Slime on top of water

[paulidee]

Hi, I have a 58 gallon reef tank. It is about two years old. My water parameters are fine ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates < 5. My PH is a little low and i have been having a hard time maintaining it, but I also have this slime/film on the top of the water in the display tank. I put a power head at the top of the water a few weeks ago and that got rid of it, but it is back again.
Any ideas?
Thanks!

 

[murph145]

just organic build up thats floating... usually with saltwater tanks people have overflow boxes for this reason it skims the top of the water getting rid of any protein slim build up at the surface...

 

[paulidee]

So it is ok then? I was hoping it was related to my PH problem. I can't seem to keep the PH up. I have to add buffer every week.

 

[groupergenius]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2755650
So it is ok then? I was hoping it was related to my PH problem. I can't seem to keep the PH up. I have to add buffer every week.
To a degree, the 2 may be related. Excess CO2 can build up in your house due to being closed up tightly. The CO2 in the tank doesn't bleed off via surface agitation as it should. The excess CO2 can and will cause a drop in Ph.
But there are many reasons why Ph could be low. Trick is finding the cause.

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2755627
Hi, I have a 58 gallon reef tank. It is about two years old. My water parameters are fine ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates < 5. My PH is a little low and i have been having a hard time maintaining it, but I also have this slime/film on the top of the water in the display tank. I put a power head at the top of the water a few weeks ago and that got rid of it, but it is back again.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
I have an Aqua Remora C skimmer with the pre-filter box. The pre-filter box skims the top of the water and gets rid of the slime. It's another option if you don't have an overflow box.

 

[basile]

How long since your water change,

 

[paulidee]

I did a 15 gallon change last week and a 10 gallon change the week before.
I have a Reef Ready tank that has a box in the back that feeds the water to the sump, is that considered an overflow box? I thought the slime would have drained through that box, but it is not.

 

[paulidee]

I do have a fairly new house which I have heard can cause this type of problem. What can I do about it?

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2756276
I have a Reef Ready tank that has a box in the back that feeds the water to the sump, is that considered an overflow box? I thought the slime would have drained through that box, but it is not.
That would be it. Not sure why you still have the oil slick.

 

[suv]

I had this asame problem about a year ago. I keept a realy close eye on my PH, buffing it every couple of days. I also directed a powerhead toward the surface to break-up the slime, so that my filters could pick it up.

 

[groupergenius]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2756276
I did a 15 gallon change last week and a 10 gallon change the week before.
I have a Reef Ready tank that has a box in the back that feeds the water to the sump, is that considered an overflow box? I thought the slime would have drained through that box, but it is not.
Try lowering the overflow itself in the box. Make the water spill into the chamber.

 

[paulidee]

Originally Posted by GrouperGenius
http:///forum/post/2755657
To a degree, the 2 may be related. Excess CO2 can build up in your house due to being closed up tightly. The CO2 in the tank doesn't bleed off via surface agitation as it should. The excess CO2 can and will cause a drop in Ph.
But there are many reasons why Ph could be low. Trick is finding the cause.
I think you hit the nail on the head with surface agitation and CO2 exchange. I have a glass top and a canopy that sits over the top of the tank, so the surface water has not contact with fresh air. Yesterday, i left the top open and I aimed one of the sump returns more toward the surface so i get more agitation and my PH went from 7.75 to 8.05! And it also got rid of the slime.
How do people with setups like mine get fresh air to the tank without keeping the cover open? I am thinking about keeping it open over night, but I think there must be a better way.

 

[groupergenius]

Most of us ditch the glass tops for just that reason. Plus they don't let heat out of the tank. If your dead set on keeping them though, you could try running an airstone in the sump and see if that gets the CO2 out.
Remember too that your Ph will naturally rise during the day as your lights are on. Mine goes from 7.78 in the morning to 8.17 just before lights out.

 

[paulidee]

No, my PH was at 7.75 at the height of the day for weeks and would never go up over 8 unless I put buffer in, but it would go back down by the next day.
The only problem is that I have my light sitting on top of the glass.

 

[bpro32]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2757319
No, my PH was at 7.75 at the height of the day for weeks and would never go up over 8 unless I put buffer in, but it would go back down by the next day.
The only problem is that I have my light sitting on top of the glass.
Could it just be a bad batch of salt?

 

[paulidee]

GrouperGenius,
I checked my overflow box last night and it looks like the water inside the box is coming right up to the height of the slots that let the water in. How do I lower the level of the water?
Thanks for all your help, you have been great!

 

[groupergenius]

Originally Posted by paulidee
http:///forum/post/2758322
GrouperGenius,
I checked my overflow box last night and it looks like the water inside the box is coming right up to the height of the slots that let the water in. How do I lower the level of the water?
Thanks for all your help, you have been great!
The overflow tube, the one that the water goes down to the sump in, should be telescopic. It should be able to move up and down. If so, just move it down a little bit at a time till the water is pouring in.
Some are not telescopic and have to be removed and cut shorter.

 

[paulidee]

Ok, thanks again!