film on top of water, how to get rid of it and does it block light?

[saltyESQ]

The aqua pod has a grate that the water falls through, but it just does not seem to be enough to get rid of the film that covers the top of the water.

any ideas how to get rid of it?

maybe a larger pump? I am using a mj1200 atm.

 

[psidriven]

Do you have the surface skimmer attachment? That should take care of the surface film.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=JB7333

 

[BLKTANG]

more freequent waterchanges.

 

[keithdoc]

Do any of these skimmer mods REALLY make that much of a difference?

I have plenty of surface agitation, and don't have much of a problem with surface film on my 12g AP. I could use some more oxygenation though.

Any thoughts?

 

[polyppetey]

The skimmer attatchment is nice though it falls off all the time. It does eliminate the scum. I modded mine by running a zip tie through a hole I drilled in the center of it and ran the other end through the grate in the back of the tank, the other end I fastened with the head of a second zip tie, this trick enabled me to be able to slide the grate up and down depending on the water level and If I want surface skimming or not.

 

[GSMguy]

you need more flow but a powerhead

 

[scoobasteve]

that cassette mod, surface skimmer mod, whatever its called, really wouldn't do anything for his pod. JBJ places thier stock intake grill about an inch and a half below the water line, wheras pods already have intake teeth at the water line. The overflow box would work for a few minutes but only until the water line of the box equaled the water line at the teeth. I would suggest pointing one of your loc-line outlets toward the top of the water and angling the other one down. Also, if you decrease the length of your outlet hose, it will dramatically increase your flow.

 

[saltyESQ]

Scoobasteve, thanks for the advice, I cut the outlet hose in half and the surface skim vanished in a about a minute.

 

[jazz881]

Go to your local hardware store and buy some plexiglass big enough to cover all but the top grates in the sponge section. Slide it in between the sponge and the grates so all the water skims in from the top.

 

[ALittleSalty]

What I did with my 24 pod, was I took an old credit card and secured in just below the water line behind the grate section. It forces the water to be pulled from the surface of the water. The credit card will fit it almost perfectly. I am still running my sponges, so the sponge keeps it in place. You could glue it probably to hold it up better. Jon