125 reef tank

[Tanner Heintz]

got a 125 reef tank about 2 months old. have a 4 inch blonde naso, foxface, brown bird wrasse, 4 green chromis, 2 clowns feed 1 cube of frozen mysis shrimp and 1 sheet to 1 1/2 sheets of algae a day. im having a problem with this white milky film across the surface of the water? what is this?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Organic material not being efficiently skimmed. Either that or a bacterial bloom.

 

[Tanner Heintz]

so what do i need to do I have a hob skimmer right now and it pulls alot of waste out of the tank each day seems like its working properly

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

That's going to be tough as the HOB skimmer uses a water pickup, right?

 

[Tanner Heintz]

yes

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

The issue is that you need to be able to surface skim the scum off of the water.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

So, I'm assuming you don't have a sump or overflow?

 

[Tanner Heintz]

nope not yet

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Then you may have to use a gallon pitcher and skim out the skim manually.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

More surface agitation may also help get the organic layer into the water column where it will be dissolved and removed in your skimmer.

 

[Tanner Heintz]

ok ill try that

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Even if you could get a powerhead to pull a surface vortex for a while, I think you would find the issue clears up for a few days.