Film at Top of Water

[dwalk77]

I'm in the process of cycling my tank, about day 25 or so. No fish yet, and I added a light number of plants about 10 days ago or so. The water clarity was looking great until a few days ago, when a thin white film began to cover the top of the water. I have a (HOB) Seachem Tidal filter, and it's supposed to have a surface skimmer included, but doesn't seem to be clearing up this film. The water below the surface still looks crystal clear. Any ideas how to clear this up and keep it from coming back? Is there a better filter I should be using?

Thanks!

 

[nharrington81]

I had this issue when I added the live plant bamboo , after a few water changes and my hang on filter not doing the job anymore I added a sicce sharks 800 and directed the current to the top of the water. It might be over kill in a 75 gallon but Using both filters did wonders. Depending on your tanks size maybe try a sicce.

 

[dwalk77]

I had this issue when I added the live plant bamboo , after a few water changes and my hang on filter not doing the job anymore I added a sicce sharks 800 and directed the current to the top of the water. It might be over kill in a 75 gallon but Using both filters did wonders. Depending on your tanks size maybe try a sicce.

Gotcha, thanks. I only have a 20 gallon and didn't really want a second filter, but sounds like it worked out for you so I'll think that over

 

[DoubleDutch]

It is probably a proteinlayer. Mostly it disappears by surfaceaggitation only.
It is not uncommon.

 

[Colin_T]

Increase aeration/ surface turbulence and do a big water change to help get rid of the film.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

If you have a lot of live plants in the aquarium, it will interfere with the cycling process. Plants use the ammonia and stop the filter bacteria using it.

If you have lots of plants and they have been in the tank for a couple of weeks and are growing, and there is no ammonia or nitrite, do a huge water change, wait a day or two and add some fish.