Film on top of water

[Feynman]

I recently did these things to my aquarium:

1. Open Top with Coralife 2x65w lights.
2. [acronym:651856da82="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym:651856da82].
3. Canister filter (Fluval 304) from [acronym:651856da82="Hang On Back"]HOB[/acronym:651856da82].
4. Planted.

Now I have this weird film stuff on top of my water that is bugging me (and my butterfly fish). I know some people might say that its the water conditioner stuff that leaves a film, but I haven't changed what I was using (previously film free) for 8 months or so. Could it just be dust and whatever falling into the tank because I have it open now? When I get home I'm going to reposition the out-take of my canister filter to cause more surface agitation. I have some floating plants so I had it underneath the water enough not to move the surface too much.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[Meredith]

Is it a thick film, or does it look more oily? I have an oily film in my 55, I assume it from the water conditioner, the fish food, and the fish themselves. I try to keep the outflow to a minimum in my betta tank, but if there isn't enough water movement at the surface, a thicker film builds up. Good luck to you.

[Feynman]

It's a thick film. When I blow across the surface, the water will "bend" and when I stop blowing the surface returns to the original starting position, so I have no surface movement. I'll try getting some more surface movement from my filter tonight in case I'm experiencing something similar to your betta tank.

[Meredith]

If you can angle the return from the canister up so it makes ripples on the water that should help. Mine doesn't turn or bend or anything so I put a suction cup under the J tube thingy, so it props it up.

[frog girl]

I started to get a film & still have a bit of one. Mine was definitely from my driftwood & probably still is though I boiled it for days. I think its a breakdown product.

[frog girl]

I suck mine up when I do my water changes. I put my python just below the surface so it makes slurply sounds & the film is gone fast.

Simple, buy the $8 surface skimmer attachment for the Fluval 304, BigAl's has it among other places. Problem solved. I have one, but I don't use it because I don't have any surface film.

[Feynman]

Well changing the angle of the outflow and putting it a bit more towards the surface got rid of the film. I guess it was just collecting junk on top. Thanks Meredith. I had to turn down the flow from my canister a bit because of my floating plants, but I think that's ok. Better not to have that crap on the surface.

Thanks for the surface skimmer tip too, I'll check that out and see if it might be a better solution for my setup.