Dusty Water

[ChilliPepper]

For a few days now my tank has had really dusty water. Lots of little bits floating around and a sort of oily-marbled effect on top of the water.

Water stats came out ok (ammonia 0, nitrite 0.3) when I tested day before yesterday, just going to do another test today.

Last did a water change on Wednesday - 30%.

Fish are all ok but the water is bothering me.

Also have some hair algae on some of my plants - how can I get rid of it? Should I get some shrimp?

 

[Pleccy]

Have you added anything new to the tank (decor) or disturbed the substrate? Also have you done anything with the filter? The oily film you describe is caused by proteins, it happens to many tanks so you are not alone. If you feed high protein food such as catfish pellets try cutting down. The best way to remove it is to skim the water surface with some grease-proof paper.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks for that Pleccy.

I haven't added anything new, just an extra piece of bogwood last week but that's the same as my other bit which didn't cause any problems.

I'm thinking the particles could be very fine bubbles as I adjusted my stingray internal filter whilst I was doing a water change. It is next to my air bubbles. Is it possible that its sucking them in and 'blowing' them out?

I will try the greaseproof paper thing - thanks.

 

[Pleccy]

The impeller would probably pop the bubbles as they pass through the filter so I doubt this could be the cause. Other possible causes are a bacterial bloom (which could explain the small amount of nitrite in the water) or a disturbance to the filter. Has the filter been running normally over the past couple of days?

 

[SharonCC]

I have had the same problem when the filter intake was too close to the "bubbler"... try moving it and see if it improves.

 

[tenohfive]

I have the greasy effect on the top of one of my tanks (and have for as long as I can remember) - can't remember what causes it but it doesn't bother me and hasn't done the fish any harm.

As for dust - more water changes. That'll help get rid of the excess nitrite as well.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Yep I will do another water change tomorrow and move the filter a bit further away from the bubbler. The filter was up a little higher but I moved it down a bit during last week's water change and didn't push it back up.

I don't think it's a bacterial bloom as I've heard the effect described as 'milk in water' and it's definitely not like that. More fine particles.

 

[Corleone]

The impeller would probably pop the bubbles as they pass through the filter so I doubt this could be the cause.

You can't pop bubbles under water - they just turn into smaller bubbles, the air has nowhere else to go. My canister spits bubbles for a few hours any time I open it, and my hanging filters all spit bubbles if there's a loose fit in the tube. The bubbler could also be a factor if bubbles are getting sucked in.

The film on the surface is probably a protein film. Increasing surface movement a bit should break it up, and water changes will help with that, too. Happened to my cichlid tank sometimes, too. Not much else you can do about it in a freshwater tank.