Surface scum

[DanMac]

My tank is open top and lately I have been getting surface scum, If i break the surface my tank looks like its snowing, I am aware of surface skimmers but I have heard that they can be a pain and to be honest I dont really want one. Does anyone know why this is happening and more importantly how to prevent it?

I'm pretty sure my flow is good enough,My old internal filter was weaker and I never had surface scum like this.

 

[Yo-han]

An exact answer I don't have, but a few observations where my scum layer was worse than else: dirty filter, bad plant growth, CO2 on 24/7 instead off at night and after disturbing the substrate. Hope this helps!

 

[Gary Nelson]

My tank is open top and lately I have been getting surface scum, If i break the surface my tank looks like its snowing, I am aware of surface skimmers but I have heard that they can be a pain and to be honest I dont really want one. Does anyone know why this is happening and more importantly how to prevent it?

I'm pretty sure my flow is good enough,My old internal filter was weaker and I never had surface scum like this.

This is nearly always due from plants, basically when they don't have enough nutrients and co2 - open top tanks are really no different to closed ones - yes a skimmer will help... but the plants are telling you that they are not happy. How do your plants look in general?

 

[Henry]

I run an air stone for two hours after lights out. Seems to help.

 

[Ian Holdich]

Run one of these overnight, you'll never suffer it again.

Ehiem micro skimmer 350 review. | UK Aquatic Plant Society

I think we all get scum from time to time, I'm not a believer it's due to the plants suffering. I think it's just a waste product of sweet C02.

 

[DanMac]

Ok I might buy one of those,I cant stand the mess after breaking the surface it looks horrible.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Scum is a mystery lol my old tribute has been in the garden since jan, most plants dead, green water but no scum at all. Big tank inside all healthy but some scum if skimmer is off...?
Won't go without the Eheim skim now.

 

[DanMac]

The skimmer arrived today, I didnt have a lot of surface scum as i did my water change yesterday but it got rid of what was there in minutes.

I dont want to keep it in my tank so i might just try putting it in every morning for 10 mins and see if thats enough. if not ill leave it on overnight Thanks for the suggestion Ian it seems pretty great so far

 

[Ian Holdich]

I just use mine for 10-15 mins in the morning, and it works a treat.