Help I Have An Oil Film In My Tank

[zuulan]

Hi

When I set up my tank a few months back, the water on the 2nd day of the water top-up (which was 60% of the tank water) was white in colour.

I thought this was just small fine air bubbles so I still put it in the tank. However after a couple of days the tank watre remained white. I therefore siphoned it all out and filled it up again with a hose and the water was then fine.

However since then I've always had a problem with a thin layer of oil appearing on the surface. I've been skimming the surface and manage to get most of it out but after a day or 2 it returns.

Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? It isn't effecting any of the fish but it's still a concern to me.

 

[mattbond]

have you got an airpump in there? like an airstone producing bubbles? i find that you get the film if there isnt enough surface agitation

 

[zuulan]

have you got an airpump in there? like an airstone producing bubbles? i find that you get the film if there isnt enough surface agitation

No, just a Fluval U3 internal filter. It's true that if I lower the water level down to the upper outlet to agitate the surface the film doesn't appear, but I'm sure the oil will still be in the water even if it's not being allowed to settle on the top.

Are you saying a little oil in the water isn't anything to worry about?

 

[mattbond]

a bit comes off the fishes mucus i think, its in minimal amounts anyway, i really would worry, just creae some surface agitation, i would recommend an airstone

 

[drobbyb]

The film is normal. As mentioned, you can add an airstone to disturb the surface so that you don't see it. You can also take a paper towel and lay it across the top of the water.

 

[Steve69]

BTW, not really a good idea to refill with a hose

 

[zuulan]

BTW, not really a good idea to refill with a hose

I know, but as this was the second time I had to fill a same 200ltr tank in 3 days I did it for speed and due to laziness. LOL.

I did it before I had to leave for work and didn't want to lose another day in cycling the tank. I know, Bad Man!


Thanks for the replies. I'm surprised it's normal but I can sleep easier now.

 

[Geoff1991]

Filling with a hose is fine as long as it was bought new and only use for your tanks.

Also, the film also could be from freeze dried/frozen food or it could be off your hands.

 

[minxfishy]

BTW, not really a good idea to refill with a hose

Can I ask why you think that? I and a lot of others here use a hose/python system to re-fill our tanks, no harm in it, you add dechlor either before, during or after filling.

 

[Steve69]

BTW, not really a good idea to refill with a hose

Can I ask why you think that? I and a lot of others here use a hose/python system to re-fill our tanks, no harm in it, you add dechlor either before, during or after filling.

Wouldn`t the change in temperature cause problems (i.e. adding cold water to a tropical tank)?

Unless you`re on about using an indoor hose direct off the kitchen tap. I was assuming the use of an outside hose!!!

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

BTW, not really a good idea to refill with a hose

Can I ask why you think that? I and a lot of others here use a hose/python system to re-fill our tanks, no harm in it, you add dechlor either before, during or after filling.

Wouldn`t the change in temperature cause problems (i.e. adding cold water to a tropical tank)?

Unless you`re on about using an indoor hose direct off the kitchen tap. I was assuming the use of an outside hose!!!

People set electronic thermometers when they fill so they can keep temperature correct. I, on the other hand, just use a hose to fill a holding tank with a heater and monitor the water from there. I am never off more then a degree or two anyways, and that is with gauging temperature with my hand only, no fancy thermometer

 

[Geoff1991]

Temperature changes in the wild when it rains... Most fish like cold changes.

 

[zuulan]

Wouldn`t the change in temperature cause problems (i.e. adding cold water to a tropical tank)?

Unless you`re on about using an indoor hose direct off the kitchen tap. I was assuming the use of an outside hose!!!

It was an empty tank I was filling. It only became a tropical one once I switched on the heater which I did a couple of days after filling it

 

[drobbyb]

I refill my tank with a hose and have had no problems. I've been doing it this way for several years with no incidents. I'm sure that if a problem were to exist, I would have encountered it by now.

 

[Steve69]

TBH, I used this method for many years until I was `shouted at` in a local shop for doing so. The guy who worked there told me I shouldn`t be filling directly from a hose for various reasons. I might start doing it again now after reading this thread