Weird film on water surface

[BAT]

Hi All,

I noticed some film on my bettas QT tank. See pic. Only thing I add is IAL, seqchem stress and bacteria blend. Thoughts? Is this bad? Fish doing fine. 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

It's very likely biofilm. Can be aloe vera if the stress formula has it that's not uncommon. 

[Greg Stewart]

Yeah, not weird. Like xXInkedPhoenixX said, it's most likely biofilm or the stress coat stuff.

You can remove it by laying a paper towel on the surface and then quickly pulling it out and tossing in the trash--might need a few goes at it to get all the film.

Surface agitation (which bettas don't usually appreciate) will get rid of it, as well.

[Guppysnail]

An airstone will help. The film prevents some gas exchange for oxygenation of the water. 

[Torrey]

I can't remember if you said you had a sponge filter in this tank?

Be sure the air stone is properly centered in your airlift tube of your sponge filter (if you have one), and the water level is above the top of the uplift tube for good gas exchange. 

Since you said you were using a stress coat that has aloe in it, that will frequently add a film to the top of the water. Normally not a huge problem, but bettas have a labyrinth organ and need to be able to breathe the air at the top of the tank.

You may need to follow the paper towel trick that Greg Stewart explained, and then add another airstone as Guppysnail recommended to keep your bettas labyrinth organ healthy. 

The IAL will also help your betta heal.

[BAT]

Thank you all! Turns out that I had stopped the sponge filter to feed him this morning and for got to turn it on! That might have been it. Will keep and eye. Thanks for the reassurance.