Salt and surface film - Aquarium Advice

hardparts2 · 03-19-2006, 07:52 AM

My 55g has been running for almost 2 months now and I have trouble with surface film. I am running a coralife 125 super skimmer and 2 Seio 620s and a aquaclear 50 power head there is good flow and surface aggitation but it is still there . I have done several water changes and its still there. I use a 16 gallon rubbermaid container for water changes. I fill it with ro/di water add salt and let it run 2 days with a power head and heater and make sure it is the same as tank water.I have noticed that when I take the cover off the container for the water change there is a brown film on the bottom of the cover from the air bubbles popping in said container. I asume that there is some thing in the salt mix that could be causing the film, could this be my problem?I am using IO Reef Crystals but I am thinking about changing to something else for salt. Can I do this?

I have no fish in the tank yet. The only thing in the tank is live rock and sand.My protein skimmer seems to be pulling out alot of gunk. The water is very clear except for the surface film.I do not have a surface skimmer wish I did but I have no room for a sump.I tried the paper towel thing but it didnt help much. I was thinking on getting a canister with a skimmer attachment would this work?

Thanks Bob

**lando** · 03-19-2006, 08:35 AM

Do you run GAC? You can try skimming the surface of the water with a brine shrimp net to remove some of the film.

DragonForce · 03-19-2006, 11:36 AM

As lando stated, GAC and some type of surface skimming can clear this problem easy. I have a prizm with the surface skimmer and it does a fine job. I also run GAC 24/7 and only have this problem briefly after changing my water and messing with my tank.

seaham358 · 03-20-2006, 07:19 AM

sounds like a protein build up to me...... you need to skim the surface more, make some adjustments to you skimmer or what ever you have that skims the surface.

tecwzrd · 03-20-2006, 10:40 AM

Are you feeding/supplementing the tank with anything ie: for corals? Are you doing the fishless cycle currently?

A Fluval Surface Skimmer can be used in conjunction with your skimmer or other filter for increased surface skimming.

03-19-2006, 07:52 AM	#1
hardparts2 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canton NY Posts: 61 Images: 11	Salt and surface film My 55g has been running for almost 2 months now and I have trouble with surface film. I am running a coralife 125 super skimmer and 2 Seio 620s and a aquaclear 50 power head there is good flow and surface aggitation but it is still there . I have done several water changes and its still there. I use a 16 gallon rubbermaid container for water changes. I fill it with ro/di water add salt and let it run 2 days with a power head and heater and make sure it is the same as tank water.I have noticed that when I take the cover off the container for the water change there is a brown film on the bottom of the cover from the air bubbles popping in said container. I asume that there is some thing in the salt mix that could be causing the film, could this be my problem?I am using IO Reef Crystals but I am thinking about changing to something else for salt. Can I do this? I have no fish in the tank yet. The only thing in the tank is live rock and sand.My protein skimmer seems to be pulling out alot of gunk. The water is very clear except for the surface film.I do not have a surface skimmer wish I did but I have no room for a sump.I tried the paper towel thing but it didnt help much. I was thinking on getting a canister with a skimmer attachment would this work? Thanks Bob __________________ 55 Gallon 1 Lawnmower Blenny 1 Bubble tip 2 Tomato Clowns

03-19-2006, 08:35 AM	#2
lando Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Savage, MN Posts: 7,652 Images: 46	Do you run GAC? You can try skimming the surface of the water with a brine shrimp net to remove some of the film. __________________ Some people are like slinkies...they serve no real purpose yet can still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs! Have a great day! Brian

03-19-2006, 11:36 AM	#3
DragonForce Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 925 Images: 1	As lando stated, GAC and some type of surface skimming can clear this problem easy. I have a prizm with the surface skimmer and it does a fine job. I also run GAC 24/7 and only have this problem briefly after changing my water and messing with my tank. __________________ 37 [acronym="Gallon"]gal[/acronym] all glass 50lb [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 3' fine sand bed 1x Orange Stripe Prawn shrimp goby, 1x sixline wrassemated pair of true percula clowns, 1x CBS shrimp, 2x peppermint shrimp, 1x pistol shrimp, 1x tiger tale [acronym="Sea cucumber"]cuke[/acronym], ~20+ snails, ~10+ hermits, 1xserpent star. green Bubble coral, hammer coral (8 heads!) ,various Zoos,green finger leather, green star polpys ,[acronym="Mushroom coral"]shrooms[/acronym] 175w 10k [acronym="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym] 28w actinic [acronym="Actinic lighting"]03[/acronym] 2x maxi jett 1200 Prizm skimmer (modded) Hagen powerfilter(for running carbon 24/7) nano arctica chiller

03-20-2006, 07:19 AM	#4
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	sounds like a protein build up to me...... you need to skim the surface more, make some adjustments to you skimmer or what ever you have that skims the surface. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

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03-20-2006, 10:40 AM	#5
tecwzrd Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VA Posts: 3,152	Are you feeding/supplementing the tank with anything ie: for corals? Are you doing the fishless cycle currently? A Fluval Surface Skimmer can be used in conjunction with your skimmer or other filter for increased surface skimming.

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