water on top looks oily

[YoCamron]

my 6 gallon pipefish/seahorse tank has been up for almost a year now, but just yesterday i noticed the water on top of the tank is oily/dusty looking. i have a lid on the tank and do water changes every week (every monday). any one else ever have this issue? thanks

 

[ngvu1]

Like a thin film layer on top right? You flows is too low and there is no surface skimming. This is actually not good for oxygen exchange....! Maybe have the pump pointing up a bit more to break the water surface film....

 

[Oceansize]

This is a common problem with SW tanks if you don't have a sump or overflow box. The higher specific gravity of saltwater creates a thicker layer at the surface which captures proteins where they accumulate because they're not being introduced to the filtration systems. In my case, merely pointing powerheads at the surface was not sufficient to break up this surface layer. Fortunately I immediately fixed the issue by employing a surface skimmer. They're less than $10.

The ones I'm familiar with are designed to be installed in-line with a canister filter, however I easily modified mine to work with my protein skimmer. The water is taken into the protein skimmer via the surface skimmer, which is especially efficient since (as I understand it) most of the substances creating that skummy layer are proteins, so what better place for them to go than a protein skimmer?

 

[YoCamron]

Like a thin film layer on top right? You flows is too low and there is no surface skimming. This is actually not good for oxygen exchange....! Maybe have the pump pointing up a bit more to break the water surface film....

i've read this before, but i have gone a year without problems and I didn't change anything. i have a built in sump and a hang on the back refugium. the pump points at the top but didn't help

 

[jsker]

Shoot a couple of pictures or the tank and filters and post them. I think you will get some clearer answers then.

 

[YoCamron]

This is a common problem with SW tanks if you don't have a sump or overflow box. The higher specific gravity of saltwater creates a thicker layer at the surface which captures proteins where they accumulate because they're not being introduced to the filtration systems. In my case, merely pointing powerheads at the surface was not sufficient to break up this surface layer. Fortunately I immediately fixed the issue by employing a surface skimmer. They're less than $10.

The ones I'm familiar with are designed to be installed in-line with a canister filter, however I easily modified mine to work with my protein skimmer. The water is taken into the protein skimmer via the surface skimmer, which is especially efficient since (as I understand it) most of the substances creating that skummy layer are proteins, so what better place for them to go than a protein skimmer?

This is a common problem with SW tanks if you don't have a sump or overflow box. The higher specific gravity of saltwater creates a thicker layer at the surface which captures proteins where they accumulate because they're not being introduced to the filtration systems. In my case, merely pointing powerheads at the surface was not sufficient to break up this surface layer. Fortunately I immediately fixed the issue by employing a surface skimmer. They're less than $10.

The ones I'm familiar with are designed to be installed in-line with a canister filter, however I easily modified mine to work with my protein skimmer. The water is taken into the protein skimmer via the surface skimmer, which is especially efficient since (as I understand it) most of the substances creating that skummy layer are proteins, so what better place for them to go than a protein skimmer?

wonder if i could put one on my HOB refugium. gonna look into it, thanks

 

[YoCamron]

Shoot a couple of pictures or the tank and filters and post them. I think you will get some clearer answers then.

gonna take some when i get home

 

[Bunnee911]

You can lay a clean paper towel on top of the water with the pumps off. That will sometimes catch an oil slick