The Puffer Forum

...Is releasing bubbles in my tank. It's really strange. I poked the sand and tons of bubbles pour out. Should I be worried?

If you dont stir your substrate gas will build up and could cause harm if it all releases at once. And thats what my guess as to what the bubbles are.


Unless you just did a water change, I seem to get small air bubbles all over my tank after a water change but then go away shortly

After doing water changes with a gravel vac over your sand, stir the substrate so you can avoid build up.

xrayjeeper83 wrote:If you dont stir your substrate gas will build up and could cause harm if it all releases at once. And thats what my guess as to what the bubbles are.

How deep is your substrate? Shallow substrates don't tend to build up as much gas, but they still need weekly stirring.

xrayjeeper83 wrote:Unless you just did a water change, I seem to get small air bubbles all over my tank after a water change but then go away shortly

The post-water change bubbles are from dissolved gases in the new water out-gassing. Pressurized water supplies tend to have much more dissolved gas that it can hold at tank temperature and not under pressure. The situation is worst in winter and spring, when the water tends to be the coldest. Lower temperatures allow more dissolved gases.

HTH

My substrate is probably around an inch I would say. And I almost always stir the substrate. Maybe I forgot to Saturday... interesting. Emergency water change and substrate stirring, away!

Tanks do have their ways of reminding you when you miss something...

Yes, I stirred the substrate and did about a 75% WC, the water smelled pretty awful

Alright so the bubbles are done and over with, but now I have this hair algae looking stuff, that is a white/clear color. And its on everything.

Sounds like fungus, but if it's still smelly, it might be bacteria.. I've had this happen a couple times only in one tank. You can try increasing the aeration and dosing maracyn (erthromycin) at the 1/2 recommended dose. I did this and it cleared up within a day or two. I did a huge water change before and manually removed as much as I could, and dosed for 2 days, then another huge water change.

What are your water parameters?

I didn't write down my last measurement, but I'll do a test tomorrow and I will let you know, and the water always stinks, but I think its from the driftwood.

Whether fungus or saprophytic bacteria, that fuzz is growing on food scraps. That can be a diet issue or a vacuuming one.

Fish tanks should not stink, period. If it is the driftwood, pull it out. Synthetics do not decay or stink.

Salmon wrote:...now I have this hair algae looking stuff, that is a white/clear color. And its on everything.

Does it move?

Like I mean is it in one location for a few days then it appears in another?

J-P wrote:

Salmon wrote:...now I have this hair algae looking stuff, that is a white/clear color. And its on everything.

Does it move?

Like I mean is it in one location for a few days then it appears in another?

No it does not move.

RTR wrote:Whether fungus or saprophytic bacteria, that fuzz is growing on food scraps. That can be a diet issue or a vacuuming one.

Fish tanks should not stink, period. If it is the driftwood, pull it out. Synthetics do not decay or stink.

RTR I found a crap ton of shrimp in my filter. I tried to feed new foods to my puffer, I guess I fed my filter instead...

sevenyearnight wrote:What are your water parameters?

parameters before water change, everything 0. didn't think my two banana plants could take all the nitrates out... Also pH is 8.2

I did about a 90% wc and I scrubbed the glass and driftwood as well as decorations and plants and sucked up as much of the floating debris as I could. I also cleaned out my canister filter and changed the foam pad in it. Any suggestions?

How does it smell now?