Nasty film/scum

[Karliah]

I have a tank with a built in refugium/sump. The overflow drops into the refugium, then flows into the sump. The surface of the refugium always accumulates a nasty film on the surface, which I've been removing 2 or 3 times a day by skimming a net across the top. I'm looking for suggestions on how to more easily/automatically remove it, or how to not have it happen altogether.
I can post pictures when I get home if needed.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Water exiting any section of a sump should always go over a baffle to do so. That way the surface film you are seeing gets broken up and circulated back through the system so that the skimmer can eventually remove it. That is the best solution.

 

[Karliah]

Nasty film/scum

What do you mean when you say baffle?
I have this:

I know it's not exactly a "baffle" but it always worked great for the person I got the idea from.
My tank, though, always gets the film:

(In this picture it's not anywhere near as bad as it usually is)

 

[RocketEngineer]

It gets the film because of the teeth. The gaps between them are so small the oils stick to the teeth instead of going through the gap. Having no teeth is the best as it provides the most surface regeneration and oil removal. The teeth don't serve any real purpose anyways.

 

[Karliah]

But the film is on the "downstream" side of the teeth, which means the oils are going through (the camera location was facing "upstream")
And when I had no teeth the flow was too much and too fast, to where the pump couldn't push it out fast enough and it'd overflow if I didn't turn it off, so I added the teeth to slow it down and slowly lengthened them to get the perfect flow.

Sorry, I'm not trying to be argumentative or discredit what you're saying. Just trying to explain how and why my tank is set up the way it is.
I really do appreciate and need the help. I'm definitely open to altering or adding something if needed, and within reason (e.g: I wouldn't drain the tank to make an alteration, I'd rather just keep skimming the top with a net. But I'd lower the water level a bit to make an alteration since that's not so drastic.)

 

[RocketEngineer]

Do you have a picture or diagram of the whole system? It would help diagnose your specific problems as the solution may be somewhere else.

 

[Karliah]

First picture is original diagram (not made by me)

And this diagram is with my added touches to try to make it a little clearer. Red on the diagram is where the film is:

 

[Karliah]

 

[RocketEngineer]

The reason it would overflow is because there is too much of a restriction flowing under the center baffle. Remove the bag of media (you don't need that anyways) and remove the teeth and see how it goes.

 

[Karliah]

I could just clamp a piece of acrylic in front or behind the teeth to test it out, right? Because if I remove them they're gone for good, and my system could possibly run better with them.

 

[RocketEngineer]

Yes, that would be one way to test it.

 

[ericarenee]

If what i am looking at is whats in my head. Can you lower the water level in the fuge then again in the sump section.... This should cause some turbulence at the water surface and as said above break up the build up of surface slime. The water level in the tank should be highest... then Drop downward into the fuge... Then down again into the return section..... i think you might need another baffle between the fuge and return section .

Looking at post 8 image 3. The water level is near even in all 3 sections....

There is really no surface skimming ..... My Recommendations...
1 . After the baffle between the Fuge and Return section.. Put another baffle from bottom to about 3/4 ways up. ..
2. Remove the pump from that hole configuration and put it on the bottom in that section .
3. patch the hole in where the return pump comes thru the glass..
4. run a hose from the return pump up and over that baffle so it returns water just below the surface of the display area.. This will cause water surface skimming on all 3 sections . Eliminating the issue

-------------------------- Added -------------------------
the new baffle should be wide enough between so you can add maybe some type of filter pad to catch debri.
Not a all the time thing but once in a while if water appears dirty.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display section will have the highest water level..
Fuge a few inches lower then display water level
Return section a few inches lower then fuge section..
even 1 inch lower each section can help...

 

[Karliah]

Nasty film/scum

You're right about the water levels not being very much different. Right now the fuge is about half an inch lower than the display, and sump half an inch lower than fuge (one inch lower than display)
That all sounds like it could work, the only issue is that when I filled the aquarium, it filled all three compartments to the same level, then once everything was running for a while it went to the levels I stated above.
Because of this I'm not sure that I could just lower the levels in one, as they'd all adjust. Maybe though if I sealed that hole like you mentioned, it'd not self level.
---
This morning I lowered the water level in the whole tank slightly, so now the water level in the fuge is just barely lower than the bottom openings of the teeth, and as the water falls in it's creating bubbles. I'm not seeing much of a film, if at all, but the majority of bubbles aren't popping so I'm assuming it's still at least somewhat there.
If this doesn't help remove or alleviate the issue I'll try both suggestions listed above, starting with rocketengineer's as it's much less drastic.