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weird water
By Warlord220, Section Diaries Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 01:00:44 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

I have a ten gallon tank and it has this weird chemical looking stuff on top of the water.

It mainly started when my 5-15 filter wasn't doing its job and I was endig up with algie that i couldn't get rid of. But now I have a sillent fillter in it 10-30 and so there is weird chemical looking stuff that I can put my in and it will part. there is only one other thing it might be and it was this algaecide it name is Algae Destroyer Advanced. plz help

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weird water | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: weird water (none / 0) (#8)
by methemom on Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 04:29:02 AM PST

decaying plant matter will leave a slick on the water and a really foul smell... if your algae problem was bad this could be the problem, decaying algae as the stuff dies... change as much water as you can, as often as you can, and see if that helps??? methemom

Re: weird water (none / 0) (#9)
by Warlord220 on Mon Feb 05, 2007 at 06:28:26 AM PST

Thanks for the help everyone.

[ Parent ]

Re: weird water (none / 0) (#3)
by methemom on Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 06:16:11 AM PST

What have you used for the bottom of your tank? I have found that the polished stones from China are coated with oil and paraffin type polish that will collect at the top of the tank even if you wash them very well... even addition of one or two to a tank will make a "slick"... 3 of my tanks have these stones (the bag even says not for use in aquariums) and I washed them in very hot water before using them, took loads of the stuff off but it still makes slicks on top... so far the fish are fine but I am religious about very large percentage water changes at least 3 times a weeek.... just fyi in case you or someone else is considering using these stones. Next time I strip the tanks I'll probably roast in water in the oven, or boil them to see if I can get rid of the rest of the polish. please let us know if you can determine what is causing the problem in your tank we might be able to learn something from that, too....good luck methemom

i hate to be rude, (none / 0) (#4)
by Nancy5Fishes on Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 06:33:30 AM PST

i hate to be rude, but don't you think if the package says not for use in aquariums, they probably shouldn't be used in aquariums?

[ Parent ]

Re: i hate to be rude, (none / 0) (#6)
by methemom on Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 07:42:45 AM PST

the stones are quartz and non porous. I chose to use the stones after cleaning them carefully, as was advised by another guppylog member's post when I did a site search on what to use on the tank's bottoms. Quartz stones from craft stores were advised because they were easier to clean between and offered a place for fry to hide. It was not until after I filled and populated the tanks that I saw the very tiny print on some of the labels that said "not for use in aquariums". By then the tanks were already up, filled and established. Some of the labels on these chinese polished quartz stones do not say that, but they are treated with polishing compound or oil or both, just the same. I did make a warning post at the time I discovered this, and also by posting this again was trying to educate so that my mistake would not be perpetuated by others. I have since seen what appears to be polished smaller gravel labeled from china offered in bags in pet shops/ pet departments, so I dont think it is so far off base to offer a suggestion or warning to others.

[ Parent ]

Re: i hate to be rude, (none / 0) (#7)
by Nancy5Fishes on Sun Feb 04, 2007 at 06:15:25 PM PST

ok. that makes sense now. sorry.

[ Parent ]

Just your luck, the stones will be limestone. ;) (none / 0) (#5)
by unclescott on Sat Feb 03, 2007 at 10:23:48 AM PST

[ Parent ]

Re: weird water (none / 0) (#2)
by Nancy5Fishes on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 05:22:32 PM PST

this has happened to me with newer tanks. i find that it is stuff from the gravel, like dust and dirt, or i know that there is one product that is supposed to remove chlorine/chloramine that has done this to my tanks. i just take a gravel vaccuum and suck it off the top and i never used that product again.

What color is it? Does it look whitish/chalky or (none / 0) (#1)
by unclescott on Thu Feb 01, 2007 at 09:55:31 AM PST

like an oil slick?

In the meantime, turn off the filter for a bit. While the water is settling, get a couple of black & white pages of newspaper and a leak proof trash basket/bucket. Gently lay a page on the water and see if some of the film doesn't adhere to the newspaper. Try it a couple of times and see if that helps.

And of course, if you haven't done a partial water change this week, please do so.

Excuse me now, I've got some water changes to do. ;)

weird water | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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