What's that milky colored slime on the surface of my fish tank's water??!?

Question

This morning I found a thin, milky-colored slime that covered the surface of the water in my 10 gal. tank. When I touched it with the fish net, it gathered up into a little slimeball. Gross! So then I scooped it with a cup and poured it down the drain. Anyone have an idea what it was? I clean the tank regularly and my fish are doing fine. If you know what it is, what's wrong with my tank?

Answer 1

This may be a form of algae and bacteria called a bryozoan. Bryzoan algae is known to "ball up," which is why I thought it might be this. Bryzoan algae is harmless. Bryozoans do not like light and they like fresh, clean water. If it is this, you shouldn't need to worry about it, at least as far as being harmful. But, it also could be a form of slime which usually occurs when the ammonia is building in the tank. This could be harmful. To be on the safe side, get a master test kit and make sure that you ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are in check. Another thing that is a difficult concept to understand is that algae grows faster in clean tanks. It is important to remember that algae growth is a natural, normal process in any aquarium. All aquariums grow algae in one form or another. When you clean your aquarium and all of the decorations thoroughly, you leave no algae behind. In this bright, squeaky-clean environment, algae grows back more rapidly than it would if you left a small amount of algae somewhere in the tank. This is especially true in aquariums that might have white gravel or bright decorations that reflects more light, causing algae to grow faster. The reason for this is that if there is no algae left in the tank, there is no competition for nutrients that the algae feeds on. If you leave a few rocks or pieces of coral in a tank with a good growth of algae on them, that algae will consume nutrients in the water, which helps to control new growth. So, you may wish to try to not clean your tank quite so well and allow just a little "dirtiness" to remain. To paraphrase an old saying, while cleanliness may be next to godliness when it comes to mankind, a little dirtiness is next to godliness when it comes to fishy aquariums! lol! Take care and good luck!

Answer 2

oil/proteins, no longer yet damaged down. it is no longer tremendous, you want it to bypass away because it blocks the air water interface the position oxygen enters the water and undesirable gasses go away change the water element contained in the tank, down or up somewhat, to regulate the way the water floor is disturbed . make constructive you're literally not overfeeding, you're, or the tank is new and the biologic filtration isn't yet common, or you overclean the filter out and don't have good biologic filtration or have a crappy filter out. once you ought to sparkling this tank a week i'd be fairly particular that you overfeed like loopy, or this tank is rather new.

Answer 3

That isn't algae. it's most likely a protien build up in the tank. Incease the size of your weekly water changes and make sure the filter disturbs the surface of the water. If it doesn't add an air stone to do the job and you won't have the slime again.

Good luck!

Answer 4

its a layer of protein. it will form on the surface if you dont have a ripple from a filter that agitates the surface. This is why there are protien skimmers for some tanks. its usually not a big deal. it can come from oils from the food.

Answer 5

It's algae. You need to check your nutrient levels and make sure you aren't leaving the light on too long.
Be sure to do regular water changes( 10% weekly )

Answer 6

Eeeeewh - yuck! I think it has something to do with the amount of light your tank gets.

Answer 7

I've had the same thing and a guy told me that it was a type of alge but I don't know for sure.