Film On Water?

[kittilove]

So i am becoming increasingly concerned about this film on the top of my water.
I have been a fish hobbiest for about 12 years now and have never come across this before...
My current tank is a 75gal (standard model) that was an upgrade using the same filter from my last tank
which was a 4 year old filstar (for those of you that don't know its pretty simular to a fluval)
I have had this tank running for a good 4 months at least and my water peramiters are perfect.
absolutely no ammonia, PH at about 7.2-7.4, both nitrite and nitrate tests are clear
this tank is not yet planted, but does have a bit of a problem with your typical green algae as
it is in my kitchen right by a large window (however i usually have those particular blinds closed)
my tank inhabitants are:

75 gal
4x Buenos Aires Tetra
2x Sunset gourami
1x Blue Dwarf Gourami
2 x Marble Angel
1x sunset platy (temp home)
1x farlowella catfish
2x Upside Down synodontis
1x Rapheal Catfish
1x Pictus Catfish
1x Yoyo Loach
1x Flying Fox

and yes i am very aware that my pictus may try to make a quick snack out of the platy.
He is not supposed to be in my tank i am waiting for another tank to cycle

There is a very thin layer of cloudy water (almost like a film or oil) on top of my water that i have never noticed before. I can run my finger through it and it seams to separate but then it forms again. Could this be from the type of filter not stirring the surface enough? do you think the water is too still? I have never had an issue before. Maybe its nothing but i thought i might ask if anyone else has had this before...

 

[WILDER]

Do you over feed.
Frozen foods can cause it aswell.
Do you have an airstone.

You could lower the water level so the filter hits the water level well.
If you think your filters not working properly buy a new one, and then add the mature filter sponges.
You can remove oil from the surface with kitched paper.

 

[kittilove]

no i do not overfeed, haven't given frozen foor for a couple of months (its a rare treat) and no i do not have an airstone
and i know my filter is good... hmmm... i can't lower the water level as this type of filter sits low in the water, there would litterally be like a 5" gap between the water suface and the top of my tank (it would probably look awful )

 

[WILDER]

What type of filter is it.
When did you last clean the filter and impellor.

I over filter my tanks and had no algae problems since.
You could buy another filter and run it with the old one.

 

[kittilove]

What type of filter is it.
When did you last clean the filter and impellor.

I over filter my tanks and had no algae problems since.
You could buy another filter and run it with the old one.

its a rena filstar and it is ment for roughly 200gal i believe so it is already very overfiltered. Plus there is not a problem with excess waste in the tank to be feeding the algae. I cleaned the filter about 3 weeks ago but the film never stopped. My tank it cleaned every 4-6 weeks

 

[WILDER]

When you say cleaned can you tell us what your procedure is.
You need to be doing a gravel vac and water change once a week.

 

[kittilove]

When you say cleaned can you tell us what your procedure is.
You need to be doing a gravel vac and water change once a week.

while your advise is very much appreciated, and i am aware that it says i am a "newbie," i assure you i am very knowledgable about most things when it comes to aquariums. I have been keeping them and studying them for about 12 years now, although I am not claiming to know "everything" . I am however new to the site so i understand that you want to cover all grounds when helping me, which i appreciate aswell. I do have to disagree with the amount of water changes that you have suggested, as i do think that it is a bit excessive. I do have a proper hose to vaccum the gravel, and every water change i check the filter substrate and change when needed, or just clean the filter (with tank water of course) to rid it of excess waste.

 

[WILDER]

If the tank understocked and well filtered you can get away with not doing a water change and gravel vac for a few weeks.

Do you think the filter running well. Or is it sluggish.

 

[kittilove]

as i have previously stated my tank has no ammonia, or excess waste, and no traces of nitrate or nitrite. Also, my Ph is pretty good.
I have been for years and will remain cleaning it every 4-6 weeks as my tank has responded beautifully to this and my tanks have remained cycled and balanced for years, with excellent water quality. The filter is pretty much the same as a fluval, is high quality and not at all sluggish.

 

[WILDER]

What do you feed the fish?

 

[kittilove]

What do you feed the fish?

small quanities, once a day:

Nutrafin tropical flakes, Nutrafin veggi flakes, algae cakes, shrimp pettets, tubiflex worms, frozen bloodworms

this is just off the top of my head, and they do not get this all in one feeding i give controlled portions and alternate using usually 2 at a time

 

[WILDER]

Its the food. Mine goes cloudy at top and greasy sometimes but dosn't stay there long.
I have two filter running.

Is the film there all the time. Or does it go after a while.

 

[kittilove]

Its the food. Mine goes cloudy at top and greasy sometimes but dosn't stay there long.
I have two filter running.

Is the film there all the time. Or does it go after a while.

from what i can tell its there all the time

 

[WILDER]

It shouldn't be there all the time.
Not sure what it is then.

 

[degsod]

Do you use a yeast based CO2 system?