loudini

hello people!

my tank has developed a white film on top of the water, the water is crystal clear below but the top is just awful. it has only been the last 2 days it has been developing. i have scooped a layer off of the top and the water is crystal clear but after about 4 hours - its back!! i dont know what to do now? i have 2 silver sharks in the tank and they are fineor appear to be anyway. all the food i have put in the tank (which is not a lot as i have been quite strict) they have eaten every single bit. im just pulling my hair out because its spoiling "the look"

goggles

how old is the tank?
did you cycle it?
what are the parameters?
what filter do you have?
what size is the filter and the tank?

loudini

the tank is nearly 3 weeks old. it is a coffee table fish tank and holds 299 litres. the filter system is under the gravel.

Shawnie

awesome you got it!!!! can we see a pic? and also, do you have some new decorations n gravel or such? maybe its some stuff from those? and sometimes the under gravel filters dont push the water around and filter it as much...although im not sure how you would hang another filter on the coffee table tanks..im dieing to see it tho...

goggles

did you wash the gravel fully before you put it in, with the filter sucking from under the gravel it will suck all the unwashed stuff off it and deposit it in the tank.

loudini

i washed EVERYTHING thoroughly before putting it in the tank. i have done 2 water changes too as i thought it could be that but its not. apparently you cannot attatch anything else to the coffee table as everything the aquarium needs so anything i add on will be an extra and obviously spoil the look.

shawnie - yes i will post a pic - i was just waiting for the glass top to arrive as we only have a temp at the mo which spoils the look. but it really does look amazing!!

sirdarksol

The film on top of the tank is likely due to a lack of surface agitation. I have a long tank that has the filter sitting off to one side. It has a white film on the side without the filter.
If you can get more free bubbles flowing in the tank, or set up a powerhead on top of the UGF tube, and then point the powerhead slightly upward at that surface of the water, it should get rid of the film.

Shawnie

AWESOME I cant wait to see it...have any stocking ideas yet? and as sir said, a long bubble wand might work as there doesnt have to be much space to put the clear hose and the pump isnt big at all

goggles

maybe get a few air stones to stir up the surface water.

loudini

that actually makes sense sirdarksol - when i first saw the film i put my hand in the water and messed it up a bit and it dissappeared but as i say it then came back later. will try and attatch something to disturb the water at the top.

thanks guys you have all been great as usual! i will look into putting one of the things that have been suggested and see if it improves.

shawnie il post a pic in the next couple of days as the proper top is arriving tonight. ye hah!!!

COBettaCouple

Yea, SDS has it right and surface agitation should take care of the problem. With a tank that size, you may want to look at bubble wands, particularly flexible ones. I love those for the ability to have the bubble curtains exactly how I'd like them through the tank and anytime you want to change them around, it's easily done.

sirdarksol

The weighted, flexible bubble wands are far better, in my opinion, than the straight suction cup ones. I can never get the latter to stick.
Yet another reason to go for the flexible ones.