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oleg360
02/20/2009, 10:54 PM
My 20 gal that has been up for only about a month has developed bits of debris or dust that looks like tiny bits of clear flakes all over the surface. It doesn't appear to affect the rest of the tank. Any idea of what this is? If so, how do i get rid of it. I don't have an overflow or HOB filter, I only have a couple of powerheads.

46FiatYamaha
02/20/2009, 11:00 PM
it's just waste collecting on the water surface. If you don't have a sump (which would solve the problem anyway) you can use a HOB skimmer with a surface skimmer, several different ones now have that option

tsprice82
02/20/2009, 11:13 PM
+1 on surface skimmer. One thing is that it will get worse as your tank ages. I had the same problem and it drove me so crazy, I finally upgraded my entire system. I drilled my new tank and love my clean surface.

oleg360
02/20/2009, 11:21 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14445768#post14445768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 46FiatYamaha
it's just waste collecting on the water surface. If you don't have a sump (which would solve the problem anyway) you can use a HOB skimmer with a surface skimmer, several different ones now have that option

I'll have to look into getting a skimmer...in the mean time, would it help if I added HOB filter? I have a ac70 or a penguin 400 that I could use.

Jenisiz
02/21/2009, 12:13 AM
You could add a HOB however the problem will not be easily remedied until you have adequate surface agitation or skimming....

nanojg
02/21/2009, 08:26 AM
I had that problem in a 20 I had a few years ago. I bought a protein skimmer (red sea hob) it did not skim the surface, but it did get rid of the surface crap.

OneReef
02/21/2009, 09:12 AM
Maybe this would help, not sure, as I don't know anything about the product, but it was just a quick thought.


http://current-usa.com/subcurrent.html

tsprice82
02/21/2009, 10:03 AM
I would not waste money on a Red Sea HOB. At least get the AquaC Remora.

Eel-byte
02/21/2009, 10:48 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14447704#post14447704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tsprice82
I would not waste money on a Red Sea HOB. At least get the AquaC Remora.

That's what I did when i had my 36g bow. Used a Remora with a skimmer box, http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~protein_skimmers_aquac_remora_pro.html

ReeferMedic
02/21/2009, 11:00 AM
A surface skimmer of some sort will definitely help the problem, but in the mean time you can try taking a clean plain white paper towel and lay it on the water's surface. Leave it there for only a split second. When you lift it up off the surface, it will remove alot of the oils/debris that have accumulated. Just a band aid until you get some sort of surface skimmer in place, but it works.

blennymower
02/21/2009, 11:40 AM
I just made sure there was a lot of surface agitation from the return and circulation pumps. Problem gone.