Aquarium surface film...

[sealife]

I have some minor surface film on my tank.

It looks like dust mixed with oil. Its very minor though.

Is there any tips on how to remove this without buying any electrical equipment?

tank info:
50g
Eheim 2217
Wavemaker
Non planted
Single baby oscar
0Am,0Ni,10Nitrates.

Thanks.


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[coralbandit]

Turn off filters and lay newspaper on tanks surface and draw from one end to other.
That is the old school method.
You could also hold a vacuum with draw towards surface and suck in all the film.


Often just directing more flow to the surface will mix the film back into water column and then the filter can get it.

 

[sealife]

Any videos on the newspaper method?
Thanks

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[Delapool]

Maybe blank paper? +1 on above from CB.

Just thinking here that some newspapers leave a lot of ink on the fingers and not sure if an issue or not.

 

[Fresh2o]

I use paper towels for this. Let it fall and hit the surface all at once and then promptly removed it.


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[Brookster123]

I use paper towels for this. Let it fall and hit the surface all at once and then promptly removed it.


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Works for me too.. my nano is top small for a skimmer, gets a nasty film going at times. Plus side is it def. keeps the co2 in paper towel works grrrrrrrrrate!!!

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[sealife]

I may try the paper towel trick.

Does the film come back after it's gone? Do I need to keep doing it?

Thanks.

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[Brookster123]

I may try the paper towel trick.

Does the film come back after it's gone? Do I need to keep doing it?

Thanks.

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It comes back, ehiem skim 350 makes it bye bye for ever

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[sealife]

I have an eheim 2217 canister.

Would an "Eheim 3535000" attachement be good to use? I hope it does not stunt or slow down the filtration, or cause micro bubbles.

A bit pricey too.

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[coralbandit]

The original and still a great product.
Dose not slow flow as it draws from the water columna also.
Toms makes a cheaper canister model.
http://www.amazon.com/KollerCraft-TOM-Aquarium-Surface-Skimmer/dp/B00176MUKY

 

[sealife]

Thank you so much for that.

Can I ask, do they both work just as good as eachother? Or does the Eheim work better?

Reason I am asking is because the Eheim is around 5 times more expensive. I want to know if its worth it.

Also, do they both fit my Eheim Classic 2217 filter easily? Or do I need any attachments?

Thanks again.

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[Brookster123]

This is what I use in 2 tanks. Needs weekly sponge cleaning and works perfectly..have it on a timer for 7 hrs on over night. Need a basket on top with the ember tetras though.. seem to get a little dopey while.sleeping

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[coralbandit]

The Toms will need an intial manual water level adjustment.
It will then move with tank and evaporation to some degree.
The ehiem needs no adjustment and will travel full swing to cover for evap.
The ehiem is worth it IMO but I would shop it out to get as cheap as possible or go with the powerhead unit Brook mentioned(they are very good with great reviews).
Like they way Brook uses it at night on timer also.

 

[sealife]

I dont want to use any electricals.
So it was out of the canister attachments.

And it sounds like Eheim is the better choice.

Hope it does not cause micro bubbles.

Thanks

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[Gillie]

Considering the stock there's obviously no co2 injection so just add an airstone, the bubbles will break the surface tension and get rid of the film. None of my tanks with sponge filters have this film because of the surface agitation.

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[Brookster123]

What if we don't like bubbles?!

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[sealife]

Considering the stock there's obviously no co2 injection so just add an airstone, the bubbles will break the surface tension and get rid of the film. None of my tanks with sponge filters have this film because of the surface agitation.

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Yes this is true... but I hate air pumps because they are noisy and glass residue from bubbles popping. Which is why I bought a wavemaker.

The airpump would be cheaper than the surface skimmer attachment though.

I may even have an Eheim air pump packed away somewhere. ..

Thanks again.

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[Minato]

Btw to prevent this I pulled my filter bit up to have water streaming the surface or just use air stone to keep the surface in constant cycling motion


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[sealife]

Hello again,

I bought the eheim surface skimmer extractor 353500.

How do I attach this to my eheim classic 2217?

Manual states I need a T section for bypass to help noise rattle.

Anyway to attach without T section?

Thanks.

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