Brown sludge on water??

[Lucas Kane]

Hi my tank is geting a brown sludge on the suface of the water. it has happend b4 but the lfs just told me to get a 2nd power head and aim it at the surface. that worked for awhile but its back and i have not changed anything so i dont know what to do. i have been scooping it out with a net best i can every day or so but its not going away. Please Help

 

[Crown Royal]

Do you have a skimmer? That sludge is the dissolved organic compounds that a skimmer is supposed to deal with.

 

[Lucas Kane]

yes they told me i did at the fish store its a backpack unit. would u recomend i buy a better one?

 

[Crown Royal]

The CPR Bakpak is an acceptable skimmer, but how often are you finding the need to empty the skimmer cup and what colour is the crud you get out of it? Further, what kind of pump are you using with the skimmer and where is the pump placed?