Fluval FX5 Blowing Out Bubbles...

[blacksnow]

I've read the existing topics and can't get this problem to go away.

I have Chemi-Pure Grande in my top media basket, and Seachem Matrix Bio Media in the bottom two trays.

I opened up the filter and everything is clean. All my hoses have good connections, and the rubber on the hoses are beneath the water line within the tank.

There are no aerators or anything in the tank nor around the intake.

Any help be greatly appreciated. thanks!

 

[LouieV]

It might be that its pretty packed...believe it i had an FX5 and traded it becuase it would blow micro bubbles every week...and all I had was rings on top eheim bio in the middle and chem stars in the last....I was tired stirring up the media to remove the gunk.. but that was me...it might something else...

 

[Mr. Grumpy Gills]

check your seals. micro bubbles is a result of partial cavitation of the pump. if any cracks or brittleness is present with the seals replace it.

 

[blacksnow]

check your seals. micro bubbles is a result of partial cavitation of the pump. if any cracks or brittleness is present with the seals replace it.

seals all look fine...

 

[spwd]

Dont shoot me for this but make sure all the screws are VERY tight on the lid,and check the other outlet at the bottom,you never know it may just be sucking air in there or somewhere else.hth

cheers steve

 

[Jgray152]

are VERY tight on the lid,

NO! slightly tight is all you need. You don't need them very tight. This will cause the cover ends to warp and this will cause bubbles.

If your bio media is to packed, this could cause the micro bubbles even though the media is clean. This issue has come up before.

 

[Rockydog]

Your filter is blowing micro bubbles because you have chemi-pur in the top basket. The bags that hold the chemi is very fine and will plug up quickly causing the micro bubbles. I tried it in the bottom basket and I could only get a week out of it. Had to get rid of the chemi.

My setup now is bio max in the top 2 baskets and Matrix carbon in the bottom basket sandwiched between two of the blue fluval pads. With this setup the whole bottom basket becomes a fine filter media. This works great and lasts 4 weeks on a heavily stocked tank. When it blows micro bubbles around 4 weeks I break it down. It is actually due at that time because the sponges are really gunked up.

Get an extra set of the blue pads and don't throw them away, they can be rinsed under tap water and soaked in a bleach solution for a couple days, rinsed then soaked in prime solution for 24 hours, rinsed and let dry for the next change.

 

[cichlid fiend]

I don't know if it helps you but when mine was doing the same thing the carbon bag had opened and some had came out

 

[HiImSean]

NO! slightly tight is all you need. You don't need them very tight. This will cause the cover ends to warp and this will cause bubbles.

If your bio media is to packed, this could cause the micro bubbles even though the media is clean. This issue has come up before.

i agree. mine was blowing out micro bubbles too, i loosened the top and it was fine.

 

[DaveB]

i agree. mine was blowing out micro bubbles too, i loosened the top and it was fine.

I think this must be the case with mine. I'm just so super strong that I overtightened it. The lid seems to be a bit warped now between each screw because of my freakish superhuman strength.