jojosavard Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 my son's half-gallon betta bowl has a thin slimy film forming at the surface of the water. I change half the water, overfill the bowl so the slime pours out. All looks fine, then the next day the film is back. I repeat the procedure. Film comes back again. Been going on for about 10 days. I can't figure it out. Any ideas anyone? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spcy Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 You can try puting in a small air stone to keep the water surface moving and that will elliminate the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Chicklets Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 There must be something in the bowl that is leaching in to the water. Did you add something new to the tank? an ornament or rock? You will have to figure out what is in there that is causing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 Surface scum is a normal occurrence- read here. If you find it unsightly, a bit of surface agitation will help, or drag a paper towel across the surface of the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I get it on my 90 planted tank all the time. I do as werner suggests. Doesn't bother the fish at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatureNut Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 My betta tanks get this layer whenever the boys make bubble nests. Maybe they have slimy spit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I'd say if you've ruled out any leeching of scum from decorations or additives, then it probably is betta spit. The first time I saw this in my tank I was concerned too. I'd describe it as more of a really thin oil-slick though, kind of rainbow coloured if you look real close........ does it coincide with his bubble nests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinless Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 yep no aeration will lead to that. bubble nest will contribute further to the surface scum issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojosavard Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 wow thanks for all the responses everyone. hmmm ... good food for thought. I don't think it's spit, because he is not in that great shape. He contracted an infection a couple of months ago. Stayed in place at the surface, ate nothing, his fins clamped, fraying and falling apart. I treated him with betta-revive, saved him from the brink. I have since added a heating pad under the bowl, the temp stays at a steady 26 degrees celcius. He is certainly a lot better, eats like a pig, though he is not his old self. Prefers sulking at one end of the bowl, or harassing his frog companion. New items in the little bowl? i started slipping pieces of almond tree leaf in after water changes, also squirting in big al's bacterial supplement. That could be it. Never had the oily slicks before, but now it is like a daily thing. My daughter's bowl is treated the same way and has no surface slick. My biggest fear is that it contains hamful bacteria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 IMO, the correct place for those bacterial supplement products is in a different kind of bowl altogether. :eh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojosavard Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 interesting. supplement really useless? i checked the additive under the microscope, there are many bacteria in there, viewed at 400* magnification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
werner Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 There have been many arguments about whether these types of products actually contain and/or can support live colonies of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter (whether or not those species are actually responsible for nitrification- that's another argument...) I tend to lean towards the "snake oil" side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jojosavard Posted April 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 ... well, profit motive usually trumps science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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