Water Film?

[LIB]

As some of you know, I am in the process of setting up another tank. Right now, I don't have a cover but that's in the works. I installed a 2217 and that's been running now for about 2 weeks. Yesterday I came home from work and discovered the top of the water has a light, whiteish film on it. If I take my finger and run it around the tank, it disappears....tomorrow it will be back if I leave the water alone.

Can anyone tell me what's going on?

LIB

[sunkenmetal]

What does it taste like?

[mnemenoi]

My guess would be that it is biological in nature and indicative of the cycling in a new tank. Water changes should remedy it in an established tank, but unless the tank has inhabitants I would simply allow the tank to fully cycle before performing any water changes as it will only delay a full cycling. Is this a fresh water or Salt water tank? Live Rock/Live sand in SW tanks have die offs during cycling and this could likely be the cause. In a fresh water tank it is usually due to overfeeding or possibly extreme plant die offs. Some HOB filters have optional skimmers accessories that can draw surface film in and in SW tanks overflows and water skimmers can remedy your extra organics that are in your water. Surface agitation can also help the situation via powerheads, ect. Good Luck with it, I'm certain it will remedy itself in a few weeks

[LIB]

There's nothing in the tank but a few rocks and some plastic plants, as well as gravel; no fish yet. I did a full water change two days ago and just checked it this minute....no film. Maybe whatever it was is gone now. Thanks for all the info and input. This site is great for dummies like me.

LIB

[mnemenoi]

Anytime at all, I have looked into a bit more in depth and it appears to be caused by some protein or lipid concentration to possibly bacterial. Every source suggests surface agitation and reducing feeding, though in your tank I'd surmise it was dead bacteria and organics from restarting the aquarium. If you have a hang on back filter you could use it to expedite the process and clean it up or adding a temporary powerhead and placing it near the surface to agitate and disturb it back into the water column wherein it should be eaten/consumed by your biological processes. I have seen someone suggest a UV filter, but those are quite a bit more costly and I truly believe this should remedy itself in short order and hopefully never return. Glad to help anytime, occasionally I even know what I'm talking about, haha.

[jhenry]

If you have the spray bar from you Eheim directed at the surface of the water you would not get a film on the water. If you haven't already done so direct the spray bar upward to dusting the surface and that will take care of your problem and also break the osmotic pressure,also allowing the water to be oxygenated. so you fish can breath when you ad them

[jarrodaden]

In my experience anything you do to agitate the surface will help. Bubbler, spray bar, powerhead, etc.

This is one reason to consider a wet/dry which takes the water off the top of the aquarium.