yeeahboy Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I have a thin layer of scum on surface of water which when disturbed the scum starts sinking and make water look bad. Causing this scum could be any of the following: 1. I have a filter which doesn't disturb water surface, therefore letting bad stuff settle 2. I have been double dosing with flourish excel 3. i grow plants, so it could be some kind of algae Any 1 had a similar problem, is it just a matter of disturbing surface? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 You can get an oily surface from high phosphates in the fish food (or if you are feeding salmon pellets or similar). Try lying a paper towel flat on the surface to absorb it. Having the filter return break up the water surface will also help. I don't know if Flourish Excel has an effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeeahboy Posted July 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 hmmm could be the phosphates, i just bought a new flake food brand which could be high in phosphates (Wardleys Tropical Flakes). And i could be guilty of over feeding. might try my old brand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Just set the filter so it breaks up the surface of the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 u can get special filter intakes for canister filters that skim that scum off the surface as well as normally filtering the water i gt mine for $1 off ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I always disturb the water surface in my tanks, even when I was injecting CO2, otherwise I had this scum build up as well. Doesn't need to be a roaring rapid, just so the water doesn't sit still. To see if its moving drop in a leaf, and watch its movement, no matter where you put it it should move slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeeahboy Posted July 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 yes i have alot of circulation in tank, but the surface dosent get broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paekakboyz Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 had this problem and it persisted even when I increased the flow on the surface. In the end I got a cannister intake that skims the surface and has the usual intake as well - One of the members on the forum helped me out as the NZ versions are pretty pricey. I found it to be a real frustration - cut back feeding and increased water changes along with more surface agitation but still got it... imo the surface intake works a charm good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Ah, just another reason I love my sump... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 If you use a canister, there are some great ones out there that come with a surface skimmer, aswell as the normal intake pipe that sits below.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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