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Micro bubbles, photo bombers!


Hammerstone

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Hammerstone

I guess I am so used to seeing them in my Clown tank that I didn't think much of them until I took a photo with my iPod and it looks like it's snowing. Looks like from both the powerhead and the return. I'm screwed lol. Anyone know what to do?

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What's your set up? AIO, sumped, low tech hob only?

 

Favourite for micro bubbles is a skimmer in the sump letting bubbles out of the reaction chamber and return pump being in the same chamber or the baffles not trapping all the bubbles.

Another easily over looked one is water moving to quickly through a sump or falling too far due to a low water level in the return compartment creating bubbles that then get pulled through the pump and delivered to the display.

I think it's unlikely your in tank power head is making micro bubbles unless it's to close to the surface and pulling a vortex and drawing air.

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Always start simple. I've just upgraded my return pump to a 3000lph from a 2000lph and had to raise where I keep my minimum and maximum water level in the return chamber as the water running an inch down the baffle into the return chamber was falling far enough to create bubbles which were then being blended into lovely fine micro bubbles by the return pump and delivered to my DT.

Raising the water level cured it instantly.

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Hammerstone

Hi!!!

 

I just have a Fluval 30 HOB Filter on this one. My other one has a big Canister filter. My husband set up the saltwater tanks and he pretty much lost interest and I love the tanks. I'm kindof small so he will do the heavy lifting and taking things apart or putting them back together. I don't have sumps or skimmers. I am low tech at this point. I get saltwater from our LFS and bring it home and he lifts it up for me for water changes. Now I feel like a wuss. I just can't lift the water up high at all. I can however use a container but he just tells me to move and does it. I can move the powerheads down. I could see how that could be a problem. I have good water movement so that's good at least.

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So only a small HOB and an internal powerhead? Doesn't seem like that should be causing any significant bubbles...

 

Sorry I don't doubt you I just can't think of a reason why unless as mentioned your powerhead is too close to the surface and it's sucking in air. Of course in that situation it would probably also create some noise too. What kind of powerhead do you have? I think you're less likely to experience issues with a "circulation" style pump like a Hydor Koralia or similar.

 

If bubbles are coming out of the HOB filter then I would probably just clean it out and see if you can get them to stop. Maybe it's just sucking in the bubbles caused by the powerhead and pushing them out again. Also sometimes I just do a quick wipe down of the exit ramp of the HOB filter because sometimes if algae accumulates there it can cause the waterfall to narrow and become faster and more likely to create surface agitation.

 

As for the "heavy lifting" you should look into using a pump . For example stick a 5g bucket next to the tank with a pump in it and some hose clamped to the top rim of the tank. Then you can take your time filling up the 5g bucket using a smaller bucket and then once the 5g bucket is full turn on the pump and it will transfer the water quickly and easily. I use this same method - not necessarily because I can't lift it, but because I can make it so less sand is disturbed than just dumping in a bucket.

 

Finally, there are some good threads out there on how to photograph your tank. Just do a search. FYI most people turn off all their pumps and such when taking pictures so that would solve the issue where your photos look snowy.

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Hammerstone

Hey, I might not be the brightest crayon in the box but I just thought of something. The powerhead is right above a bubble curtain. Um, ding!!

 

Also when I send in pictures I might send in the blizzard ones because though not the best quality they are sort of funny. My clown fighting bravely against a torrent of snow!!

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Well if there are bubbles entering the power head they'll be being chopped up into lovely fine micro bubbles. Good catch. I said it's always the simple things.

With a hob sometimes the water falls along way back into the tank and people use something to extend the waterfall so the water is running into the tank not falling.

 

Glad to hear your hooked though. As ajmckay said, there's lots of info on this forum and others. Keep at it and again there's ways and means of making things easier with regard to lifting and maintenance.

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bubble curtain? like from an air pump? i would ditch it. you should have enough surface agitation for gas exchange with just the hob.

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Hammerstone

Yeah, I just thought it was pretty but now it's an aggravation. I don't think it will solve all my bubble problems but definitely will help if I remove it.

 

My HOB the flow is fast and there's some coming from that too. I tried cleaning the lip of it as someone suggested and it did help but it still is making bubbles.

 

Why is hair algae so damn hard to pull out? My Clown isn't happy with me right now. He was being hosted by it. It is gone!!!i mean She. I got some okay pictures using my iPod. You can see the landscapes and the tanks. Is there anybody willing to give me their email address so that I could send them my pictures and then post them on my thread? I'm limited with what I know what I can do with my iPod. It's all I use lol.

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