Adrienne Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 In one of my 4ft tanks I have this problem. Can anyone tell me what it is and what its being caused by? Theres about 80 litres of water in the tank at the moment and the external filter flowrate is 390 lph. The tank has a small amount of floating weed and about 20 fighters 15mm long. I have tried leaving the filter to settle for about 3 weeks and no visible difference. Previously this filter was running in another tank the same size with no problems. Surface of tank looking down Surface of tank when I stir the water Inside the tank when I stir the water The tank looks fine looking in through the glass unless I have given it a mix around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayci Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Try having it so that the filter output is braking the water surface, it may help to get the scum to mix with the water colunm and then get filtered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 protein film usually fixed by extra surface agitation IME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks for that - I moved the outlet this evening just before I posted this and it looks a bit better, where the water is breaking the surface its now clear and the muck has moved down towards each end of the tank. Do you think I should clean out my filter or leave it a bit. My other option is also to get a power head for the tank, was trying to avoid it as this tank is the one I am going to use for my pretty young fighters. I was worried that it might be a form of algae. Also noticed it in one of my planted tanks tonight, just at one edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Sharn, you posted at the same time as me. What is protein film caused by please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 im not too sure exactly :oops: in my case i didnt have much surface agitiation but i cant remember what else i had done differently (perhaps fed a different food or something) You can lay a piece of paper towel down over the gunk and that should lift it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Often caused by some fish foods. Try the paper towel trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Thanks again, also for the tip on how to remove the stuff. I didn't really have any surface movement until I moved the filter outlet earlier this evening to higher up in the tank as this is the tank for my smaller fighters. Each subsequent tank I have has more filter power and a bigger powerhead than the previous one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 yeah what you feeding? usually caused by feeding food with high protein content 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 Feeding a selection, a different variety twice a day but only small quantities which I have to crush a bit so they fit in the fishes mouths as the fish are still fairly small and not many in the tank - TetraMin Tropical Granules - The Rich Mix JBL Novo GranoColor Sera Flake Menu & Live BBS I feed it in all of my 4 4ft tanks plus the 7 2fts I have. Occasionally before this I have seen small amounts of film on my tanks which just seems to disappear by itself until now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatito Posted May 10, 2007 Report Share Posted May 10, 2007 i got this on a betta fry tank and on a small community tank - it happens outdoors when water goes stale too. I just assumed it was low surface agitation combined with the tank getting a bit dirty :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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