skum on the water????

[k salt]

was wondering if any one else has this problem i dont have a drilled tank with overflows. but every once in a while i see scum on the surface anyone know how to cure this or remove it is the lr/ls the reason

 

[car guy]

does the skum look like a cloudyness on top of the water, if it is it is dust sitting on top of the water

 

[k salt]

it looks like oil its not a contamination its like a white skum

 

[beecher]

Do you have CC?.....I get that after I vacumm my substrate. I have a power head pointed up and it usually takes care of it after a few days. I have also taken a paper towel and "dragged" it across the surface of the water. That gets quite a bit of it also.

 

[k salt]

thanks beecher i dont have cc i have lr ive heard paper towel with printing on it can cause problems is that true.

 

[nm reef]

I've found that some agatation of the water surface(a ph that is directed towards the surface) will prevent this stuff from building up....

 

[mr . salty]

Do you have a skimmer??? This surface skum is most likly excess protiens,and other dissalved waste in the water.A good skimmer will remove Both of these.Also,The powerhead will keep it mixed in the water so your skimmer/filters can pick it up..

 

[car guy]

it's probably dust, try this get a papertowl and set on the surface for a split second and then pull it off, if the cloudiness goes away it was dust, but you have to do it really fast or it doesn't work

 

[beth]

It is dead organics has Salty said. Some protein skimmer have an attachment to it now that is supposed to take care of this, however I have not seen these or know how effective it works. The paper towel method can work too. Please, when using a paper towel don't use any that have aloe or fragence added! LOL
Near surface powerheads will agitate the water sufficiently to keep this from being an unsightly "oil slick" on the surface of the tank. Additionally a spray bar at top will do the same. Both ideas having a good secondary advantage---good gas exchange at water surface.