I am mortified, theres and oil slick in my tank!

missfish

G day,

I was shocked the other day when I looked into my turtle tank and saw the surface was covered in some sort of oil! I straight away drained the tank wiped down all the glass and rocks and refiled it, the oil looked to have lessened and i was hopeing the rest would just break down and i'd have a nice clear surface like all my other tanks. But it has gotten worse.

I had been feeding them in the main tank, with a varied diet of bloodworms turtle pellets and a product called turtle dinner. I thought that maybe the oil from the fish in the turtle dinner might have caused it. so i have since been feeding them in a seperate dish. But it is still there!

The tank is 47 gallons (179L) when full and is 4 foot by 18 inches and half full of water,with about 32 gallons at present. It is heated to 25 degrees celicus, ph of 7.5, was fully cycled as i previoulsy kept my murray cod in there, and has no nitrates since i did the last massive water change. The only inhabitants are the two murray river short necked turtles and 5 small feeder fish they haven't managed to catch yet. the tank is filterd with a fluval plus 4 laid on its side and turned down to the lowest setting. (which still makes a strong flow.)

I figure i could try to scoop all the oil out, and just keep doing it till it is all gone, are there and protein skimmers that work on a freshwater tank? or i could over flow the tank outside and wipe it all down.

Any other suggestions?

Ive posted a few photos to try and show the problem.

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Missfish

RJRofFL

Sounds as if the Exxon Valdez has been through your area.

You could contract a Haz Met team and send the bill to Mobil/Exxon. Since their profits this year are in the billions perhaps they can pay it.

Just a thought.

Bob

missfish

G day,

Okay i tried scooping it all out but it seems impossible. I am going to try overflowing the tank at the weekend when i have help carrying it about. Any thoughts as to why it happened in the first place?

Missfish

Paser00

Don't know why it happens but it is common. I have read that this is a protein build up. It is not harmful to the inhabitants, but it can be unsightly. To attempt to clean it out, dip paper towels flat on the surface. This will take most of it away. I have found to prevent this from happing, its to keep the surface water moving. Aim the out flow of one of your filters towards the surface just enough to cause a ripple effect. This should keep this from happening again.

missfish

G day,

Thanks heaps, The first thing i tried was the paper towel thing, but the 'oil' just moved away from it, must have been similarly charged or something, I tried removing it by scooping it out and this worked better, but it still returned, yesterday i tried it agian and it seems better. If it is a protein are there skimmers for a freshawater tank that can stop it building up? Does anyone use skimmers on a feshwater tank?

missfish

Paser00

Try to get some more water movement on the surface. Angle one of the outputs of your fitlers towards the surface, to create a ripple effect. Give it a few days, do a water change and see if that relieves it. Why spend money on a protein skimmer, if you can solve the problem with equipment you already have. I am sure a protein skimmer would work on a freshwater tank, but try getting some surface water movement first.

gregpape23

Protein skimmers are meant to remove dissolved organic compounds. I don't think it would be very effective in a fw tank. I agree with everyone else who said that more surface agitation should help.

missfish

G day,

My filter is aimed to the surface to make ripples, wouldn't this then be adding the problem to the water, like mixing it in? This is why i think something like a protein skimmer would help. Thanks for all your help guys. I have never seen anything like it before with any of my other tanks.

missfish

gregpape23

Could one of the rocks be making it by like releasing some sort of minerals or somehting?

missfish

G day,

All the rocks I use are river rocks. I think they are pretty safe generally.

missfish