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My standard 4 foot tank has a strange film on top of it and i'm not sure what it is. There are particles in it and when I take water from the tank this sticks on the glass. It looks oily, but it is starting to get some light green splotches in it.

Inhabitants are:
2 JD's (trying to breed them)
2 Algae eaters.

Tank Parameters:
Amonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10

The tanks does recieve a lot of sunlight. What could this stuff be and how can I get rid of it?

Hi,
The film is completely normal in some aquariums and is not
a form of algae. It is the result of the fish food that
you are using and the oils in the food as well as the
organics within the tank. The oils form a scum, and that
in turn traps the dust and dirt that is flying through
every home. If you fry foods, or broil them, the smoke
and oil particles will also settle on the water's surface.

You can remove it by laying paper towels on the surface
and then removing them taking some of the film with the
towel. Another way is to use airstones and, or, direct
the filter return(s) to agitate the surface. If you do
the latter, then the particles condense and settle to
the bottom as more detritus (excess fish food, fish poop,
and any dead/dying plant material) and must be regularly
vacuumed up during weekly water changes.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

If it's not a planted tank I suggest just increasing the surface agitation a bit, it doesn't really take much. Like Frank said it shows up when theres less surface movement, I'd only see it normally on betta tanks that werent filtered starting a few days before weekly water change time.
I do see it on occasion in my planted tank due to the minimal surface agitation on that tank (to preven CO2 loss). Personally I just generally ignore it .

^_^


[hr width='40%']"I'm alright, I'm alright
It only hurts when I breathe"

Thanks very much. I appreciate it.