Air Sponge Covering Surface With Foam/bubbles

Why hello there,

I have an air sponge filter in my 5 gallon planted tank. When the bubbles reach the surface, they form a sort of foam that blocks out light and is ugly and bad. How can I stop this? What is happening? If I turn of the airflow from the air pump, the foam goes away after a bit.

Photo attached

Thank you in advance

 

Does the tank have any fish in it?

 

Does the tank have any fish in it?

No

 

Is there any way a contaminant could have gotten in there? Did you wash anything with soap?

Are you adding fish food or ammonia or anything like that?

 

Is there any way a contaminant could have gotten in there? Did you wash anything with soap?

Are you adding fish food or ammonia or anything like that?

No fish food or ammonia has been added. I cleaned out the tank with a bit of dawn because it had been sitting in my basement for years. I made sure it had been rinsed out super well. Also, this started considerably after the tank was first setup, it has only been foaming for the past 2 days

 

When did you set the tank up? It does look like soap, and I wouldn't know what else it could be, since you haven't added anything else.

 

Have you added any other additives to the water like stress coat or salt?

Maybe consider doing a large scale waterchange abd see if it removes the causation?

 

When did you set the tank up? It does look like soap, and I wouldn't know what else it could be, since you haven't added anything else.

Have you added any other additives to the water like stress coat or salt?

Maybe consider doing a large scale waterchange abd see if it removes the causation?

Did a 50 percent water change. It’s all cleared up, I have shrimp going in soon.

 

I would wait until you do a few large changes before adding shrimp, just in case. Since you don't have anything in there and you haven't started cycling, might as well take everything out and rinse in a few more times, just in case. Soap will kill shrimp fast.