microflora? fauna?

"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
|| I have an established 55-gallon freshwater tank stocked with about
|| 30 Lemon Tetras, Blackskirts and Zebra Danios. A Magnum 350 and dual
|| pad filter take care of the filtration.
||
|| Recently, a rainbow-hued 'essence' has appeared on the water top. The
|| bubbles keep it pushed away, but otherwise it covers the water.
||
|| The fish aren't stressed and continue to breed, the filters are
|| cleaned, 10% water change weekly, 25% monthly.
||
|| What could this multi-hued entity be?

I think it's the protein layer??? It is part of waste produces by food,
slime coats, poop, etc... that doesn't get pulled up or out by the
filters... not harmful, although, it's said to create a barrier between
oxygen and your water, which is not a good thing... I usually try and aim
a
filter outlet in some way to break up the top of the water for better gas
exchange....

Gouramis like the protein layer.. they actually eat it...

I have had something similiar in one of my tanks. I removed it by gently
putting one page of newspaper on the surface of the water, then removing it
after it 2-3 seconds. Removed the layer on the water suface just fine - IF
that's what you want to do I didn't know what it was so I removed it..

"McEve" wrote in message
...

"RedForeman ©®" wrote in message
...
|| I have an established 55-gallon freshwater tank stocked with about
|| 30 Lemon Tetras, Blackskirts and Zebra Danios. A Magnum 350 and dual
|| pad filter take care of the filtration.
||
|| Recently, a rainbow-hued 'essence' has appeared on the water top. The
|| bubbles keep it pushed away, but otherwise it covers the water.
||
|| The fish aren't stressed and continue to breed, the filters are
|| cleaned, 10% water change weekly, 25% monthly.
||
|| What could this multi-hued entity be?

I think it's the protein layer??? It is part of waste produces by food,
slime coats, poop, etc... that doesn't get pulled up or out by the
filters... not harmful, although, it's said to create a barrier between
oxygen and your water, which is not a good thing... I usually try and
aim
a
filter outlet in some way to break up the top of the water for better
gas
exchange....

Gouramis like the protein layer.. they actually eat it...

I have had something similiar in one of my tanks. I removed it by gently
putting one page of newspaper on the surface of the water, then removing
it
after it 2-3 seconds. Removed the layer on the water suface just fine - IF
that's what you want to do I didn't know what it was so I removed it..


very clever.

i figured since it didn't cause distress, no action necessary.

since it may be a protein film, i'm installing an overflow cup to try and
skim it off into a wet/dry.