Scummy water

[janice]

I am not doing anything different but lately there is a white filmy streaky scum on top of the water in my tank. I have the tank in front of the air conditioner and with two CPU fans on top (as I learned in this group). I have noticed that there is a water line (white) on the tank too so could it be coming from there and can that be cleaned safely?

I keep skimming off the scum but it does re-form. What's going on and what's the solution?

 

[danny]

Janice, the water line is probally just the left over mineral deposits from the water evaporating, I get the same thing with all of my tanks. The film on top of the water is probally just alot of household dust and other bits that are in the air. Do you have a filter system of some sorts to circulate the water? With a fan constantly blowing over the water in the tank, you will need to do frequent water changes since the water will be evaporating alot quicker than normal.

 

[jennifer]

It's basically just protein in the water. More water changes might help. If you use bloodworms, rinsing them first might help. But it's not really something to worry about. A solution would be to add an airstone to the tank to keep the surface agitated, but I don't know if it's worth the bother.

It isn't directly related to the water line on the glass, which is usually caused by hard water minerals. I use a fresh straight-edge razor blade to remove those lines on the glass.

 

[joan]

I'm betting because you have fans on top and in front of the air conditioner, it's dust settling ontop of the water. I get that same problem in the summer when I have the fans blowing. Just get an airstone to jostle the water at the surface, and you shouldn't see it any more.

 

[janice]

thanks. can someone explain the airstone to me? i do have a small water filter but i have it on a low setting since on high my taricha seemed to be bothered by the current.

 

[mark]

You need an air pump which plugs into the mains. Connected to the pump is an air tube which runs into the tank, on the end you place the air stone which is basically a diffuser for the air coming down the tube. You get lots of little bubbles which should solve your dust problem by moving the surface around. It's the same set-up as an under gravel filter, but without the filter bed and plastic tube etc. The pumps are fairly inexpensive, available from most pet shops and normally come complete with tube and airstone.

(Message edited by aartse_tuyn on June 24, 2005)