Oily slick

[Bc chick]

I've been doing a lot of research on pH levels cuz I thought the pH level in my tank was too high but I'm realizing that a lot of people have the same levels as I am my original problem that led me to looking into this is I have an oil slick on the top of my water in I can take it out with paper towel but after a couple of days it slowly builds up again. The only research I can find on this was related to high pH levels but others seem to have the same levels as I and don't seem to have this problem with oil slick. Is anybody come across this before do you know what this is. Levels are fine with pH 7.8 ammonia at zero nitrate at zero and nitrates at 50. Since this problem I've been doing water changes every other day. But if left unchanged for 2 or 3 days I can slowly see the build-up.

[brewmaster15]

What are you feeding your discus?

al

[Bc chick]

Sorry. Should have mentioned. Im starting up a new sep quarantine tank first its cycling right now. So im just starting into discus but want to solve this first on my current com tank. Third new tank for discus under construction.
Community tank:
65g
1 angle
1 vampire pleco
1 reg pleco
1 pictus cat
3 barbs
3 neons
2 tetras
Food aqueon colir enhancing trop flakes
Pleco pwafers

[brewmaster15]

Your tank doesn't sound overstocked and your pH is not a problem in of itself.

Oils maybe coming from the foods. If it was me I would try new foods first...Thats the easiest step to take to rule one possible source.

hth,
al

[Bc chick]

Thanks. Picking up new plants today so will grab something. Any suggestions on what to look for. Also loved the presentation. I was saying it sould be a requirement to watch as registration lol. I wanted to know what kind of plant you were referring to that looks good with roots draping into tank?

[brewmaster15]

I'm not a huge user of flakes you may find at LFS, but Ocean Nutrition flakes were always a decent choice. Cobalt are good too..


Glad you like the Presentation! Thanks!


The plants I was referring to are terrestrial plants, Pothos and Philodendrons...
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?60484-Brews-quot-Planted-quot-tanks&highlight=pothos+plants+brewmaster15

[Bc chick]

Hmmm neither of those....wut about bug bites. Thats what they are suggesting

[Skip]

Where are you getting your water source.. ?? well.. city tap>???

my tap water was 8.2. to 8.4.. no problems.. consistent water parameters will do your fish wonders..

[Bc chick]

Tap water. My levels are consistant. Reg w/c. What are you getting at? Are you saying the slick is because of ph levels?

[DJW]

I get a film sometimes on the surface that comes and goes in tanks that get less frequent water changes. Adding an airstone will usually get rid of it.

You should test your tap water for nitrate.

[Bc chick]

Right from tap?

[Second Hand Pat]

Right from tap?

Yes, right from the tap.
Pat

[Bc chick]

Im sorry i realized that was typo. Nitrates 5.0 is that why you said to test it straight from tap?

[Bc chick]

I get a film sometimes on the surface that comes and goes in tanks that get less frequent water changes. Adding an airstone will usually get rid of it.

You should test your tap water for nitrate.

When i touch it, it backs away from my finger like dish soap does to grease

[Bc chick]

Oh n my fingers are clean. I washed after dinner lol

[DJW]

Im sorry i realized that was typo. Nitrates 5.0 is that why you said to test it straight from tap?

We will blame the decimal point. 50 is bloodcurdling, 5 is music to your ears.

[Willie]

I had an oil slick at the top of my altum angel tank because they love frozen mysis, which is kinda greasy. The 110 gal tank has some corys, some rummynose, and 5 altums, so overstocking is not a problem. I also make daily 50% water changes, so it's not the water. I added one of those wavemakers and the slick went away. It only reappears if I forget to turn on the wavermaker.

Willie

[Bc chick]

I had an oil slick at the top of my altum angel tank because they love frozen mysis, which is kinda greasy. The 110 gal tank has some corys, some rummynose, and 5 altums, so overstocking is not a problem. I also make daily 50% water changes, so it's not the water. I added one of those wavemakers and the slick went away. It only reappears if I forget to turn on the wavermaker.

Willie

Well i let the LFS talk me into bug bites. Tried them last night. Those little suckers are so small. So what did i do?? Overfed. Poor little guys had suck bloated tummies. Wavemake? So am i needing more flo? I dont have filter at max. Also should i just lower out put a bit. Or does the wavemaker do something better?

[bluelagoon]

You need a bit of surface movement to filter that out.The oils are more than likely amino and fatty acids/proteins,that have been passed through the fish.

[DJW]

I had an oil slick at the top of my altum angel tank because they love frozen mysis, which is kinda greasy. The 110 gal tank has some corys, some rummynose, and 5 altums, so overstocking is not a problem. I also make daily 50% water changes, so it's not the water. I added one of those wavemakers and the slick went away. It only reappears if I forget to turn on the wavermaker.

Come to think of it, I have seen a thin sheen if the light was just right in a tank that got big daily water changes. There was no change in food. I figured it was a protein bloom of some sort. I skimmed it off with a cup and a day or two later it was gone.

[Bc chick]

Yes exactly. OK ight has to be perfect agle to see. I can soak it up with paper towel but after a couple days it appears again

[Bc chick]

Well i let the LFS talk me into bug bites. Tried them last night. Those little suckers are so small. So what did i do?? Overfed. Poor little guys had suck bloated tummies. Wavemake? So am i needing more flo? I dont have filter at max. Also should i just lower out put a bit. Or does the wavemaker do something better?

Ok now im wondering if its overfeeding can my angel still be bloated from yesterday or could it be something else.

[Bc chick]

Sry still learning the pic posting thing

[Bc chick]

Anyone?

[Skip]

Tap water. My levels are consistant. Reg w/c. What are you getting at? Are you saying the slick is because of ph levels?

NOPE!!! not at all..

TRYING to say.. .you pH levels are not high.. don't mess with pH.. or chase pH.. jus use the water you have... you will fish will happy for it.

[Bc chick]

Any suggestions on the angel?

[gators111]

You could try Epsom salt. As far as the oil slick goes, I used a skimmer attachment on the intake of my canister on my old tank. Worked like a charm and was cheap, 15 bucks.