In addition to my regular fish tanks, I have just a 2.5 goldfish bowl with one betta in it. It doesn't have any filter or air pump. It's just sitting water and it gets this strange whitish film on the top of the water. It doesn't seem to bother my betta, but I've never had this problem before. My regular tanks don't get this at all and I'm guessing it's because they have filters and air pumps, so the water is moving. Someone has to know what this is and how to fix it!!!!
2007-09-06 14:46:49 · 4 answers · asked by Chrissy 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
You're correct in figuring out that the only reason you see it in the bowl is because you don't have the filtration to circulate the water.
What it is could be a number of things. Sometimes film is the result of a particular water conditioner, or something leached from a particular food, or from excess wastes in the tank. A "powdery" film can be the result of an aquatic fungus growing on the surface or under the rim.
If the last of these, you can temporarily put the betta in another container and give the bowl a good cleaning with hot water (the spores may be in the air, so it may take several cleanings to eliminate this). As for the others, you'll have to do a bit of experimentation to eliminate each possibility.
Of course, you could get the betta a larger tank (2.5 gallon is fine) with a filter (and heater - they should have a water temperature of 76-86o which is difficult to maintain in a bowl unless you have a very warm room). With the circulation, you wouldn't notice the film, same as you don't in the other tanks.
2007-09-06 15:31:04 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in case you have not have been given a filter out breaking the water's floor, then the surplus oils from the nutrition you put in the tank will assemble on the right of the water, that's what you're seeing. An air pump additionally will help pass the water around, yet often, if that oil is strengthen, it will produce ammonia, that's deadly on your fish if not dealt with. basically remember to've a filter out - no aquatic existence can thrive without one.
2016-10-18 04:39:31 · answer #2 · answered by reardigan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, that I call that an oil layer, no idea what the real name is.
Solution: Get a dry paper towel, fold it in half, then "drag" the folded paper towel across the surface of the water. Just keep repeating till the film is gone. The towel will collect the film! I've done it in my betta tank, it works!
2007-09-06 16:44:30 · answer #3 · answered by revernance 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm thinking this is natural algae growing on the rim. I've never had a fish in just a bowl but it seems to me like it would be natural algae.
2007-09-06 15:08:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋