Is this algae or settled dust on the surface of my tank?

[BostonJill]

If it's algae will it get thicker? Should I use the shrimp net and skim some of it out?
Do you guys have a problem with it in your tanks?

[LeShrimp]

I do not have any of that in my tank.....

[Rob in Puyallup]

There's a bit of a film on the surface of the water in my bookshelf tank. It's a bit green in the color. Think it's single celled algae. The Opae Ula frequently hang upside down under it scraping off the good bits.

Not saying that's what you have there....

[BostonJill]

Mine is a bit green too. It's evenly dispersed. My shrimp hang upside down under it as well feeding. I'm just not sure what I should do with it, skim it off or just leave it.

[Harry]

Without agitation from a filter or air stone, I think it is just natural for the surface to develop a film of algae. I would think it is okay as the shrimp eat it. If it gets real thick to the point where you feel it would impede the necessary transfer of gases, you could always skim some or all of it off.

[Rob in Puyallup]

I'm thinking it's perfectly natural, and fine for the shrimpies, Jill.

[Rob in Puyallup]

Here's a pic of the scum in the Bookshelf tank tonight...

[Rob in Puyallup]

Jill... it's already started forming on the new 10 gallon tank.

[BostonJill]

Thanks guys! Maybe it's time to get a blue legged crab now that I have enough algae to support everyone. Hope they have one at Petco.

[shrimpy4]

I have a white film that forms on the top of my bowl. The shrimp also seem to swim upside-down and feed off of it, and every now and again I'll scoop most of it out but it "grows" back after a few days. I assume it's some sort of protein film. It's viscous enough that I'm worried if I leave it unchecked it will form a thick enough barrier to keep the water from oxygenating.

[Mustafa]

It's clearly biofilm, Jill. After a while all those "specks" will connect and you'll probably have a continuous layer on the surface. I would not recommend the hermit crab for your setup, as it can't sustain itself on the biofilm (algae, bacteria, fungi that grow on surfaces), but needs larger algae and also some protein once in a while. You would have to feed the tank more and you know that that leads to more problems.....

[BostonJill]

It's clearly biofilm, Jill. After a while all those "specks" will connect and you'll probably have a continuous layer on the surface. I would not recommend the hermit crab for your setup, as it can't sustain itself on the biofilm (algae, bacteria, fungi that grow on surfaces), but needs larger algae and also some protein once in a while. You would have to feed the tank more and you know that that leads to more problems.....

Darn! Would have loved one of those guys.

[Johns]

In the suggested unfiltered tanks on this web site this protein , algae bio film bugs me .
I guess the ponds these shrimp come from are tidal meaning water movement is not unnatural for them . To suggest that the shrimp do better in a tank with no water movement makes no sense to me .
Yes they can live in a closed glass orb for a few years but really is some water movement and good sponge filter bad for them ?

Color me confused ?