"Weird" looking betta tank water... possibly urgent? Please help!

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emilyekk

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Apr 28, 2009
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Hi, I'm pretty new here but hopefully someone can help me!=)


I have a 5 gallon hex aquarium that only contains one betta.


I have an eclipse filter and biowheel (that came with it) in the tank.

Today I was looking at the tank and I noticed that at the top (top of the water) it almost looks like how an oil spill looks on the highway, kind of rainbow colored and greasy. I have no clue why. The "rainbow" look of it could be a reflection of the plants and the gravel, but I don't know why the water looks so stagnant and oily.... like, when I feed him a pellet, the pellet make a dent in the "greasiness" or when the betta come up to get a breathe of air it will make a pocket in the greasiness.


I am fairly sure the filter is working correctly, because the tank seems clean but the water definitely stays pretty still... all of my readings are normal... is this normal for the water to look this way? I have an eclipse filter with a bio-wheel, it did not come with the instructions, but I asked on here and was told that with that type of system the blue spongey part of the filter should be the part I see when I remove the hood and the plastic part should face the plastic bottom... I am fairly sure I have it set up right - but you never know I guess. I just hope its sucking the crud up.


Also, there are bubbles near the part where the biowheel is releasing the water back into the aquarium... did the betta build a bubble nest or is this from something else?
 

thebrandon

I like fish
Jan 29, 2009
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Tucson, AZ
I would do a water change

do you use any water additives or fertilizers for plants maybe?
 

emilyekk

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Apr 28, 2009
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I actually only have silk plants. :/

I'll do a mini water change and lower the water! Hopefully that will help!
It's reassuring to know most tanks get the oil slick look occasionally. My 10 gallon NEVER has so when the 5 gallon did - I panicked! =)
 

BettaFishMommy

finkids make me happy :-)
Mar 17, 2008
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Deadmonton, lol, Canada
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Sherry N.
these may sound like silly questions, but does the tank have a lid? do you spray air freshener in the room? what are you feeding, other than betta pellets? how often are you doing water changes?

if you could post a photo of the filter on the tank, running, i'm sure we could help you determine if its working correctly/set up properly. if the water is still, as you say, there is something wrong in the filtration department.
 

emilyekk

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Apr 28, 2009
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The tank DOES have a lid, I do spray air freshener - is this bad even if I do have a lid? The tank is in my bedroom and I'm a little OCD about things smelling good so I do have an auto airfreshener and a tendency to spray perfume, but I'm not near the tank when I do it. I do 20% H20 change once a week, usually on Thursday, this week I skipped because I wanted to see if the rainbow would clear up... but it hasn't... :/

I have been feeding about 4 hikari betta food pellets once a day, and I feed him bloodworms (like a pinch) once a week. Sometime I will give him a baby dried shrimp too but I've only done this once and he didn't really eat it so I don't know that I will continue to give him that.

Here are some pictures I took tonight that will hopefully help.

The first picture is of my tank, in case maybe the water is caused from a reflection? It's an older picture but the setup remains.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/IMG00228.jpg

This is the top of the tank so you can see how the hood looks (the filter cover is in the back and it separate from the lighting/main hood but it all clicks together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/bettatank3.jpg

This is my filter, and a close up of the filter with biowheel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/filter2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/filter1.jpg

And here are two shots of the "rainbow" water, I hope these come out okay, my fishy got in the pictures, lol.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/bettatank1.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/?action=view&current=bettatank2.jpg



I know this is alot to look at but I tried to be thorough. Thanks in advance for everyone's help!
 

7itanium

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Jan 31, 2009
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Spokane, WA
My 55g planted gets this same film and I have never been able to figure out why... but it doesnt seem to be harmfull
 

beblondie

grand high exhalted poobah
Mar 25, 2005
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The film is excess protiens and oils from the food you could simply drag a piece of paper towel across the waters surface this will also remove the film.Its not really harmful it looks ookie and can hamper the oxygen exchange at the surface-Anne
 

BettaFishMommy

finkids make me happy :-)
Mar 17, 2008
5,354
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62
Deadmonton, lol, Canada
Real Name
Sherry N.
The tank DOES have a lid, I do spray air freshener - is this bad even if I do have a lid?

yes, spraying air freshener in the same room as a fish tank can cause the chemicals from the air freshener to go into the tank water, as air currents in the room would cause the spray, perfume, or whatever, to float around and settle on the tank surface, even with a lid, which probably has spaces cut in the back of it for filtration, cords, etc. Even if your tank is an Eclipse style with everything built in (as per the photos) and covered, there is still air moving around the room that can get into the tank.

i am a 'good smell junkie' too, lol, and never spray in the same room as my tanks. this means that my kitchen, dining area, and living room never get sprayed as my place is open concept.

The tank is in my bedroom and I'm a little OCD about things smelling good so I do have an auto airfreshener and a tendency to spray perfume, but I'm not near the tank when I do it. I do 20% H20 change once a week, usually on Thursday, this week I skipped because I wanted to see if the rainbow would clear up... but it hasn't... :/

the film on your water will clear up with additional water changes, and i would personally do a larger volume change per week than 20%. go for 40% or so per week, that is better for your fish.

as for the film clearing up, it won't without additional surface agitation and a good water change schedule.

I have been feeding about 4 hikari betta food pellets once a day, and I feed him bloodworms (like a pinch) once a week. Sometime I will give him a baby dried shrimp too but I've only done this once and he didn't really eat it so I don't know that I will continue to give him that.

the bloodworms you feed are the dehydrated kind? those are ok for bettas, but not very nutritional, as the freeze drying process does take a lot of nutrients out. you could continue to feed dehydrated bloodworms, but i would not feed them often, more like a treat. once a week is fine for the dehydrated.

the pellets are a good staple food, i would feed about 4 per day, but alternate other foods, such as frozen bloodworms and frozen mysis, so that mr betta gets a varied diet. pellets 4 days out of the week and frozen food the other 3 days.

Here are some pictures I took tonight that will hopefully help.

The first picture is of my tank, in case maybe the water is caused from a reflection? It's an older picture but the setup remains.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/IMG00228.jpg

This is the top of the tank so you can see how the hood looks (the filter cover is in the back and it separate from the lighting/main hood but it all clicks together.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/bettatank3.jpg

This is my filter, and a close up of the filter with biowheel:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/filter2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/filter1.jpg

And here are two shots of the "rainbow" water, I hope these come out okay, my fishy got in the pictures, lol.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/bettatank1.jpg
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v643/emilyekk/?action=view&current=bettatank2.jpg

i can see the rainbow film and i believe it is from the air freshener you spray in the room, because of the rainbow-ness of it, it looks like the oils that are present in your air freshener are settling on the water.

the filter looks like it is running, as i can see the biowheel in motion, i think. it might just be one of those filters that has low flow. if you are not planning on changing the filter or finding someway to increase the flow on it, i would add a small airstone to the tank to help with surface agitation. or you could just not fill the tank up quite as full, which will allow for more splash and surface disturbance when the flow hits the water.

one way to increase the flow in the filter is to put less 'stuff' in it, like sponge/biomax/filter floss. the less stuff the water has to flow through, the less obstructed your flow. mind you, you do have to create a balance of flow and media, to allow enough space for the benifical bacteria to 'grow' on.
 

DrNo

Overworked Member...
Jul 9, 2008
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The film is excess protiens and oils from the food you could simply drag a piece of paper towel across the waters surface this will also remove the film.Its not really harmful it looks ookie and can hamper the oxygen exchange at the surface-Anne
Ookie.... :lol:

This film is indeed very common and usually poses no problem. A python water change can also suck up the slick if you position the intake tube correctly to allow the surface water to enter first. This is the same technique I use on my tanks each week.
 
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