FX5 micro bubble mystery solved?

[señor_pescados_felices]

I may have solved my micro bubble problem....well figured it out anyhow I don't know how to fix it.

I have been pissed off at my FX5 for nearly all of the two years Ive had it.It has made my tank look like a snow globe on and off since about the 2nd or 3rd month.Whenever I take pics my water looks almost like smog.

I'm not sure how I missed it but I noticed today when cleaning my filter that in an attempt to get the lid down as tight as possible I have been actually tightening it way, WAY, too much.....to the point where I actually warped the plastic.

Now the plastic around where the nobs snap onto the FX5 are actually raised up quite a bit.

There is still a rubber washer in the lip of the FX5 so I'm not sure if this is the problem or not but I figured I post it if not as a possible cause for others bubbles then to warn against over tightening your FX5 nobs!

For now all I could think of was to put a bit of gorilla tape around the edge where its not been warped to add some padding and raise it up a bit.doubt it will work but it all I could figure.

what do you guys think?

 

[Jgray152]

Holy hell. Finger tight is all you need with these filters. I make mine just a bit snug but I don't rank on them like what you did... yikes...

The microbubbles are usually caused by clog media. Causes the water pressure to drop significantly and causing the water to boil at very very low temps and creats those bubbles. Thats what I have got from researching cavitation.

 

[greenbird007]

that looks like it could cause the microbubbles....

you must have CRANKED on those knobs.....

some seepage of water from the area would tip it off.....

I found my FX5 doing the same bubble thing....but intermittantly....a 2 or 3 sec burst of microbubbles......every one to two minutes.....drove me nuts....

I found that it was air trapped in the unit....in media and such....
I raised one side of the filter while running....shook it a bit it to get the bubbles to go towards the return......and then I would turn the filter on and off a couple times to help clear out the loosened air bubbles....big bubbles would come out then.....

maybe this is helpful.....I don't know....but it does happen to my FX5 everytime I change media...

something that also helps is: and this was told to me by Fluval....when I called them....

"After cleaning the filter and you are returning the filter to the tank......when you release the valves to let the water drain back into the filter......hold the output nozzle out of the water while it fills......."

Helps to not get as much air trapped in it....

Hope this helps...

 

[señor_pescados_felices]

lol yeah it probably would have helped if a bunch of people hadn't told me I should be tightening them as tight as possible back when I first posted the problem about micro bubbles almost two years ago...

If I am tightening something I turn until it doesn't tun anymore.... seems that's how you know its tight?

when tightening my screws on the FX5 after impeller maintenance, I turn until they do not turn anymore...should I also be only giving these a few quick turns?

I think my point is clear.

I guess I just don't realize my own strength...

As for the media I keep the trays empty.Allot of people have said the sponges are good enough for mech but who knows it could be listening to that advise will also get me in a bind.LOL

 

[TempusFugit]

I spray a little Pam on my finger and rub it around the outside of the rubber gasket before putting the cover on. The bubbles immediately dissapeared; but I'm not recommending it cause I don't want anyone to say the Pam killed all their fish Works great for me though.