AggieYen

I have a rather.. silly question here. I read here that the film the develops on the surface of water is sometimes due to lack of water agitation, and this problem can be fixed by simple putting in airstone. I have a small internal filter for my 5 gallon, and being afraid of the current being too strong for my betta, i've turned the water flow way down. So i've now added a bubble wall - my question is.. does the film dissipate immediately, or does it take a while for the film to go away? I've got the bubble wall running, but as far as I can tell, the film on the water is still there.

capekate

Hi Aggieyen
its hard to say what is causing the oily water. My thoughts are that the filter was running too low. Now that you have a bubbler in there, just wait awhile and see if it goes away. If it doesnt, maybe a small water change will help.
I also would turn up the filter flow for awhile and see it it helps clear up the water.

~ kate

Narcicius

Where to find filter flow control?

capekate

Hi,
All aqua clear filters even the #10 have a filter flow valve. I have found that the top fin filters do not. So it depends on what type of filter you are using if it has a flow valve or not.
~ kate

Narcicius

I'll be sure to check for one when I get home, and sorry for jackign your thread.

Chief_waterchanger

Aggie,

Sometimes the high phosphate levels in foods can cause that oily film. I wouldn't worry about it, but Kate is right with possible remedies she listed.

AggieYen

hi guys, thanks for that. It does okay after a water change, but then it builds right back up. I just worry that it's not good for Champion, being an anabantoid. He hasn't been looking well lately, his pectoral fins have become transparent in some parts, like he's begun to lose the coloured membrane (??). Or maybe... I'm just being an over-paranoid mother.

Narcicius: It's okay mate - when I shopped for internal filters i looked specifically for a filter that had flow control. Mine is a little lever on the top of the filter. That's why i decided against the small Whisper, because it didn't have flow control, and it was impossible to find filter media off the shelves here Down Under.

Off I go to the Betta board to bug Rose and Dave. Thanks!