little pump made for a desktop water fountain that’s <50gph).

I was actually thinking of upgrading the pump to a Maxi Jet 1200 that I already have but the return pipe was to big for the return on the Maxi Jet. I actually just noticed that it is also in the 1st chamber where the sponge is. I just ran across a surface skimmer that inTank sells, it looks like a comb you place before the intank chamber. Do you have any experience with that?

inTank All-In-One Aquarium Surface Skimmer

inTank Surface Skimmers remove the ugly and harmful surface scum from your water.

intankaquatics.com

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Pictures would be helpful.

 

[JL15219]

Pictures would be helpful.

I tried getting pictures but you really can't see anything, but let me try again.

 

[JL15219]

Pictures would be helpful.

1st chamber you can kind of see it

Last chamber I broke it up with my finger you can see bits of it.

This picture is what it looks (but thicker)like in person as an example

 

[MaxTremors]

I was actually thinking of upgrading the pump to a Maxi Jet 1200 that I already have but the return pipe was to big for the return on the Maxi Jet. I actually just noticed that it is also in the 1st chamber where the sponge is. I just ran across a surface skimmer that inTank sells, it looks like a comb you place before the intank chamber. Do you have any experience with that?

inTank All-In-One Aquarium Surface Skimmer

inTank Surface Skimmers remove the ugly and harmful surface scum from your water.

intankaquatics.com

I don’t know that would help much. The issue is that oils and dissolved organics are floating to the surface in these chambers because there isn’t any surface movement.

 

[JL15219]

I don’t know that would help much. The issue is that oils and dissolved organics are floating to the surface in these chambers because there isn’t any surface movement.

Yeah that's what I kind of thought. Don't even know how that's supposed to even help. I wonder if i add the protein skimmer that came with it would help

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

Yeah the film is caused by stagnant water. Adding surface agitation will help. My quarantine tank has the same problem. I drilled a small hole in the return line and it solved the problem for me.

I would drill a 1/8" hole in the return line above the water line. That should give you enough surface agitation to reduce or eliminate the surface scum.

 

[JL15219]

Yeah the film is caused by stagnant water. Adding surface agitation will help. My quarantine tank has the same problem. I drilled a small hole in the return line and it solved the problem for me.

I would drill a 1/8" hole in the return line above the water line. That should give you enough surface agitation to reduce or eliminate the surface scum.

And you didn't lose water pressure coming out into the tank? I'm pretty sure you did. What about the scum in the 1st chamber? You think me fixing it in the 3rd chamber would fix it in the 1st?

 

[LardLad]

Don't know if any other AIO owners have gotten surface scum in the back portion of the tank where all the filtration is? Any advice would be appreciated......
I posted it in my AIO build thread but didn't get any responses so decided to start a thread....Thanks!

Obviously you need to take care of what is causing the problem. I am assuming your hands are dirty. At minimum, any time you put your hands in the tank you should first wash them aggressively with Dawn. Then rinse them very aggressively, and then again. Try getting playtex gloves.
Modify your reefing technique so as to never require placing your hands in the tank. Get tongs and vacuum siphon and turkey baster.

There is a product that you can get at the pool and spa store called a SCUMBUG.

That will fix you right up.
But seriously, your husbandry may really need a tuneup.

 

[JL15219]

Obviously you need to take care of what is causing the problem. I am assuming your hands are dirty. At minimum, any time you put your hands in the tank you should first wash them aggressively with Dawn. Then rinse them very aggressively, and then again. Try getting playtex gloves.
Modify your reefing technique so as to never require placing your hands in the tank. Get tongs and vacuum siphon and turkey baster.

There is a product that you can get at the pool and spa store called a SCUMBUG.

That will fix you right up.
But seriously, your husbandry may really need a tuneup.

I actually do wash my hands before and after I put my hands in the tank. Didn't think not washing your hands would cause this weird. Thought it was caused by lack of agitation. I will look into the SCUMBUG product

 

[LardLad]

I actually do wash my hands before and after I put my hands in the tank. Didn't think not washing your hands would cause this weird. Thought it was caused by lack of agitation. I will look into the SCUMBUG product

yep works awesome and fast. Once all the crap is gone, take it out and rinse in cold tap water and save for next time.

 

[LardLad]

I use one like a passive skimmer at the top of my updraft algae scrubber. Tank has never been cleaner.

 

[JL15219]

yep works awesome and fast. Once all the crap is gone, take it out and rinse in cold tap water and save for next time.

Have you used this in your tank? Want to make sure it's safe for the tank inhabitants....

Edit: You answered my question before I posted

 

[JL15219]

I use one like a passive skimmer at the top of my updraft algae scrubber. Tank has never been cleaner.

I guess I would put it in my 1st chamber?

 

[LardLad]

Yes, I use it. works fast then take it out and rinse in cold tap water. Its safer than letting oil and contaminants float on top of your water. You gotta get that stuff cleaned up fast and get it out of there.