Possible Emergency!

[Guppyman34]

Ok, I'm looking after my uncle's saltwater aquarium, and this left thing on the tank is spewing bubbles, and its freaking the fish! I really need to know what's going on! Here's a pic.

 

[Trueerfan]

Does it have a sump?

 

[Guppyman34]

Does it have a sump?

Umm maybe? What exactly is that?

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Umm maybe? What exactly is that?

Is there another tank under the tank, perhaps in the cabinet?

 

[Guppyman34]

Is there another tank under the tank, perhaps in the cabinet?

No, there is definitely not. We filled the tank and that helped.

 

[Mebbid]

It looks like a powerhead spewing bubbles. There might be a plastic tube sticking out of it that got exposed to air and is sucking it in to be sprayed into the tank.

 

[huma-huma]

Air bubbles!!!! Every freakin time i walk in the door from work and see a tankful of bubbles, it scares the crap outta me. Time for an ATO

 

[Stlrockguy]

I've had my skimmer make micro bubbles due to a bio overload but I've never seen my power heads do it

 

[dmolavi]

Definitely odd for a *well submerged* powerhead to spew bubbles, but I suppose stranger things have happened. That being said, my Hydor Nano powerheads can start sucking air with as little as an inch or so of water above them, depending on the other currents in the tank.

 

[Ingy]

If a high power powerhead gets too close to the surface (even within 6") it CAN (not will) create a whirlpool, sucking down air. That is what it looks like to me. You probably haven't been replacing evap water enough as a top off fixed the issue. Fresh water for the top off, not salt water.

 

[huma-huma]

If a high power powerhead gets too close to the surface (even within 6") it CAN (not will) create a whirlpool, sucking down air. That is what it looks like to me. You probably haven't been replacing evap water enough as a top off fixed the issue. Fresh water for the top off, not salt water.

+1. My koralias have created lil vortex tornados being as close to 3-4 inches to the surface. So its very possible