There are filmy clear pieces floating in my tank

[Canno2827]

Help there are these pieces floating in the water like flakes. Please help me figure out what it is and what I need to do to get rid of it. I have not had fish in my tank for no longer than a day. The filmy stuff is collecting on the aeration tube and then releasing into the tank. Please help.

 

[Canno2827]

I have not had my tank very long either

 

[insecurity]

Had that happen to me over the Christmas holidays. The filter had been unplugged by a small cousin. Make sure you're filter is working and not clogged.

 

[Ian086]

Help there are these pieces floating in the water like flakes. Please help me figure out what it is and what I need to do to get rid of it. I have not had fish in my tank for no longer than a day. The filmy stuff is collecting on the aeration tube and then releasing into the tank. Please help.

Hi, what type of filter do you have??

 

[LS240]

Is this a new tank? If so it might be silicone from the manufacturing process. I helped my niece setup a new 10 the other day and it had a few small pieces of silicone floating around after we first filled it.

 

[Ian086]

Just thinking, do you use a slime coat based water conditioner like Api Stress Coat??

 

[Fresh2o]

It appears to be some type of biofilm produced by bacteria. If you could adjust you filter output to agitate the water surface more (or simply lower the water level for a while) that should help breakup and disperse the biofilm. If you are using an air pump + air stone, then that should work as well.
I get that from time to time in my established tank. Sometimes it is cause by poor surface movement. On occasion I have overfilled my tank and the next day a whitish film appear on the surface. The water gets cloudy for a day or two then clears up after I lower the water level a bit. Hope this helps.

 

[Ian086]

Just thinking, do you use a slime coat based water conditioner like Api Stress Coat??

Sound like it's from the water conditioner your using. I had the same problem when i was using Api stress coat, since i've switched to Prime, it has disappeared. It's not a coincidence either because it has happened on my two other tanks.....