Microbubble help

So, my tank has been running for several months now and all of my water parameters seem to be steady and well under control. BUT I have microbubbles everywhere and they are driving me nuts. I see display tanks at stores and pics on this website of crystal clear water and I can't figure out how to get there

I have read through the articles on this site addressing microbubbles and almost all of them deal with adjusting the skimmer or dealing with sump issues. The bubbles aren't coming from my skimmer and I don't have a sump so I am not sure where to go next. It looks like the water is full of debris.

I am running a canister filter as well as 2 Koralia 1's in a 35 gallon tank. The bubbles may be coming from the powerheads but I have tried them in various spots and at various depths and there has been no change.

I am not sure what info. to add because I don't know what the problem may be. This certainly is not urgent but I would love to clear this up...so to speak.

Thanks.

 

If your sure it isn't the skimmer, then it might be from your canister filter. If you find out where it's coming from, use a sponge to trap the bubbles.

 

Turn one thing off at a time for half an hour to see if the bubbles stop.

 

Great advice !!

 

Great and obvious advice. Thanks. I will start turning things off one at a time...I will be back in a couple of hours...

 

OK, back sooner than I thought. The very first thing I turned off gave me my answer...the majority of the bubbles are coming from my canister. One of my Koralias puts out 4 - 5 bigger bubbles every 30 seconds or so but nothing I couldn't live with.

Once the bubbles were out of the way I could also see how much debris is in the water and has risen to the surface...

So, is there a way to run a canister without the microbubbles?

(Triggerfish, you suggested a sponge...what type and where?)

And is there a way of getting rid of the debris considering my mechanical filtration is all located in the cansiter filter?

P.S. - How and when can "karma" be given...I have been helped a number of times on this site and that seems a way of saying thank you but I am not sure how?

 

You just need to make sure your canister has a "prime"..it sounds like it is not fully primmed...what brand? some are easier than others..
You dont want to sponge filter your canister output....IMO

LG

 

just my personal opinion,

good luck dude.

 

I have a Fluval 304. I am not sure how to tell if it is "fully" primed. When I turn it back on after cleaning or changing media it shoots out huge amounts of bubbles into the tank (making the tank look almost white) and then it clears up, the stream looks pretty clear and I am left with the micro bubbles. At times I have to use the priming pump but it usually self primes.

Is there an adjustment that can be made?

I am running a HOB Deluxe Red Sea Prizm Skimmer and have 50+ pounds of live rock, if that is helpful information.

P.S. - My clean up crew is 4 red legged hermit crabs, 1 dwarf blue legged, 5 cerith snails (plus some recently hatched babies), Stomatella snails (about 4 hitchhikers from live rock), 2 turbo snails and 2 trochus or astrea snails(I can't remember which) Should I get more?

 

I would recommend going here (or similar) ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home and getting an updated CuC. I would also ditch the canister completely... though some folks like to keep them on hand for occasional use...