Layer of something on the water

[optical]

there is a layer of a sort of shiny stuff on top of my water. like greeny blue type rainbow looking changes with light thing on top of my water. not completely covering it but most of it.

i dont have a lid on top of my tank (well its a big massive storage tub that theyre in) but not sure what it is from my room that could be getting in there.

i do have a lid for the tu but would rather not have it on.

i posted a topic just now about my filter could it be just that my filter pads need changing?

 

[shaun]

I had that for ages after i put some new sand in my tank because i put my axies (when i had 2) in one of those tubs that you put in your sink when i took most of the water out of the tank. This tub held most of the tank water that i was keeping and still had some washing liquid in it so (i had rinsed it out before i used it, and i got rid of all that was visible) i think that was making the layer. It looks like thin oil, doesn't it? I just kept doing water changes regularly and skimmed a sponge over the top of the water every so often. Eventually doing this i got rid of it. It took a while though.

 

[andy]

It's natural oils and such from both the axolotls waste and also the plants. If it really does your head in you can buy skimmers that get rid of it, otherwise, an old tick is to briefly settle a sheet of newspaper on the water for a few seconds, when you lift the paper out it will take the oils with it.

 

[optical]

nah its not bothering me just wanna make sure it doesnt harm them.

ive got a uni accom room so its quite small so think times when i use hairspray etc ill put the lid on for a bit cos that might be contributing towards it haha