oily film on top of water.

[Tifta]

So I got my order of RCS, I didn't realize how small they were gonna be. So I ended up taking my 3 female guppies and putting them into my 10 gallon tank. After doing this I started getting an oil film on the top of my tank. Maybe from no water movement? I did a small water change and that didn't seem to help at all. I was thinking maybe an airstone would end up helping? The only thing I worry about is that I have sand on the bottom, and last thing I want is for the sand to go up into my filter killing it. I do have a small sponge stuck to it. Is there another way of getting rid of this nasty film other than what I mentioned?

[An t-iasg]

Getting a film on top of the water can be a common problem but there are some things you can do. I also have a little bit of a film on top of my water a lot of the time. I think it's from low water movement (I have bettas that don't like a strong filter current). Can you increase your water movement? An airstone may help without stirring up the sand. Do you have CO2 in this tank - too much water movement will drive out the CO2. I don't know how much you use fertilizers with the shrimp, but I cut down on my Seachem Comprehensive liquid fertilizer and that helped - the film wasn't so bad. When I gravel vac, after cleaning the gravel, I hold the vac just under the surface and skim the film off. With practice, you can do this without breaking the suction. Finally, you can run a white paper towel across the surface of the water and try to mop up some of the film that way.

[Tifta]

those are some good ideas. I don't have co2 on that tank yet. I did put the co2 on the 10 gallon tank though. I might try an airstone. I can't stand seeing that stuff floating like that on the surface of the water. The film might be from the fert, because I did put some in that night, and the next morning there was oil on the top.

[roka64]

I use a ph to point at the surface and that clears it right up, (I have a SW tank).

[saffikeagan]

a paper towel or tissue drug over the surface will pick it up. It's fatty residue from the fish food.