2 gallon fish tank with one male betta - White Film on Top!?

Question

I have a 2 gallon fish tank with a small whisper filter. It has one male betta, gravel and 3 fake plants. I have developed a white film on top of the water. This film is almost cottony when I stir the water. What is it and how can I get rid of this?
I had another betta die and the water was the same way. I think Ich killed the other betta.

This tank was cleaned real well and let to run for a week before the new betta came along!

Other than the white film, the tank is good and so is the fish (i hope!)

Answer 1

Is there a lid on the tank? If not, dust and stuff can accumulate on the top of the water and make an oily-type film.

I don't suppose it's just a pile of bubbles, right? if so, that's a bubble nest, and it's normal for happy bettas to make them.

What are you feeding him, and are you feeding more than he can eat? Observe him and be sure to remove any uneaten food after a minute or two. 2-5 pellets should suffice, 6 days per week, with a blood worm or two here or there.

If none of those are possiblities, who knows, it may be the water? Try converting to a different source of water, like bottled water. Do the chance slowly (like replae 20% of the water every day) so as not to shock the betta.


Oh, regaring the 'letting the tank run' for a week before introducting the fish... There's a common misconception that just letting the tank run will make the water safe. I don't mean to rag on you or anything but you seen to care about your fish, so I thought you might want this info. In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, nor do they develop if you just let the water un. so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish during the first couple weeks.
There are a few methods. These bacteria live in the gravel and in the filter cartridge, so if you can get some from another tank, you can put the bacteria right into your tank. Another way is to get Bio-Spira. It is the actual live bacteria in a little pouch, and your tank will instantly be ready for fish.

Other methods, which include putting a source of ammonia in the tank and letting the bacteria build up on its own, or putting a fish in and letting the fish produce ammonia (which borders on animal cruelty, because the fish will suffer from the ammonia in the tank), take 2 to 6 weeks before your tank is ready.

Answer 2

You can try adding a small pump and airstone to help airate the water more, and feed less. They should get about 3-4 pellets a day. My sons 1 gallon tank with beta was always like this too, we did half water changes by cupping out the water every 2 weeks and used a couple drops of a dechlorinator called prime you can buy it at petsmart not petco.
I think the film may also have to do with the male betas making a bubble nest to mate.
Good Luck

Answer 3

it may actually be your tank cycling check the amonia and nitrite levels in your tank or take a water sample to a pet store and have them check it if the levels are high then it just means that your tank is cycling if fish have been recently added to it. if it is not a new tank it still could be the amonia or nitrite levels due to overfeeding. Of course there could be alot of reasons for this but i would check those two things first. If your tank is cycling you'll just have to do a partial water change and let it run its course and it will clear up and ur tank should stay nice and clear there after with routine partial water changes. try not to disturb the rocks or filter when cleaning this will have to take its course.

Answer 4

the scum is little protozoans and bacteria collecting on the top. It won't kill the fish but it does stop oxygen exchange a little.. Just have a little airstone in there to break up the film... leave it on very low..