Beta & strange

Question
QUESTION: We had a blue-green Beta that died about 6 months ago. We thoroughly cleaned (without detergents, etc) the tank and "toys" The tank is a 10 gallon filtered acquarium. Very spacious quarters for a Beta. We got a new Beta about 6 weeks ago. He's a red-orange color. He seems to be thriving, but a strange brownsih film appeared on the toys. We removed the toys, rinsed them a scrubbed them down with a soft brush, then put them back in the tank. A few days later, the film returned. We removed the yoys completely. Now there are no toys, but the film has gradually appeared on the gravel in the bottom of the tank. We use a water conditioner, allow the water to sit 24 hours before adding to the tank. We removed about 1/2 the water from the tank about once a month and add fresh, conditioned water. Is the brownish film coming from his scales? He's a red-orange color. Or is it something to really worry about? The previous Beta was blue-green and we never noticed a greenish film in the tank.

ANSWER: Hello Pauleta (beautiful name).  In order to properly answer your question, I need to ask you a couple of questions. As soona as you get back to me with the answers, I will give you my reply (I will do this quickly, I promise).

1.  Do you use a filter, and if so, what type?
2.  Do you have a heater for the tank?
3.  What kind of "toys" do you have in there? (short description is fine)
4.  Do you have any live plants?

I will wait to hear back from you and respond quickly.

I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you to begin with, but I had a personal matter with my 2 year old daughter being sick and was unable to get to my computer.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1. We have an Aqua-Tech 5-15 gal filter.
2. No heater, but there is a light over the tank.
3. We had plastic plants, a plastic rock, a "Herbie" and a treasure chest. Basically, tehy're just some fish tank decorations.
4. No live plants.
The fish seems to be very happy and swims all over, so he doesn't seem to be in distress.

Thanks for the help!

Answer
It sounds to me like you are dealing with a "brown algae" problem.  Sometimes it happens from lack of light, excess silicates & nitrates, or low oxygen levels.  In order to try to fix it, you may want to either keep the tank light on longer during the day (about 12 hours of light is great), and if you don't have a tank light, move it to a place where it can get more light.  You can add a bubble stone to put more oxygen into the water (you can get an air pump for about $10, you only need a small one, and get a "bubble stone" and some airline tubing). Be sure to wipe off surfaces & vacuum gravel well when cleaning the tank, and you can also purchase a silicate absorbing resin to put in the filter, which may help.

Just be sure to keep up on your regular weekly tank maintenance, and perhaps trying one or some of the above suggestions will help alleviate the problem.  When you are changing the tank water, be sure that you rinse your filter media in the tank water that you removed as opposed to under the sink faucet, because you can kill your "good bacteria" with your tap water.

I think this should help you though.  If I can help you along the way, or if you have any other questions, you know where to find me!!

Best of luck.  I hope I was of some help.    ;o)