what the heck?

[mykaylis]

i have an old 10 gallon that wasn't cleaned properly after it was emptied, so there was algae residue everywhere. i've filled it repeatedly, trying to clean it all out. when i thought i finally had it all clean, i moved. i filled the tank (had no plans to add fish just yet) and let it sit dormant for a week, just to dissolve any remaining residue.

there appeared to be a film on the top of the water. i got curious and left it another week, and there is a DEFINITE film all over the surface! it breaks up when i'm siphoning but i can't figure out what it's from. i siphoned all the water out again, refilling it and turning on the (aquaclear) filter with a sponge insert to collect the bits of film.

does anyone have any idea what this film is from? it's not brown or green.. almost colourless, a little milky but that's not even it.. it's barely visible unless you touch it with the siphon or something and it breaks down into smaller pieces.

i'd like to determine what it's from and, more importanly, whether or not it's harmful before i think about putting any fish in! would the dechlorinating liquids do this? i have ammo-lock2 and another one, as well as "cycle". i had added some to the water as directed on the bottle. i think in this case i used ammo-lock and cycle.

 

[Cackett]

i would say you should empty the tank again and try bleaching it! for a a bit then. make sure you scrup the side (but don't scratch the glass)
then refill for a bit and leave

 

[wayne]

If in some light conditions it has a 'rainbow effect' I'd gues it was some kind of residual oily film, but it could also be a thin layer of bacteria. See if it disappears when your cycle completes

 

[-Joe-]

where did you store it while it was not in use?

 

[mykaylis]

it's definitely not oily. i'm hesitant to use bleach - won't that kill the fish by leaving a residue?! i stored it in a bedroom when not in use. the door to the bedroom was closed most of the time.