Film in water on top of tank

[AVenom]

So it almost looks like how oil looks in water, but less colorful....any clues?

It's not very think, and it's not over the whole tank.

I tried to search the site, but it seems the search feature isn't working.

 

[AVenom]

Ok I tried again to search, and got some answers...

But, I have a few more questions.
So if this is a protien film, is it bad? And will the cichlids eat it?
I also read that it can be caused by blood worms, but we only feed them flake, and brine shrimp(shrimp only once or twice a week)

We only have one filter(well just bought a second) in the 55 gal tank...it's a fluval 4, and I bought another one to put on the other side of the tank.
The one filter really only moves the water on one half, so I put a bubble wall in the middle, and the 2nd filter will go on the other side to help the flow.

 

[FroggyFox]

yeah...the search is a little finicky...but it works if you know the super secret way to use it haha If you have to put more than one word in try putting the + sign between them.

At any rate, nothing to worry about. A lot of foods leave that film on the top of your water, its actually protein.

Usually if you get some more surface agitation it will go away...or it'll go away during water changes. Your fish wont eat it.

 

[hyunelan2]

It is a problem if you let it build up too much, and don't have anything agitating the surface, as a protein film can act as a barrier, preventing oxygen from dissolving into the surface of the water.

 

[Orion]

Right, just get a little surface agitation and it will go away. I used to run a very small HOB rated for a 10 gallon tank on my 45 with no media just for this use.

 

[seastaar88]

you can make a diy surface skimmer by taking a small plastic pail (like a margarine container) and cut a 1-2" square notch at the top. then push it into your tank so that the surface water JUST cascades over it. that can help to remove the protein of the surface. a quick fix until you can add more surface agitation

 

[sutty30]

ye i had same problem but didnt realise i had inadvertantly solved it untill I read the other postes you have because i did a water change and had a little play at the time i had zebra danios so I put a sray bar on my fluval 4 to give them a bit of fast moving water to give them that fast flowing stream feel , i thought the water change solved it but obviousely not it must have been the water agatation . oh god i waffal . hope this helps anyhow .

 

[Lotus]

Any protein-rich food can cause the film, so yes, the brine shrimp might be doing it. As others said, increasing surface agitation will break up the film.