Water has oily substance on top

FrstTmr · 01-11-2013, 02:52 AM

So about a week ago i was trying to dry out some black diamond blasting media that I did not use in my tank. I spread it out on a tarp and without thinking I went and put my hands in my tank and now have an oily residue on the top of my tank water. This is the reason i decided not to use the black diamond in the first place. I have done repeated water changes and can't get rid of the oil. It doesnt seem to have any ill effects on the fish or plants but does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of it?

zico_aqua · 01-11-2013, 04:31 AM

put a newspaper on top of the film..keep for a minute and take it off..couple of times and it should clear off..if it persists get a surface skimmer..that does the job very well..

lamiskool · 01-11-2013, 04:34 AM

get an O2 pump and turn it on for an hour or so each day, I hear that works. I do it at night because during the day i pump Co2 and the fish love the extra O2 at night plus the benifit of disturbing the surface which gets rid of protein layer buildup (the oily substance you are talking about)

puopg · 01-11-2013, 05:16 PM

Yea that happens. Just increase surface agitation, surface skimmer, paper towel on surface works well. Eventually it will go away, but mine lasted for over 3 months. Even came back before. Surface skimmers (although a bit large, unless u find a nano sized one), work amazingly well. Also a very good way to add O2.

01-11-2013, 02:52 AM	#1
FrstTmr Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 21	Water has oily substance on top So about a week ago i was trying to dry out some black diamond blasting media that I did not use in my tank. I spread it out on a tarp and without thinking I went and put my hands in my tank and now have an oily residue on the top of my tank water. This is the reason i decided not to use the black diamond in the first place. I have done repeated water changes and can't get rid of the oil. It doesnt seem to have any ill effects on the fish or plants but does anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of it?

01-11-2013, 04:31 AM	#2
zico_aqua Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: India Posts: 140	put a newspaper on top of the film..keep for a minute and take it off..couple of times and it should clear off..if it persists get a surface skimmer..that does the job very well.. __________________ Abhradip Choudhuri Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement. Few of my works

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-11-2013, 04:34 AM	#3
lamiskool Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 150	get an O2 pump and turn it on for an hour or so each day, I hear that works. I do it at night because during the day i pump Co2 and the fish love the extra O2 at night plus the benifit of disturbing the surface which gets rid of protein layer buildup (the oily substance you are talking about)

01-11-2013, 05:16 PM	#4
puopg Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 520	Yea that happens. Just increase surface agitation, surface skimmer, paper towel on surface works well. Eventually it will go away, but mine lasted for over 3 months. Even came back before. Surface skimmers (although a bit large, unless u find a nano sized one), work amazingly well. Also a very good way to add O2.