What's this gray filmy layer?

[aqua rookie]

I accidentally posted this in the wrong section, so here it goes again:

Hi there. New at the whole tank deal. I have a betta and a baby albino channel cat. (No, they're not staying together; this is just a start-up learning process thing.) The tank has been running for a month and a half. A week ago, the tank went white and cloudy. The ammonia levels were almost fatal. I took the two fish out, rinsed everything in the tank, and started over. Before the white cloud problem happened last time, the top of the tank had a grayish film on it that could be skimmed off. This went on for a few days prior to the tank clouding up, the film resurfacing every morning. I now have nice clear water in the tank except for the gray film that is back. I asked the woman at the pet store, and she sounded more like she was pretending to know than she sounded like she actually did know what I was talking about. She said, "Just let it cycle through." I've read and been told by many "fish friends" that new tanks will typically get cloudy through the whole nitrogen cycle, but the gray film seems to stump them. Is this normal? What should I do? I was thinking a better filter to blast the water through instead of gently spewing out a little every day (Wal-mart Whisper 5-15 for a ten gallon tank), but as I said, I don't know much. Any help anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Holly9937]

Is this a 10g tank you are talking about? I'm not sure about the film, but if you get high amonia/nitrite levels you need to lower them with water changes. If you empty out the tank and clean everything you are starting the cycle all over again, and putting yourself back at day one. What is your amonia and nitrite now? I really wouldn't worry about the film until you are sure the tank is cycled. If it is not gone a few weeks after than, then something might be going on. Also is this a new tank or used?

 

[norm3000]

Is it any oily film on the surface? That's pretty typical for tanks with little surface agitation but a HOB filter, like the Whisper, usually cycles the surface water enough to take care of that. A better filter could help here if you don't think the Whisper is performing very well. I use a Whisper 30 on my 10 gal quarentine and a Whisper 60 on my 40 gal rainbow tank What are you feeding the fish and how often? I think high protein/fat foods contribute to a film on top of the water, I suspect over feeding would as well.

Definately take Holly's advice and do some water changes. Every other day if you're cycling the tank. Measure Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates at least twice a week to make sure the levels aren't getting too high. I've never had the water get cloudy while cycling a tank so I don't think that's typical. Maybe someone else could chime in if they know otherwise.

 

[zazz]

I emphatically agree with what both Holly and Norm have said.
I would only add that breaking it all down is Rarely a good idea. and that
The only time I had a Bad type of grey film on my tank was when there was actually smoke in the air in my house. If you have any reason to believe that there maybe soot of any sort settling on your water check the filter floss for Black stains.
Other than that I wouldn't worry about it, it is most likely as Norm said, and concern yourself more with controling the ammonia levels throughout the cycle.