| Re: cheapy skimmer questions
Just a little more information for you. A surface skimmer on a canister filter is definatly not the same as a real skimmer. A true skimmer is designed to remove DISSOLVED organic matter out of the water. surface skimmers are not really necessary for them to do their job however if you have dust on the surface of you water (which I will get to) an overflow style surface preskimmer is a great additive to have. I personally prefer the the Aqua C remora HOT skimmer. I was actually turned onto it at this forum and was greatly impressed with the amount of thick soupy crap mine now produces. And actually when you have a good working strong skimmer and LR and a good cleaner crew you really can make do without any other sort of supplimental filtration. Just doing bi-weekly or whatever your water change schedual is. This is true mainly for reef tanks, where as FO or FOWLR really do not need a skimmer so much if you keep on top of the water params.
Now to what you say is like dust on the top of your water. If you feed frozen food or even some dried foods, I have noticed that some types of food are more oily than other and what is at the surface of your water is probably more than likely an oil film rather than dust. An easy way to get ride of it is to very slowly submerge a cup into the water tiping it so the edge is just barely allowing water in. You will notice that the film with go in. after you do it when you pull up the cup just before its full you will see the difference between the oil and the clean area. I do it untill the water is clear on top. you will notice in a couple days to a week or so if the film is back then you may want to try another brand of food.
If you have any questions please let me know. I hope this is helpful to you.
__________________
<(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><( ((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))>
30 Gallon Tall Planted Freshwater Community Tank
1 pair german blue rams---3 celebese rainbow fish---2 panda cory cats---1 comon otto---1 pitbull pleco
35 Gallon Reef tank---2 RBTA---1GBTA---1 pair poss. maited black misbar clowns---tiny Blue Tang---Red Firefish---Sand Siffting Star---serpent star---Skunk Cleaner Shrimp---Cleaner Crew---Full Reef tank! All types of corals
10 Gallon freshwater--- Fancy show guppies!
2.5 Gallon---Baby seahorses---Kuda---Erectus -------------------------10 Freshwater QT tank for customers fish-----------------------24 Aqua Pod sand and water (stockingSoon!!!!!!!)
<(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))><( ((>{}<)))><(((>{}<)))> | 
