How do YOU get rid of surface scum in tanks?

[Anonymous]

Now I know what you CAN do to get rid of the scum. But I want to know exactly how you guys all do it.

For instance, I've got a 55 gallon non drilled tank. It's got a hang-on skimmer with no pre-filter box. The scum is about an inch thick.

What pump arrangements and what not do you find most effective?

Have any pics?

I think there should be some reward for the most informative and best designs at removing this scuzz from surface of tanks.

 

[danmhippo]

There are 2 ways I would pick those up. 1. a large fine meshed brineshrimp net. 2. Run PHs to aggressively agitate the surface and run a canister to pick up the scums and oil in the mid water column.

 

[MicroChip]

The best ways are either powerheads to agitate the surface as damn hippo said, which will break up the surface scum making it possible for your skimmer or a canister filter to remove it, or I'd suggest using a surface skimmer for your protien skimmer input. What type of skimmer do you use?

MC

 

[Anonymous]

I'm running a Mag 3 on a Remora Pro and I don't want that huge box in there. That's why no pre skimmer.

Any other ideas?

How about hooking a PH up to a spray bar from a Fluval? Anyone done this and found a good way to work it?

 

[SPC]

Ehiem makes a filter with a surface extractor, don't remember what it is called however.
Steve

 

[trigger0214]

Ive found that a surface skimming overflow box (going to a wet/dry and/or sump) will suffienctly pull off protein and digest it.

 

[Anonymous]

I had an eheim canister filter about 10 years ago that had a surface extractor; if the current design is similar it isn't robust/reliable enough for a reef.

Did you say the scum is an inch thick?

 

[Marcosreef]

I use a Mini-Jet 404 with a Maxi-Jet nozzle so the water flows upwards then back into the tank so the skimmer can remove the film.

 

[Anonymous]

I have maxi 1200 aimed at the surface and have no skimmer, or scum.

 

[naesco]

If this event is infrequent as it should be, wash carefully (to get off any soap residue) a deep dish pie plate or something similar and tip the plate against the currents. The crud will flow into the plate. It will take two or three fills.
Add salt water.

 

[Anonymous]

Did you say the scum is an inch thick?

Forgive my hyperbole.

We set up a contraption like Polo's in the pic (thanks by the way), but it is now only clearing out that half of the tank and blowing the scum to the other side. AAARRRRGH!

 

[SPC]

Posted by Dr Reef:
but it is now only clearing out that half of the tank and blowing the scum to the other side. AAARRRRGH!

-That has been my experience too. The scum needs to be removed from the tank IMO. I use a paper towel on the surface of the water in my refugium when I have this problem.
Steve

 

[Marcosreef]

Steve & Dr. Reef,
I forgot to mention that I also have a Mini-Jet 606 on the other side, facing the 404. Although this helps, It always leaves some surface film.

I notice too when feeding high protein foods (mysid shrimp) the water is especially oily on the surface.

I hate using the preskimmer with my Remora. That huge box takes up considerable space in a 29.

But, unfortunately this seems to be the best option other than a Reef Ready tank with sump.

 

[trigger0214]

I'm just curious as to what kind of nitrates you guys have? I am hearing things like, "I use a paper towel on the surface of the water in my refugium when I have this problem" and "clearing out that half of the tank and blowing the scum to the other side", I don't ever see the need to do these things and I have nitrates in the realm of 10-20 ppm, I NEVER see scum anywhere inmy tank. I felt I was doing do a bad job with my nitrate levels....just curiuous

 

[Anonymous]

I haven't checked nitrates in about a year so I can't really answer you. I'd bet judging on the health of the more senesitive corals that they are 0-10pm. Probably low.

It works like this:

Scum is organic proteins and sludges.
They degrade and form Ammonium.
Ammonium to nitrite.
Nitrite to nitrate.

Maybe if you don't have scum build up, it is because the scum is more quickly degrading into ammonium by staying off the top of the water and isolating itself. Protein skimmers help pick up the sludge when it is in these big chains before letting it go to ammonium, and so on.

 

[SPC]

I tested my nitrates a while back and they were undetectable.
Steve

 

[yellow_dog]

I have two powerheads near the surface. When I do water changes every two weeks I skim the film off the top. A fine mesh net also works.

 

[Basil63]

I've never been able go get rid of surface scum with power heads. The only ways I've been able to get rid of it, were using an Eheim canister with a scum sucker attatchment, or by using an add-on overflow to a sump/refugium.
Basil63

 

[tlc]

i have heard a few people suggest soaking it up with paper towels.

 

[TopNotch]

I have heard a sheet of the 'new york times' works the best... It doesnt soak water up as fast as the paper towel. Getting a hold of the film first...

I suppose any newspaper can work...