coffeebean

whats the deal with that? never had that in the 20 gallon tank, but there is very little surface movement on this tank as im using a canister filter. im guessing its protein from the fish food, maybe some oils from my hands as im in there all.the.time.
is it an issue that i need to worry about? how do i get rid of it?

pinkfloydpuffer

Increased surface movement by use of a powerhead or airstone should take care of that.

katetnies

i agree. the problem is just lack of surface movement. at work we had one row of tanks that had a filter on it. it took about a week to fix (no worries there were no fish in the tanks, the were moved) but the surface got a film on it. once fixed the film was gone and the water was clear and normal

lew2000

You can also change the output on your filter by putting on a spray bar - i have my spray bar just below the surface and it agitates the surface of the water.

coffeebean

im doing a planted tank with out co2 injection. i was under the impression that a bubble stone wasnt a good idea in that circumstance?

i had an airstone in there, but then took it out. hmm....

katetnies

an air stone might not be the best option then

coffeebean

is it doing any harm or is it just not that nice to look at? anyone know if it will get in the way of gas exchange?

lew2000

an airstone will definitely contribute to outgassing, even surface agitation, but that is why i used a spray bar just below the surface to minimize and break up the film - there is rolling water which is not the same as bubbling water - some slight difference. How are you injecting C)2 into the water column, using a diffuser?


Sorry coffeebean - saw with CO2 missed the word "out"

coffeebean

no, i am not using co2, keeping it lower tech which is why i took out the airstone as i need to try to keep as much co2 in there as possible. i had bought a spray bar initially when i got this new filter but i honestly couldnt figure out how to attach it **embarrassed** so i just took it back. ive got the output pointing up and to one corner so it is making some 'rolling' water on that side, but it doesnt carry across. perhaps i have to retry the spray bar.

katetnies

maybe get another filter to put on the other side of the tank. or buy a higher powered filter

coffeebean

oh i am so not shelling out for another filter. the one i just bought for this tank is a fluval 305. it really should be enough. no way i have cash for another filter regardless.


if the film is just not nice to look at then i dont really care. is there anything bad about it?

katetnies

i think its fairly harmless.. your fish havent been affected at all right

Jonah

I have a Fluval 305 in one of my tanks, the filter came with a venturi unit with a pipe outlet on it that will fit standard air hose did yours?

If it did you could put the venturi unit on the outlet and run some airhose above the water level and allow you to introduce bubbles to the water flow.

Hope that makes sense to you.

agabr123

i'd just go with a powerhead, chances are your plants don't necessarily need the extra CO2 that you'd keep in the tank without the powerhead to survive