oil on water

acocacolagirl

acocacolagirl

AC Members
Dec 2, 2004
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So I did some research in the archives because my 5 gal qt tank appeared to have oil floating on the water..like a rainbow on the surface. It seems this may happen due to low water circulation or excess food. I believe I first noticed it when there were no fish in the tank and I was just keeping it ready for when I wanted to get new fish or incase someone got sick. So I don't think it was excess food. But the circulation is very low in that tank (working on that). Since I didn't know what it was and I was afraid maybe I had used hand cream and stuck my hand in the water when it wasnt fully absorbed into my skin I did the best I could to clean it. I painstakingly skimmed the surface then removed the water down to what ever tiny amount was left around the gravel. I wiped all flat surfaces with a clean cloth, and changed the filter substance. Then added clean water. Within 24 hours, I had a rainbow again...now if this is from low circulation, fine, I'll find a way to deal with it, but what worries me is if it is something that could harm the fish then if I increase the circulation, it will just be everywhere in the water still harming the fish even if I don't see it. Any input would be appriciated.

Thanks.
 
Can I just add some activated carbon to the filter?
 
bk828 said:
use a tissue to remove that layer of "oil"
Also what foods do you feed the fish?
Is there condensation in the tank? Did you wash the hood with any non aquarium safe liquids??
Click to expand...

I feed different foods- flakes, pellets, freeze dry, frozen- depending on what I have in the tank at the time. Right now it is empty. I only wipe down the hood with a dry cloth or a cloth damp with water that has been treated for the tank.
 
Dont know.. try the carbon as Lupin suggested. And if you dont have a small powerhead you can either turn on an airpump and create some water movement that way or lower your water level by an inch or 2 so the overflow creates a nice splash..
Also this might be pointless but check your filter media, maybe you have some food that got sucked in there.
 
I have a similar problem in one of my tanks... I've had it off and on for a while. I have tried the papertowel method of removal, using powerheads and airstones to churn the water, UV filters, frequent water changes. I haven't really been able to get it to go away. The fish have not been affected by it in several months. it seems to be denser when I over feed, but will be present even after a waterchange + 5 days of no feeding... I've read that it could be a film of surface algae, and think it is the most likely thing, since I don't use hand cremes at all, and rarely overfeed.

the paper towel method helps, but it's impossible to remove it all this way... not only does it come back within a day, but then I also have paper towel fibers floating on the surface.

the UV filter didn't do much for it.

frequent water changes help, but don't help with the plants.

an air stone seemed to do the best job of keeping the film from forming... but in my planted tank, I do not want to run one...

sooo, I live with it. good circulation keeps the film from slowing down the water... the film seems to thicken without adequate circulation. like I said before, the fish really don't seem to mind.

the only think I haven't tried, and i think it may be the answer, is a protein skimmer.
 
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