Mini Water Tornado Gets sucked into Powerhead?

For some reason every 15 20 min or so my powerheads create this little underwater tornado above the powerhead, and it sucks it in and spits out air bubbles.. how do you fix this problem? Or is it fine?

I think it might be because its too close to the top of the water? But then how do you get good water movement on the top of your water?

 

The powerhead is positioned too far up. It is caused by the pumps intake.

If you lower the whole pump down a little and point the output up towards the surface, it should fix the problem while still getting good surface movement

 

my vortechs do that when they hit their peak power, which makes it look like a wave is crashing every so often. I kinda like the effect, and the bubbles are gone after a a minute or two once the peak is past (peak lasts maybe 2-3 minutes, every hour or so I would guess)

Also, when I dose my carbonate supp. I drip it into the little vortexs that form all the time (without sucking air) and it's neat to watch the swirling white cloud of alk as it dissolves.

But yeah, moving the PH down will prevent the air suction, and a few powerheads have some kind of adjustment that lets you prevent it via a baffle of sorts, or you can sometimes turn them upside down, as long as the tank is deep enough that it doesn't suck up sand.

 

It is called vortexing and they are probably too close to the surface. If they are something like a Koralia rotate the powerhead so the blank section of screened are is on top. If not lower them further in the tank then point them towards the front center surface area.

 

If it's not actually sucking air (making the sound) is it ok to have the vortex? I think it looks kind of cool.

 

It doesnt hurt anything, i get it once in awhile on my mp40 when i do short pulse it scares the S*&# out of me everytime tho, because it is loud, my mp40 is in the middle of my glass and still makes the vortex i cant really do much about it as i can only go lower and dont want a sandstorm lol