Fish Tank Oil Slick

[robert clements]

my mate has what look like a oil sick on top of his fish tank water . any one known what could be the problem please

 

[Akasha72]

any meds gone in lately? and when did he last do a water change?

 

[robert clements]

no meds and water change on thusrday

 

[Fishy friend2]

Usually it is from no circulation in the tank or from putting your hands in the tank and soap or oils are washing into the water

 

[robert clements]

he cleand the filter on thursday as well with tank water

 

[Akasha72]

what ever has caused it it doesn't sound healthy for the fish. If it was me I'd be trying to get rid of it with water changes. I don't know what else to suggest

 

[robert clements]

cool i tell he to do a water change then and clean the filter againg

 

[Fishy friend2]

That could as well and bathe problem, if he had washed his hands prior to doing that he must have gotten soap and oil in he tank.
You can remove it by placing a paper towel on he surface of the tank then lift it off and it shouldn't be there after

 

[SaTiVa1984]

You can get a oily looking surface from some foods as well.

Just make sure the water surface is agitated either by a filter outlet or an airstone and it will be fine.

 

[robert clements]

i mite around to him and give him a hand thank s all for your help and let you know how i get on

 

[Fishy friend2]

Hopefully it will go away soon!

 

[robert clements]

thanks i tell him turn the filter flow up as well

 

[zuulan]

I had the same problem after setting up a tank a few years back.

I'd recommend he skims the surface by dropping in a glass/cup straight in vertically so that only surface water drops into the glass. Will take awhile to do each water change but it will eventually get rid of the oil slick, which can't be doing the fish any good. Especially at feeding time if he's feeding them flake food.

 

[robert clements]

hi all got my mates fish tank done. got some kitchen roll skimed the water and done a water change as well all fine thanks all for your help

 

[jimmy_veal]

The oil could be caused by the flake food, or if he has put his arm/hand in the tank recently before washing it, may have had some chemical on his skin which has contaminated the water. I have had this problem before - i used some cotton wool, placed it in my net and let the flow of water pass through it. Some of the oily film was soaked up by the cotton wool, repeat as necessary. After a water change it then completely disappeared. Hope this helps.