algae floating on top of aquarium

[Crys]

Hi I have what looks like green algae floating on the top of my tank.  It's not suspended in the water just on the top. It leave a green scum on nets or pipettes   I have very little algae elsewhere.  Tank has good circulation.  How do I get rid of it and is it harmful to fish, inverts or coral?  Thanks

[LazyFish]

Surface skimmer,?

 

[Crys]

No I don't have one.  My tank is 13 gal.  I have had it for 3 years and never had this before.

[Clown79]

Can you get a pic?

 

What are your nitrate and phos levels? 

 

What does the algae look like?

[seabass]

I take a small container (like a measuring cup) and hold it upright, with a lip just under the water line, to suction the surface water out (along with any films that might be accumulating). Do it a few times and you'll get the hang of it.  if it's much more than a film, I'd use a brine shrimp net to scoop it out.

 

Going forward, it might help a little to get some better surface agitation.  You might try pointing a powerhead slightly upwards, and/or moving the powerhead up higher.  You might also look at what you are feeding and/or dosing (along with your nutrient levels , as Clown79 suggested).

[Clown79]

8 hours ago, seabass said:

I take a small container (like a measuring cup) and hold it upright, with a lip just under the water line, to suction the surface water out (along with any films that might be accumulating). Do it a few times and you'll get the hang of it.  if it's much more than a film, I'd use a brine shrimp net to scoop it out.

 

Going forward, it might help a little to get some better surface agitation.  You might try pointing a powerhead slightly upwards, and/or moving the powerhead up higher.  You might also look at what you are feeding and/or dosing (along with your nutrient levels , as Clown79 suggested).

I'm curious to see it.

 

When my tank had dino's, before i even knew it was dino, it first started with odd algae floating at the surface.

 

I had no idea what it was or why it was happening until a few weeks later when it was everywhere

 

 

[seabass]

8 minutes ago, Clown79 said:

When my tank had dino's, before i even knew it was dino, it first started with odd algae floating at the surface.  I had no idea what it was or why it was happening until a few weeks later when it was everywhere

Dinos is certainly a possibility.

[Clown79]

3 hours ago, seabass said:

Dinos is certainly a possibility.

I hope we can see a pic of the situation. 

[Zer0]

Cyano can also break off and float at the water surface, and cyano can be green too, so it could even be that as well. 

[seabass]

At this point it's hard to say.  I assume it's not any form of macroalgae.  We might even need more than a regular pic to properly ID it.  It'd be nice to get a sample under a microscope.

[Crys]

Hi Thankyou for the replies, I was away for a few days, I will get a picture today.  

[Crys]

Hi,

 

I went to take the picture yesterday and the green scum was all gone.  It had been there for at least 3 weeks. I am not sure what was different while I was away but it has cleared up completely.  I hope that means it's gone and not just waiting to bring back friends.  Do you think there is anything else I should do?

 

Thanks

[Murphs_Reef]

I think we are good for now. Sit back and enjoy 👍🏼