Layer of Gunk?

[Geoff_7]

Hey Everyone!
I havent been on for awhile... I've been busy with school :banhim:

Theres a thin layer of "gunk" that looks like tiny particles of food or dust, but it covers the entire top layer of water, I tried using a syringe and Algae scrapper to pull it off, and it works a little bit, but it seems to stain or stick onto things, theres all kinds of tiny brown bubbles on the top. Anywheres here's some pics of it...:help:

Does anyone have an idea of what it could be? I've been using Marine Slow sinking Pellets, and a bit of brine shrimp flake food, so I dont think it could be dust from food, although it does look like that. Im gonna try to do a water change, although I dont have any RO water, so I may wait a bit.

EDIT: the pics dont seem to be posting, Ill try to uploading them somewhere else

 

[Ace25]

Sounds like DOCs (disolved organic compounds) sitting at the surface. One of the things "surface skimming" helps remove.

 

[Geoff_7]

Ace: I did a quick check on the DOC's off wet Web Media, it souds like that might be it, is there any other way to remove them without a skimmer?

I got the photos uploaded to photobucket, here they are:

Algae pad with the "dust" on it

Water Skimmed from the top using the syringe

"gunk" staining syringe

 

[Grins]

I agree, DOCs. If you don't have a skimmer some use a clean sponge and skim the surface with that.

 

[Geoff_7]

ok!, thanks Ill try that, it should work decently, I was using my algae scrapper and that pulled some out, but takes awhile..

Are there any Skimmers for 10gallon tanks? I have never really looked into one? If Im going to be upgrading to a 25-30 gallon soon should I buy one for that?

I also have a spare 10gallon tank lying around, should I make a Fuge/sump? would that help any, I haven't done too much research on those either... but if it would help I could look into it?

 

[Ace25]

Ya, they make nano skimmers. A skimmer would be cheaper and easier than going the sump route. AquaC makes a Remora Nano now as well, and has a surface skimmer attachment just to get rid of that "gunk".

 

[wataugachicken]

maybe put a clean (duh) coffee filter into a fish net and use that to slowly skim the surface.

 

[Ace25]

maybe put a clean (duh) coffee filter into a fish net and use that to slowly skim the surface.

Sounds like a excellent and cheap idea. :clap:

 

[Geoff_7]

maybe put a clean (duh) coffee filter into a fish net and use that to slowly skim the surface.

Thanks, that worked perfectly and pulled alot of the DOC's off and made the top much clearer and noticably better.

I'll have to take a look at the skimmers, are DOC's harmful? or do they just block light from entering the tank?

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Both. They are harmful and block light.