Looks to be oil based, is it oil?? Does anyone else have this problem? Where does it come from, is it harmful in any way, and whats the easiest way to get rid of it? Sorry for all the questions, but can anyone enlighten me :-?

most likely proteins/fats from your fish food, you can try increasing your water movement my adjusting the outflow height on your filter and it may get rid of it

Get a few sheets of "Kitchen Roll" and drag a single sheet across the surface.

Repeat until surface is clear.

Film usually comes from additives in the food you are feeding.. or sometimes from plants that have not been cleaned before putting in the tank.

If you have Anabantids... (Gouramies... Bettas etc)... it is very important to keep the surface clean... as they are surface breathers.

Bill.

Ah, from the food you say! Not feeding alot as there is not a lot to feed at the moment, just 20 harlequins, a pair of GBA's and 3 corys. Will adjust the outflow and try the paper towel thing.

I use news paper

I have it in tanks where no food is being added. I always believed it was from my skin

Well, i must admit i'm relieved its not just in my tank, so nothing to worry about really? Hans, i thought it might be from my skin too, but sounds more likely to be the food, bet its those *** shrimp pellets for the corys that they never eat! Might just feed them to my cat :lol:

Thats the reason my betta died!!!! He got real sick and I couldnt understand why, I blamed the tank and never used it again.

Sometimes it is the food and sometimes it is from your skin, depending on what you washed your hands with.

A spraybar just breaking the surface will help.

I have a cold water native with a few plants. 220L

No food has been added to it. It does have Dalton's aqua mix and plants out of the wild.

Minimal surface movement

Then i have my 280L running a fx5 filter with a ton of surface movement. Feeding Disus tucker, shrimp and pellets

This tank also has surface film

Same situation in my 38L breeders as the 280L

So im not 100% convinced its the food

I dont wash my hand that ofter either :oops: (not every 5mins)

And if i do its not a oily soap as my skin is oily

Hi All.

It can also be oil from one of several species of "ALGAE";

believe it or not.

There is one species that is particularly bad for producing an oil which of course floats on the surface of the tank.

Check it out, just to be sure.

Good luck.

I understand they are making biofuel from the algae in oxidation ponds at the sewage works. Perhaps the Govt could forget about the fart tax and give evry household free epsom salts. Liquorice might be more socially acceptable.

What does this "ALGAE" look like and does it have a name?

I don't (touch wood) have algae, so must be the food. Was wondering if it could be coming from the Daltons mix i used as a substrate (with gravel over the top)

Hi All, :lol:

The algaes in question are of four distinct genera;

I offer some data for your reference and it is translated from a German book.

The genera are:........Glenodinium, Gymnodinium,Peridinium, and the worst offender of all Ceratium. :evil:

QUOTE from the Book;

When occurring in quantity they may cause high fish mortality. Storage materials are starches as well as fatty oils.

Use the information as you will.

Slipped up