lifechooser

This morning there was a large puddle of water around and under my tank. It caused quite a mess and had me worried about the source. A bit of investigation and the most likely cause is the air stone bubbles splashing water onto the lid, and due to the lid not being completely closed, water has escaped down the back of the tank.

Is this a common problem? My light has algae on it too. Can you have bubbles which don't splash? Bigger ones for example? Do I need a bubbler, or should I get rid of it?

Charmaine

My lid did the same thing and I cut 2 small holes in the back of the lid. Your heater makes your water vapour on the lid and it needs a space to evaporate. That solved my problem. I have a huge air stone and the water does not run down the back of my tank anymore.

Ghostfish

I would change to a different air stone. You can purchase airstones that are labeled as "fine mist" stones. This will give you smaller bubbles with very little splash. You could also go with a bubble wand which gives smaller bubbles since it spreads out the escaping air.

outlaw

What about a vavle? I have 1 on our 46Gal and the 2.5 or the 20. Is the water level too high that it is splashing that much water out? If you are getting algae on your light, its probably getting wet. I would make sure it stays dry, no need to see first hand how bad water and electricity don't mix. What kind of cover do you use, if any? you could always try a piece of plexi glass, or regular glass over the tank or see how much a cover for your tank would be from the lfs.

Are you sure its the air stone? I have never had a cover (aside from a piece of plexi glass for the light to sit on) over our 20gal and never had the water do that which I have filled to the lip where the cover would normally sit. Same with our 46Gal, and I even fill it up to the lip on the top (where the cover sits).

pepetj

I had a leaking problem coming out of the HOB filter in my first tank (a 10gal). It happened during the fishless-cycle, I found a large but thin water trail in the floor.

For some reason the HOB was not properly leveled and water was leaking when the charcoal bag floated (it was obviously saturated too soon due to sand particles). Since the leak was weak, it took me some time to figure things out.

Ever since I allways place the activated charcoal as the bottom media (replace it every 21 days tops), and inspect for propper leveling of the HOB unit (I love AquaClear leveling device, simple but effective plastic piece).

Since I keep water level really high in all my tanks, green algae forms in the lamp glass. I clean it monthly, no big deal (with a blade like instrument).

Pepe
Santo Domingo