surface scum

[gaspusher]

I have a 50g that doesn't have a sump. I have HOB remora with filter box to control micro bubbles but I am having a difficult time keeping the scum off the surface. I only have two powerheads and one is facing the surface and the other is facing the back of my live rock. this current method still isn't working. half of the water surface is still covered in scum. does anyone have any suggestions? if i use both powerheads to point at the surface then i will sacrifice flow around my LR thus increasing detrius accumulation. i curently have 800 g of flow.

[tims]

increase your skimmer out put to help remove the DOC's
having the power head facing it is what you need to do.
you can look at how often and how much you feed also. the break down of the food and the waste from the fish is part of the problem

[gaspusher]

the remora is adjusted to remove maxium skimmate. so i will point the powerheads towards the skimmer. i feed once a day without any extra food floating around at the end of feeding. are remora's good?

[leveldrummer]

remoras are good skimmers, but there are definatly better ones, most use a sump though.

some skimmers make an attachement that helps them to skim the surface of the water for just that reason, you might want to check into that and see if remora has one. it should help a bunch with your problem, either that or toss in another couple powerheads. or bigger ones.

[Fly Guy]

Under the circumstances you describe, and installing a sump and a better skimmer isnt an option.............i would buy a couple more powerheads and double the flow in the tank. Torque two of them at the surface and the other two to still maintain the flow through your reef.

Besides nutrient issues I assume your ph is always well below 8 with a surface film there to hinder gas exchange as you describe.

[stang5_o2002]

These things arent the prettiest to look at in the tank, but they work. I bought one for my 46 gal because i couldnt get rid of the surface scum either. I hooked it to my hob filter. It keeps the surface sparkling clear with no scum at all. You can also hook them to a ph. All it does is pull the surface film down into the water column so the protien skimmer can get it out.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Jebo-Aquariu...QQcmdZViewItem

[Loverotties]

Put the surface skimmer on the oppisite end from were the powerhead is hitting the surface.

[Jflip2002]

a little late now, but I had my tank undrilled, with an overflow. To prevent the surface gunk.