Would a skimmer be the fix for this?

[CornishCrustyCorals]

As the title says really. Is a skimmer the thing I need to combat this collection on the surface.
This tank does not have a sump so I'm not even sure my best option when it comes to that sort of thing maybe I could make a sump and use a pump to take water from and too the tank like a canister filter does?

 

[theMeat]

What kind of filter do you have? Looks like no, or not enough surface skimming

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

I have a juwel rio in tank filter with chemipure pure regen carbon and the normal different corse sponges with some filter floss that catch most stuff first. The tank is really clear the powerhead on the opposite side is pushing the film more than the filter so it collects at the filter end but it doesn't seem to remove the film.

Maybe the filter could do with a more powerful pump on it.
I kinda wish I went with a sump setup now tho.

 

[Timfish]

I'd temporarily raise the rio jewel so it's sucking just a tiny bit of air. That should allow it to pull the surface scum into the filter. After a few hours lower it just enough to stop sucking air and see how things go for a day or so. Is my guess this is a fairly new ssytem correct? Because I have systems that don't have skimmers or sumps and don't have that problem but they are mature systems.

 

[StlSalt]

If you're looking for a hang on option the I love my RO Classic 90 HOB. I have to turn it off at certain times and within 6 -10 hours I can see a film on top of my water. Once I turn the skimmer back on...all gone.

Classic 90 HOB Protein Skimmer

Ideal Hang-On-Back Skimmer Rated for up to 130 Gallons Footprint: 7.5" x 7.5" | Body Diameter: 4" | Height: 23.8"Pump: Reef Octopus Aquatrance 1000s

www.coralvue.com

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

It always has been higher than the surface im thinking I've packed in the media too much reducing efficiency?

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

If you're looking for a hang on option the I love my RO Classic 90 HOB. I have to turn it off at certain times and within 6 -10 hours I can see a film on top of my water. Once I turn the skimmer back on...all gone.

Classic 90 HOB Protein Skimmer

Ideal Hang-On-Back Skimmer Rated for up to 130 Gallons Footprint: 7.5" x 7.5" | Body Diameter: 4" | Height: 23.8"Pump: Reef Octopus Aquatrance 1000s

www.coralvue.com

Ah yea maybe this is what I need

 

[Timfish]

Reducing the amount of filter media might be a solution. If it can't be raised anymore try moving it temporarily to another location. What you want to do is either have a pump pull the scum into it or increase the surface agitation so breaks it up.

 

[StlSalt]

Ah yea maybe this is what I need

Yeah I raise incoming water cup up high enough so the water is falling over the edge but not to the point where it starts sucking air.

 

[theMeat]

 

[eggplantparrot]

perhaps you did pack the inside too much, reducing the flow.

Ideally the water level inside the filter (right after the teeth) should be lower than the tank's water surface, so all the scum should cascade into the filter.

packing it too tight would reduce flow and the 2 water levels would be too similar and the surface scum wouldn't cascade in.

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

Its one of those ones thats fixed in the tank I don't belive it can be raised/moved. To be honest the basic sponges that make up 2/3 of the filter probably could be replaced with bio balls or something similar

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

My water level is at the set height the tank had a mark on the inside to set it for with the filter. I agree cascading would make more sense im going to yank out the filter and see if I can maybe rearrange things

 

[StlSalt]

My water level is at the set height the tank had a mark on the inside to set it for with the filter. I agree cascading would make more sense im going to yank out the filter and see if I can maybe rearrange things

I have a 28Cube and I had to remove the sponge in the overflow, it gets clogged and slows down flow. I replaced it with some live rock "rubble" for the lack of a better word and got much better flow and my water level dipped below the water surface. The nice thing about a skimmer is it removes of the organic material from the water into a collection cup before it can break down. If your're not having excess nutrient problems I would try the removing the sponges first before shelling out the cash for a skimmer.

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

So my filter is off and I removed the filters I took a pic of what was inside. Now my tank is looks like a snow globe lol but it is breaking it up. I am thinking of moving the chemipure bag and the pure regen to the last thing before the pump so essentially to the bottom of the stack and slowly change out from the sponges to something else. Position in the filter shouldn't effect how they work right??

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

OK so I rearranged the filter and its got way more flow just waiting on the tank to clear up to confirm about the film.
I've just done some measuring and if I can make a sump with a skimmer and a little refugium fit in a 600 x 250 size height is loads I think I know my project for 2021

 

[CornishCrustyCorals]

Well I guess that didn't help
Flow did improve which is good i guess.
Been looking into sumps and I'm going to make a 10g tank into a Sump its a 30g tank now so that should be adequate. That way I can remove this bulky filter and gain some room too.
All this from a bit of film on water surface lol can't help myself.