Micro Bubbles...

[sdposse]

Just put my first SW tank together. It's been cycling/running for 12 days now.

I have a fluval 404 running with carbon only w/ spong. It sporadically lets out a BIG burst of micro bubbles? What's the haps?

Is this normal and I'm just being impatient? Did I set it up wrong? or How do I fix this?

Also, if you were to run a canister filter like I am, how would you run it for a reef? Such as what would you put in the 4 trays (tob to bottom) and do I leave the sponge in there? I'm reading that canister filters are not favored for reefs, but I have can't a sump at the moment. I'm skiiming with a remora aqua c.

Thanks in advance.

 

[uscharalph]

Is the pump new or used?

 

[sdposse]

the fluval is new.

 

[ReefDreamz]

I am running the exact same setup (fluval 405, aqua c remora). I am at the same place as you but maybe a little further. My fluval pumped out lots of bubbles for a while too but it seemed to have stopped. I think air left in it after the first fill up gets blown out periodically until its competely full of water. I also am wondering what to run in my fluval.
-Cody

 

[rodgod20]

Make sure no leaks in the plumbing, I had leaks in my plumbing and I had a HUGE microbubble issue

 

[alexb518]

i would say that you can do w/o the fluval all together. the live rock and skimmer should do all the work. if you want the fluval in there, just fill it up with some LR scraps and let it run. as for the bubbles, is it taking in air from somewhere? check the hoses. i haven't used a fluval in a really long time [15 yrs. probably] but from what i remember about those, it was a normal thing. not sure though.

 

[poppin_fresh]

I would only run some carbon in your Fluval. Even then I wouldn't do it all the time. I think a bunch of live rock rubble in a couple chambers would also make a good setup.

 

[Avi]

Like alex and the others say, you would do fine without the carbon and the Fluval. But, if you want for one reason or another to continue to use it, I'd say that what you need to do is fully load it with water after you put the new carbon in and seal it full of water. Then, there shouldn't be as much of a problem with air that gets injected into the tank as micro-bubbles.

 

[sdposse]

thanks

thanks

thanks for all the replies.

I think I'm going to ditch the fluval. Fortunately, I didn' spend much on it. I just wish I did my research prior to buying it. I probably wouldn't of bought. I hate to see it go to waster.

Can I use it on a QT setup?

 

[sjm817]

I run a Fluval 404 on my setup, which is a bit different. I have a 180G with a basement sump. The fluval runs on the sump input and output in the return section after the skimmer and fuge. I just have carbon in it. It holds a ton of it. Well, not quite a ton, but a whole 3.65L container of Black Diamond!

A canister filter is a good way to run carbon and GFO. Since I have so much in there, I have it on a timer to run on a 1hr on - 6hr off cycle. 4 hr total for the day.