HELP Pls...Microbubbles... =(

[Zergling76@aol.com]

I cant seem 2 get the microbubbles from flooding my tank and sticking 2 every surface. I checked all the connections, everything looks good, the pump is submerged... and the water level is almost near the max line. Any help would be appreciated. CHEERS, Frank

oh its a stock fresh from the box Biocube 29. No sponge, No bioballs, False Floor removed from chamber 2.

[aquawolf]

Sorry, but I am not familiar with how the Biocube 29 is set up. Does it have a skimmer? Where are the bubbles coming from?

[Zergling76@aol.com]

Okay AW i will explain the best i know how, No skimmer but the back is divided into 3 chambers with the pump in the first, a wet/dry space in the 2nd, and an overflow from the 3rd into the 2nd with a filter plate in it. I'm not sure if that helps but maybe someone else can explain it better? CHEERS, Frank

[Zergling76@aol.com]

Bump. =(

[aquawolf]

Okay, how long has the tank been setup? It is not uncommon for a new tank to have tiny bubbles all over the glass. They eventually go away when the glass gets a little slime layer on it. You could use a mag float and see if that gets rid of them as well.

Are there bubbles coming out of the return pump and into the display? If so then we will need to figure out how the pump is sucking air and correct it.

[Zergling76@aol.com]

Its been running for 48 hrs, and the bubbles are coming from the return nozzle i think its called. I'm not so worried about them sticking 2 everything as much as solving the problem...i cant seem 2 find the spot its taking in air.

[aquawolf]

Is there some type of a tube connected to the pump that perhaps is not seated all the way? Do you have enough water in the back chambers to keep the pump fully submersed?

I am hoping someone else who has experience with one of these tanks will chime in as well.

[Zergling76@aol.com]

If the tubes aren't connected properly what can i use 2 give it a tighter seal? The pump is submerged, currently the waters OVER the min/max by a tad. CHEERS, Frank

[Zergling76@aol.com]

It seems the overflow isnt flowing enough water into the 2nd chamber 2 keep the 1st chamber filled at the min/max now. i have been fiddling with it for over 2 hrs and morale is low i really could use some wisdom from TRT. Im ready 2 start taking plastic off with cutters.

[Zergling76@aol.com]

I have filled the water up until the problem seemed 2 stop, but that puts the waterlevel on chamber three WAY over the Max line...

[Jadinop]

By removing all of the bioballs and filter material you have created basically an empty overflow area. The water that would normally trickle over the bioballs is now splashing all the way down to the water surface. There is no problem with removing all of that stuff but you will need to run the water level higher as you have already learned or trim down the wall between Chamber 1 and 2 so the water doesn't fall so far.

I'm a little confused by your chamber numbering so, I think refering to it from entering to exiting the filter might be easier. Chamber 1 would be where the water comes in from the tank through the overflow. Chamber 2 would be the center where bioballs and filter pad usually go. Chamber 3 is where the pump goes and the tubing goes straight up to the return nozzle. I'm trying to do this from memory so if I'm describing it wrong I apologize.

[Zergling76@aol.com]

I agree 2 everything you have said. As long as it isnt a problem running the water high. Until maybe i put a skimmer in there 2 stop the splashing. I think what i did in numbering the chambers is reverse them from whats the norm. i went left 2 right down the line. CHEERS and thanks for the help, Frank

[Jadinop]

Since you don't have the bioballs, you can run the water as high as you want. The biocube won't overflow like an undertank sump can if the water level is too high in the sump. When the pump is shutoff the tank will just level out in all areas. If you use the bioballs they are not supposed to be submerged, that is why the tank has a min/max window in the first place. I would run the water level only an inch or so below the level of chamber 1. This will cut down on the splashing but you want to have enough of a drop to prevent a slimy buildup on the water surface.

[aquawolf]

Thanks for coming to the rescue on this Jadinop.