For a qhile now I have been dealing with a very persistent microbubble problem in my tank, and really I'm at my wits end as to any other solutions. When observing the bubbles they tend to circulate in the water however there is no noticeable origin point I can discern.

I have 2 emperor 400's x 55 gallon x 1 air stone

Basically, I've tried (all to no avail)

--raised/lowered flow adjuster on intake tubes

--Had 2 air stones on opposite ends... removed one. Neither was/is directly close to intakes.

--Disassembled filters (and cleaned) to make sure no leaks or cracks and that impeller was functioning properly. I have noticed no change with the filters clean or dirty, either.

--checks for leaks in intake tubes. None noticeable.

--tried both raising and lowering water levels

--I have read some information that I might have a 'shotgun' approach to filtration and that I simply might be creating too much current/force with running 2 emperor 400s in a 55 gallon. I tried shutting one down for a brief period and didn't notice any difference (other than seeing them floating more at the surface where the current fronm the 'off' filter' used to flow) and I'm very reluctant to keep off for an extended period and lose my bacterial colonies.

--As of right now i have removed the biowheels and am keeping them soaking in a bucket of tank water while I check to see if the biowheels are the cause. I have read this could be a possibility and am willing to try anything at this point short of scrapping a filter.


Any opinions would really, really be appreciated. I'm frustrated as hell...and the vast majority of info out there in regards to this deals with marine environments. There is remarkably little info I've found in regards to freshwater save your average Joe posts in forums...and as we all know you can get 700 differing opinions that are completely the opposite. I have literally spent hours and hours and hours scouring the internet.

i know a friend of mine had trouble with his pump for his pond.
The pump kept catching air and kept floating to the surface.
We were totally baffled and checked all the same things you did.
The pump kept floating to the surface, time and time again...
It turned out that the centrifugal force of the rotor created the microbubbles, which collected in the motorhouse and made the pump float...
Kinda like a pedddle can make bubbles under water when canoeing.
i had microbubbles with my canister when i "squeezed" the outlet, to reduce the flow.
Now that's some options for where the bubbles may come from, but that gives you no answer as what to do against them.
Does the centrifugal force theory make sense in your case?

Noddy wrote:


Yeah it makes sense,


at this point my only real conclusion I can draw is they are obviously emerging from the surface outlet. I suppose I can try rigging up some sort of current dispersal with maybe sponge or some plastic...i don't know. I actually tried to cram more media in there to reduce output flow even more but essentially all it did was make the water run out of the overspill guard and back into the tank unfiltered. I guess I'm going to have to attempt to attack this at the point it enters the water.

Thing is, they look like they are both producing the bubbles so I'm concerned totally removing one of the filters isn't really going to eliminate the problem.

Here is what I've done and the bubbles seem to be less already. I'll lose the biolwheels...but the tanks established and has 3 slots of ceramic rings so I'm not too worried about losing the bacteria I suppose. I'll just have to keep a close eye on water parameters, but...I always do anyways

I'm going to pick up some more durable, thicker sponge pieces tomorrow.




BTW, if you want to see a prime example of a pissy oscar sulking at the bottom b/c his keeper has been messing with the lights, rearraigning the tank and d*cking around with the filter here for hours and hours...HERE you go:

any throttling effect in the discharge point will produce micro bubbles.
try to install bigger hose or tube at the discharge area to lessen rippling;
it will reduce bubbles.

you may also check against any air leak in the intake point that will create
more bubbles too if it will not affect the suction force. you can see this by
shutting down the pump and water will comes out at that point in the suction line

Johnny I can't help with your problem but I had to comment on the pissy oscar! That is too funny because mine do the same thing. Although their faces can't change like humans - I swear they start glaring at us and shooting dagger looks at us when I clean the tank or rearrange the tank - which I do just to piss him off sometimes. Then it gives them something to do... new areas to explore etc. It's just funny to be getting the evil eye from my fish!

PAUL wrote:


Im not sure I understand...how would I see water coming out of the intake tube if it's submersed?

Ok quick update.

I removed any connector pieces in my intake tube...also removing the flow adjustor section. I sealed one end of the tubes with all connectors and filled with water and noticed leakage from in between connecting pieces as well as the flow adjustor handles. Thus, I removed both and have a solid piece going directly from the strainer to the tube to the impeller housing. This should eliminate any leakage.

I replaced 3 of the 4 biowheels with thick sponge to reduce output flow. The surface current has been reduced significantly with no splashing or bubbling, yet I'm obviosuly still getting rippling and movement which is good. It just flows through the sponge and down the plastic outlet. I also just did a water change so I want to have everything settle in before I determine if this helps.

Again, I have three bags of ceramic rings and the tank is established so there should still be plenty of bacteria even without the biowheels, and the filter wool hasn't been removed either, (although they were cleaned a bit a few days ago...but only mildly in tank water).

I was wondering if a surface skimmer of any kind might help alleviate this problem (?) similar to how protein skimmers can in marine tanks (?)

anyone?...bueller?


Anyways I've decided to buy a midrange canister filter, remove one of the HOB emperors. This was I can still have redundancy but also use the biowheels to supplement the canister instead if it being the main source of filtration itself.

i have not seen the use of skimmers in aquaria, only in ponds.
Plus i wouldn't know if one would help in this case...