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I had been reading up on many things as i'm getting ready to set up my new 55g tanks (yes tanks). Well they are cycleing now (doing a fishless cycle)

but my question for the masses is about the little film on the top of the tank that i had been reading about. many people have said using protein skimmers for this. but i havent yet seen one on a fresh water tank, mostly salt. will these work on fresh water?

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

Hi
Protein skimmers won't work on a freshwater tank.
The film that you are reporting is a result of the oils
in the fish foods, and dust/dirt that settles on the water
surface from just routine living. Add to that anything
that is cooked in the kitchen (fried foods, broiled foods,
etc.) And lastly, and cigarette or pipe smoke.

You can do two things to remove it. One, take the lid off
the tank and, with any airstones turned off, the
filter turned off, and gently lay a paper towel on
the surface.
When the towel is dampened, lift it from the surface and
immediately place something under it to keep the water run
off from falling back into the tank. Do this across the
surface area of the tank and make it a part of your regular
tank maintenance.

Two, agitate the surface vigorously with airstones and/or
the filter spray return. This will cause the film to clump
(form small particles) and stay in suspension within the
tank. Most of that will be picked up with the filter intakes
and be removed, the rest will eventually come to rest on the
bottom, and be vacuumed off during tank maintenance.

You can remove the external causes by having a tightly
fitting lid on the tank. You can remove the internal
causes buy purchasing fish foods that have little or
no oils in them.

Frank


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

cool thanks alot for that info. helps alot.

Fish tanks are an expensive addiction

I'm interested in learning more about protein skimmers. Why don't they work for freshwater tanks?

Thanks,
Paulette

well with some filters like aquaclear you can buy what they call surface skimers, which basicaly have an inlet at the waters surface.

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water skimmers dont work in freshwater tanks primarily because of the surface tension of water in the freshwater tank really spoils the way skimmers work. if you are getting a surface film on the surface of your freshwater tropical aquarium it is usually a result of pollution or overfeeding, water changes can solve this, and nothing could be easier than removing the surface water with a cup.
why spend money?

If you have a spray bar from your filter you could align it to disturb the water at the surface as much as possible.,thus creating microbubbles at the surface, this can help proteins at the water surface to dissipate back into solute where the filter will pick it up. also the gaseous exchange helps a little. sometimes shortening a spray bar will increase the pressure of the flow , thus creating more disturbance, but make sure your filter can handle this kind of treatment before attempting it. Personally ive found a lot of larger external eheim filters can take the loss of a hole or two in the spray bar without trouble, but try it only at your own risk. Some bubble curtains also help to disturb the surface more than a lot of airstones do, ive no scientific basis for this the assumption that it may help bacteria process proteins at the water surface but it does help break up surface film over a wider area and prevent large slicks from forming , and if nothing else your fish will appreciate the oxygenation.