microflora? fauna?

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 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...

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"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.

dH wrote:

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?

Could be a mixture of microorganisms living at the air/water interface.
The layer is very thin, in the order of the wavelength of visible light.
Hence the rainbow effect (diffraction).

In itself this is harmless, but it might indicate that the water is
quite stagnant, limiting the dissolution of air oxygen in the water.

By the way, if you have access to a microscope, float a cover glas on
the water surface for 10 min or so, then observe the organisms (using
tank water as mounting medium). Cilliates, amoebae, bacteria...

"Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" wrote in message
...

Could be a mixture of microorganisms living at the air/water interface.
The layer is very thin, in the order of the wavelength of visible light.
Hence the rainbow effect (diffraction).

In itself this is harmless, but it might indicate that the water is
quite stagnant, limiting the dissolution of air oxygen in the water.

By the way, if you have access to a microscope, float a cover glas on
the water surface for 10 min or so, then observe the organisms (using
tank water as mounting medium). Cilliates, amoebae, bacteria...

great idea. i'll make a slide immediately.

"Dr Engelbert Buxbaum" wrote in message
...
dH wrote:

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?

Has anybody put their hand in the tank without washing first? Use any hand
lotion lately? Maybe it is some kind of oil.

dwhite

"Dan White" wrote in message
t...

Has anybody put their hand in the tank without washing first? Use any
hand
lotion lately? Maybe it is some kind of oil.

dwhite

i thought this at first too--but i can skim the top clean and it returns
gradually in 3 days. occam's razor hasn't helped much...

Subject: microflora? fauna?
From: "dH"
Date: 9/3/2004 6:58 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

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?


Just out of curiosity, I'd fill a bucket of tap water and check to see if it
too has the "oil slick".
I mentionthis because my Mom inlaw who was on "city well water", same as out
town too.....there was a contaminate that got into their water supply from a
neighboring factory.
There would be an "oil slick" in her toliet (before using, lol), one in a glass
of water (Yuck! She drank and cooked with this stuff...).
It would just be a good idea to check. Remember, the light and the angle you
are looking at the surface of the "test water" makes a difference.