Oil on surface

Jnad · 02-17-2013, 12:22 PM

Hello!

My dirt tank have now been up running for a couple of weeks. The last days i have a oil substance forming on the water surfase. If i dont remove the oil it will actually beacome a oil film that stop the little amount of surface circulation i have on this tank.

Any suggestions what could cause this?

Jnad

Gtdad2 · 02-17-2013, 01:39 PM

The oily film is leaching from your new dirt substrate and/or cap. Your low surface circulation allows it to accumulate. A dry paper towel laid on the surface will absorb most of it. Also, if possible, increase your surface circulation.

ggsteve · 02-17-2013, 01:43 PM

Two week old thank, it could be protein. Does it form little bubbles along the edge and in the corners? This happens a lot in cycling tanks.

amberoze · 02-17-2013, 01:44 PM

It's proteins in the water column. Increase surface agitation (I recommend an air stone). There are a few fish that will eat it as well. Platties, mollies, swordtails, and some gouramis All eat this surface protein.

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pwolfe · 02-17-2013, 02:51 PM

purigen solves my protein film issues. frequent water changes are also a huge help for obvious reasons

Waters · 02-17-2013, 03:00 PM

There is actually a large thread dedicated to this in Fertilizers and Water parameters called biofilm problems.

nelson23 · 02-25-2013, 05:36 PM

I recently bought a surface skimmer made by TOM. It can be hooked up to the intake of various filters. I put it on a canister filter and it was gone in about 10 minutes. I just left it on and surface is always clear. Has not affected CO2 levels. But since you are using in a low tech tank you may not care as much anyway. It was about 10 dollars.

Jnad · 02-25-2013, 09:13 PM

I actually have a Hagen/Fluval surface skimmer laying around, i might just use it on my bigger tank.
This one:
http://ca-en.hagen.com/File/07ef6f39...4-4cefb26225f0

I just wondered what the oily substans on the water surface was.
Tanks for answering.

Jnad

Quote:

Originally Posted by nelson23

I recently bought a surface skimmer made by TOM. It can be hooked up to the intake of various filters. I put it on a canister filter and it was gone in about 10 minutes. I just left it on and surface is always clear. Has not affected CO2 levels. But since you are using in a low tech tank you may not care as much anyway. It was about 10 dollars.

02-17-2013, 12:22 PM	#1
Jnad Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Norway Posts: 192	Oil on surface Hello! My dirt tank have now been up running for a couple of weeks. The last days i have a oil substance forming on the water surfase. If i dont remove the oil it will actually beacome a oil film that stop the little amount of surface circulation i have on this tank. Any suggestions what could cause this? Jnad

02-17-2013, 01:44 PM	#4
amberoze Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: lexington, sc Posts: 306	Re: Oil on surface It's proteins in the water column. Increase surface agitation (I recommend an air stone). There are a few fish that will eat it as well. Platties, mollies, swordtails, and some gouramis All eat this surface protein. Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

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02-17-2013, 01:39 PM	#2
Gtdad2 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lady Lake,FL Posts: 286	The oily film is leaching from your new dirt substrate and/or cap. Your low surface circulation allows it to accumulate. A dry paper towel laid on the surface will absorb most of it. Also, if possible, increase your surface circulation.

02-17-2013, 01:43 PM	#3
ggsteve Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: North Central MA Posts: 70	Two week old thank, it could be protein. Does it form little bubbles along the edge and in the corners? This happens a lot in cycling tanks.

02-17-2013, 02:51 PM	#5
pwolfe Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US Posts: 283	purigen solves my protein film issues. frequent water changes are also a huge help for obvious reasons

02-17-2013, 03:00 PM	#6
Waters Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 54	There is actually a large thread dedicated to this in Fertilizers and Water parameters called biofilm problems.

02-25-2013, 05:36 PM	#7
nelson23 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3	I recently bought a surface skimmer made by TOM. It can be hooked up to the intake of various filters. I put it on a canister filter and it was gone in about 10 minutes. I just left it on and surface is always clear. Has not affected CO2 levels. But since you are using in a low tech tank you may not care as much anyway. It was about 10 dollars.