Oil film after feeding lancefish

suewenking · Post by **suewenking** » 10 Apr 2005, 10:30

Hopefully somebody will have a straight forward reply to this question.
Each time I feed frozen Lancefish into my tank, a film of oil forms on the water surface. I know this is due to the fact that lancefish is a very oily fish and no matter how many times I change the water in the beaker in which it is de-frosting to get rid of the film, I still get the film in the tank.
As well as looking awful, it also seems to result in a lessening of the oxygen exchange at the surface and my fish gasping slightly the next morning. My shovelnose will not even break the surface while the film is there.
Is there a simple way of removing this film or is there a suitable alternative to lancefish, which will not cause this problem.
Please help, as I am getting tired of having to do partial water changes each time I feed this food.

Maarten · Post by **Maarten** » 10 Apr 2005, 14:57

Eheim has a "Surface suction extractor" partnr 3535

I use it once every 2 weeks, I drop the thing in on a spare filter to clean the surface. Be careful with strong filters like the 2326 I have, its sucks too hard.

Mike_Noren · Post by **Mike_Noren** » 10 Apr 2005, 19:22

The eheim surface extractor is hopeless, IMO. I've had four, they never work right, despite daily adjustment. Plus if you have plants, shrimp or snails they'll get stuck in and plug the two intakes very quickly. The eheim surface extractor is, IMO, worthless junk.

Instead I'd recommend one of the numerous overflow boxes made by a number of companies, e.g. Hagen, or even building one yourself: http://www.thekrib.com/Filters/Busko/

Personally I've got a Fluval 240 surface extractor that's been running continuously for over two years now, no adjustment necessary. The big downside with it is that Fluval has made sure it'll only work with Fluval filters (nonstandard diameter hose connector). Aquaclear makes a copy of the Fluval extractor which may fit standard filters, although I don't know if it's otherwise as good as the Fluval 240.

suewenking · Post by **suewenking** » 11 Apr 2005, 17:37

While awaiting replies, i dropped an airstone into the tank to help the gasping fish. Within 2 hours, the film had disappeared and has not returned 24 hrs laterand fish are all fine again!
IS THIS NORMAL?????????
It is certainly a bit cheaper than another bit of kit!!

Durlänger · Post by **Durlänger** » 11 Apr 2005, 17:46

Because it`s a discontinuity problam you not have to give much mony out for it.

After feeding Lancefish

,take a dry tumbler and hold it just a little bit (1mm) under the waterline the oil will swim in but empty it befor it is full.

That sould work becouse the same way it works for industrial-oil-water-separating`s

suewenking · Post by **suewenking** » 11 Apr 2005, 20:49

thanks for a great tip. will try it next time i feed lance fish. will let you know how i get on. sue

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 12 Apr 2005, 04:24

I'm curious what lancefish exactly are. Are they silversides, frozen feeder fish, eel-like creatures, etc?

PlecoCrazy · Post by **PlecoCrazy** » 12 Apr 2005, 05:26

I think you need more surface turbulance on your water. That is why the airstone helped clear it up. My solution would be to put a spray bar or two coming of your filter pointing towards the surface of the water which will help add tons of oxygen to the water and will keep the oil scum from building up as well.

suewenking · Post by **suewenking** » 13 Apr 2005, 14:10

hi taratron, not quite sure what lancefish are other than small (2"

) silver fish that we buy frozen from the local aquatic shop. supplied by ruto, they can be bought on the net. hope this helps a little. cheers. sue

Oil film after feeding lancefish

Oil film after feeding lancefish

oil film

oil on water