Experienced fishkeeper with newb q's

[ryan]

Well im cycling my girlfriend's 16g bowfront dorm tank. I'm running a RFUGF with sponge on the intake (i figure she can handle squeezing out a sponge every now and then). i've never used this filter type before. The tank also has a bubble wall on the back. Anyways the cycles about halfway through (amm. gone, ITE past peek) with some thanks believe it or not to a fresh bottle of cycle.

My question is this: There is a ton of bubbles on the surface, will this go away after the cycles done?

Also, the filter needs purged of air constantly, and theres air building up under the UGF plates. any suggestions?

ryan

 

[RTR]

Bubbles under the plate of the RFUG are a no-no. How are they getting there? Are you using Penguin powerhead(s) or other, and is the venturi of the powerhead blocked (it should be).

Bubbles on the surface are from organics at the surface, unusual duing cycling, but I don't use any airstones so can't say for sure.

 

[ryan]

we're using a Aquaclear 402, full power and full reverse. the venturi is covered by the sponge but not capped (possible cause?). the sponge is also accumulating air (bubbles) almost hourly. im half tempted to just set it to normal flow and forget about it....but i wont.

We used cheap spring water to fill the tank (because she didnt want to make 16 bucket runs to the bathroom 2 floors below (no elevator). Could the water have proteins that cause the surface bubbling? cause it started foaming almost immediately after the tank was filled and running.

 

[RTR]

The venturi is the likely cause of your underplate bubbles. It needs total blockage. BTW the AquaClears in reverse mode are a terible waste of power and money- the output is pathetic reversed. The Penguins with their RF kit are far superior. Save the AquaClear where you can use its power in nomal mode - they are great workhorse pumps with one total waste feature - the ability to reverse - sorta, kinda, and only maybe if flow does not matter - which it does in RFUG.

Unsure about the surface film/bubbles - it should not be the spring water you wouldn't think. Go back to the store and get a fresh bottle and shake it vigorously, compare to the name brands. I'd susect it is just a transient biofilm unless the ammonia had surfactants in it.

 

[ryan]

stupid AC powerhead, lol. o well at least i know to replace it now and not after the tank started turning to crap.

ryan