Biofilm removal on surface water - El Natural

degordon3000 · 06-30-2009, 03:26 PM

Hi All

What is the best way to remove the biofilm on the surface water? I'm about to install an internal UV sterlizer but this won't deal with any Mycobacteria that would be in the biofilm on the surface. Any suggestions?

David.

davemonkey · 06-30-2009, 05:19 PM

You could get a surface skimmer attachment if you have a canister filter.

Here's a link to one:
http://www.aquariumguys.com/fluvalskimmer.html

degordon3000 · 07-01-2009, 03:32 PM

Thanks for your reply. Sorry for the silly question but what is a canister filter? Is that external or internal? I only have an internal filter - a fluval 2+. How would you connect this to a fluval 2+?

clearleaf · 07-01-2009, 04:54 PM

If you can point the outflow in the direction towards the surface this should agitate it enough to keep the surface from filming over. Granted, this dissipates some of the CO2 produced by the substrate and fish, so...double edged sword deal. I guess just try and angle the outflow so there is a little 'roundness' to the surface of the water, should be sufficient.

Diana K · 07-01-2009, 10:47 PM

A canister is a filter that sits outside the tank, usually below it. Water is carried down to the canister through a stiff piece of pipe inside the tank, to a hose that connects to the canister. Water is returned via a hose to the tank.
The skimmer can be attached to the pipe in the tank that removes the water. I do not thing it can be used with an internal filter you are using.

Keep the surface water just a bit more agitated so the surface film does not form.
You might set up the filter you have so the outlet us just below the surface.

degordon3000 · 07-02-2009, 04:03 AM

Hi Diana K & Clearleaf,

Thanks - I'll try that.

DG

StevenLeeds · 07-02-2009, 11:36 AM

Take you hose from the gravel vac so you just have the hose. Get the water flowing into the bucket and bring the hose to the surface of the tank. Hold sort of horizonatal half in the water and half out. You notice it sucking the film from the surface.

degordon3000 · 07-02-2009, 12:29 PM

Thanks Steven, part of the El Natural philosophy is not to use a gravel vac and to allow the mulm to accumulate. I no longer have a gravel vac. I'll wait till my UV sterlizer is set up before I sort out the film issue.

David.

StevenLeeds · 07-02-2009, 12:31 PM

Just a plain piece of hose is all you need, I just used the gravel vac as an example.

degordon3000 · 07-02-2009, 12:33 PM

good point.

Me being narrow minded. Will look at that - save spending money on a skimmer.