sskacrouse

Okay... So I have reviewed ever possible forum that could have to do with my question and I can't seem to find an answer...here we go. I just recently set up my 20 gallon tank. It has been set up and running for 5 days. We have been through the cloudy water stage and now it's really clear and looking good. The only problem is that we have an excessive amount of bubbles on top of the water. I don't know where they are coming from or how to stop them. Is this even normal? We were going to add fish this Friday, will this still be okay? What should I do? Any help would be great. Thanks

FL CommunityFans

Your filter may be causing the bubbles depending on how strong it feeds back the water. I know when we put ours on high, it tends to create an agitated surface causing more bubbles.

capekate

Hello and welcome to Fishlore... Hope we can help. About the bubbles.. do you have an air stone running? Is your filter flow to strong? These are things that can cause the bubbles. Usually when you fill a new tank with water you get the air bubbles all over the tank and decorations etc. But I dont believe that is what your talking about.
On another note, your tank is only 5 days old andreally is not ready for fish yet. It has not completed the nitrogen cycle yet and contain harmful ammonia, nitrIte and nitrAte levels. Tho this early in the cycle, you are probably just showing a lot of ammonia which is not good. Or it may not show any ammonia if you have not 'seeded' your tank with either fish flakes or pure ammonia to start the cycle. Which I assume you havent done yet. A "clear" water is not a sign that your tank is ready for fish tho.Your aquarium info shows that you do not know what your water parameters are and that is a good place to start for the success of your tank. You need a water test kit to find out where you are in the cycle. We mostly use the liquid test API over the unreliable test strips.
I would suggest doing some reading up on the nitrogen cycle here in Fishlore and see what you need to do before adding any fish.

~ kate

SereneReyn

does it look almost like soap bubbles? i've seen that, but not experienced it first-hand... so i'm not really sure what to tell you on that - have you tested your water lately?

did you use bio-spira to cycle your tank or something, btw? If not, how did you cycle it so fast?

Evelyn1919

CYCLE CYCLE CYCLE!!! Must cycle tank! I lost about 5 fish by not cycling my tank and it's really not a good way to find out that your doing it wrong. I used Biospira and works great! Now with only 2 & 1/2 weeks of having my 75gal tank I have about 15fishes and they are all doing great and the water chemistry is just fine.

travie

Keep doing regular water changes. If that doesn't cure the problem, it could be filter outflow or airstone, but if all that isn't the answer, you have a bigger problem.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

What are you using for treating your tap water?

What is the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates at?

It is best to add the fish once the tank has been cycled, which will be at least a few more weeks.