film on top of the water

[packman9111]

I'm not sure what it is - not that noticable looking from the top down - but looking at the surface through the tank, you can tell that some micro bubbles are trapped under it. Did 5 gal wc yesterday and now I recall seeing a slight film on the new water I mixed. I'm using reef crystals and using an 18 gal rubbermaid roughneck to mix the water. I did leave some water in the container w/o circulation for a while and just dumped it out before mixing - any ideas?

Thanks - Rick

 

[Mik3]

Hi sounds like the same problem I have afew topics down.

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=53416

 

[packman9111]

Did you ever figure out the source??

 

[brandon4291]

I feel the surface scum you are observing are proteins and various organic compounds associated with basic systemic metabolism. These items can become accumulated if there is insufficient skimming or water changes, but I'd also like to say the film isn't particularly destructive as long as you have taken other measures to ensure decent oxygen permeation in your design. Most people advocate using powerhead disturbance to break up the surface tension and disseminate these proteins and compounds throughout the system which really doesn't remove them, it is just less unsightly for those concerned by the film collecting on the surface. I must deal with such a film on a regular basis in my pico reefs that are unskimmed, I've learned to live with it as it has caused me and my little friends no harm. If you are performing the basic tank maintenance and your stocking/feeding regimens are in line, Id say don't worry about it and keep up the good maintenance. I'd even venture to bet that an ideally-skimmed system would reveal the same surface proteins if one were to shut down the circulation for 5 minutes (showing these compounds are usually present to some degree in captive marine systems)

 

[brandon4291]

Misread your post. As far as a slight film in the container's water, barring any residue on the container I'd vote it is chemical residue from the new sw mixture. It will be interesting to see if it goes away in a few hours. Don't remember seeing any film in my new reefcrystals mixes, I'll be sure to watch for them tomorrow at wchange time.