Stuff on-top of water

[aquatica-tech]

well I look at the top of the tank and there are micro bubbles just sitting in one spot not moving at all it reminded me of a swamp of some sort when it has algae and the algae dosent move. Anyways, I looked from the bottom of my tank up I see that the surface is kind of white like if some of the light cant get through. I try disturbing it and it breaks off a bit then it comes back together. So im wondering how can I get rid of this? And what is this stuff?

 

[lexluethar]

Protein skimmer, sounds like you have protien buildup on the surface of the water. When the lights are on and you look from the bottom up to the surface of the water does it look oily?
Protein skimmer will probably fix this.

 

[aquatica-tech]

If your wondering I have a 55 gallon long with one Koralia #2 powerhead and and a sump pump thats a little less than 500 gph. I have 25#s of live rock and 40 pounds of live sand. Its going to be a FOWLR oh and it has really poor lighting.

 

[aquatica-tech]

It dosent look oily but white

 

[stdreb27]

Protein skimmer won't do to much, you need to agitate the surface of your water, what is basically happening is that crap and what not is floating to the top of your water and collecting. If you filter off the top of your water to point a power head or two that direction and agitate the top of the water it will aleviate this problem.

 

[aquatica-tech]

Well I used to have a Penguin 440 on the top but it seemed it wasnt doing much to the tank but creating to many micro bubbles inside the tank and it annoyed me so I took it out. So should I put it back in like near the middle so it can agitate most of the tank?

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
If your wondering I have a 55 gallon long with one Koralia #2 powerhead and and a sump pump thats a little less than 500 gph. I have 25#s of live rock and 40 pounds of live sand. Its going to be a FOWLR oh and it has really poor lighting.
Do you have a sump/ refugium. Or do you have a sump pump in the DT.
If you have a sump/refugium & a overflow. Cut the pump off in the sump. The overflow will remove the white film from the top of water & send it into the refugium. Where it can be removed from the water by a skimmer if you have one.

 

[itom37]

Yeah, it sounds like you don't have an overflow, which should eliminate this problem.

 

[aquatica-tech]

Yes I do have an overflow, no I dont have a skimmer YET but hopefully soon. But the same is in the sump, theres stuff floating on top of the water in the sump.

 

[sepulatian]

A skimmer will remove the buildup of organics on the top. The water is more dense than the organics which causes them to float to the top. The skimmer will remove the "pond scum".

 

[aquatica-tech]

Awsome then thats my next item I need to get, well my tank is a month and a week old so is there anything I should be expecting?

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
Awsome then thats my next item I need to get, well my tank is a month and a week old so is there anything I should be expecting?
If your tank has finished its cycle, you should be expected to enjoy the tank & proceed slowly..

Welcome to the fun part...

 

[aquatica-tech]

Well the tank stay at .25 all the time but then again I never had done a water change so I think its time for one (my bad)

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
Well the tank stay at .25 all the time but then again I never had done a water change so I think its time for one (my bad)
What is reading .25?

 

[aquatica-tech]

Oh sorry Ammonia is, if you guys like I can give you parameters in a little bit and you can tell me if the reading are ok and just need a water change?

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
Well the tank stay at .25 all the time but then again I never had done a water change so I think its time for one (my bad)

There you go...

"water change" why didn't we think of that.
See you didn't need our help...

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
Oh sorry Ammonia is, if you guys like I can give you parameters in a little bit and you can tell me if the reading are ok and just need a water change?
Sure, go ahead and post them. Has your water always tested .25 for ammonia? Sometimes tests can give a false possitive. Test some of your water mix (new water about to be added in) when you are ready to do a change. If that reads .25 then double check your tank water with another kit or have your LFS do it for you.

 

[tarball]

Originally Posted by Aquatica-Tech
Oh sorry Ammonia is, if you guys like I can give you parameters in a little bit and you can tell me if the reading are ok and just need a water change?

"Oh boy", new important info. Kick us some readings.

 

[aquatica-tech]

Well im going to post my parameters in a little bit so if you guys can tell me if there ok or not and if I need a water change or not

 

[aquatica-tech]

Ok here we go the tank is going to be a FOWLR and I havent done a water change and its a month and 1 week old.
Ammonia .25
Nitrite .1
Nitrate 2.5
Ph 8.2
Alk 2.8
In one point all of these parameters were sky high so it has reached its spike already