Bubbles in my new water feature. - Page 2

beckdg · #11 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:16 AM

2 days should be sufficient... bottled or filtered water should be used. recording how long it takes to bubble will be very important to tell which gs will work. volume of water will have to be the same to do this let's say 1 gallon. the one that bubbles fastest should be assumed to be the worst and slowest = best (to use). temp should also be the same... say about 78 deg... most aquarium heaters are set at that temp... so anyone else can continue the same. buckets will only have to be clean and food safe. homer buckets will do as they have never held anything that can add to a failure. i don't think egg crate will help. i think total volume of gs will have to be the same... say a coffee cup full. we can line it with wax paper, fill it, trim it to level off the top, remove it and dump it in the water to test. curing time will also be important... same stuff 3 curing times. example: test 1 @ 2 hours cure time... test 2 @ 24 hours cure time... test 3 @ 72 hours cure time.

froggsong · #12 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:21 AM

I was thinking that we should put it on a piece of eggcrate because the volume of the piece won't matter as much as the surface area (the cells are closed on the outside unless ruptured), plus, alot of us are using in on eggcrate, and it may be the back part that isn't being covered with silicone that is causing the problem. Maybe another sample should be added with "trimmed" GS. I know that was the issue I had when I had to throw out my island for the newt. After I carved it it started foaming, not before. If we were to cut every peice, it would ruin the experiment.

beckdg · #13 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:44 AM

not if the cut end was siliconed to test also. also cutting won't be necessary if you are careful and fill the cup approximately the same every time.

i do think this will just verify what we already know though... moving water + exposed gs = bubbles. it is just what gs will do it or do it most. we already know that sealing it will eliminate the problem altogether if done correctly and completely.

i suggested a coffee cup to make it easier for uniformity... most coffee cups hold the same amount.

froggsong · #14 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:58 AM

Why does it matter if the amount is exactly the same, other than for uniformity in the test? It is the surface area only that matters, not the inside. It would be better to have a thin square piece than a rounded piece.

beckdg · #15 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 08:14 AM

volume of gs will be directly related to volume of any chemicals producing bubbles. if the gs takes on any water this will make a great difference imo. i agree that if it does not saturate it will not matter. i also think that bubbles would not happen if water is not penetrating the surface. using the same amount shaped the same will assure not only the same surface area but the same volume in general therefore making your experiment more stable and your findings more accurate. if you do this on a time line or just observe volume of bubbles produced you can be sure of your findings either way. you can even do both and cross reference.

RecycledAgain · #16 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 11:59 AM

I definitely have some gs uncovered in the water of the tank. I used a few squirts on the back sides of the false bottom to keep it from shifting or moving. I did give it plenty of time to dry (or I believe I did, a full week)

Materials used, (dates were all good) Red Cans of Gs; Ge 1 Silicone; white egg crate from Home depot. Eco earth from Petco and clay pellets, with black aquarium gravel to hide the fb; and fiberglass screen.The pump is a Dueto 100 on its side set at 50%flow. For the discharge tube I used reinforced 1/2 inch tubing with plastic elbows.

If this foaming continues I will pull out the false bottom and raise the Gs above the water line. After it dries I will reseal the cut away edges with silicone and hide the gap with clay pellets and substrate.
Dan

beckdg · #17 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 12:20 PM

just a thought... run that screen under water a little and see if it bubbles. i have seen screens bubble when it started raining while i was installing them. i can't believe i didn't think of that b4. although i am not sure it would last that long.

RecycledAgain · #18 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 12:51 PM

The screen is touching the water, I didnt trim it clean. The area that the water fall ends is also my access point to the filter . Just a cover with rocks on it ( no pool).

The bubbles look like sea foam after I used hot water. On a positive note, last nights water change didnt foam as bad this morning. Just had a thought, would the coco husk foam if it was mixed up in the filter? Never mind, it would be coming out of the exit end foamy.

froggsong · #19 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 07:35 PM

hmmmmm... You know beck, I woder if there is perhaps something ON the screen (maybe some sort of mold inhibitor or something?) that is causing the foaming. I never had any foaming in the tank that has GS underwater with NO screen, but the newt island DID have screen...

RecycledAgain · #20 (**permalink**) 01-21-2009, 08:12 PM

How about extra proteins in the water? Just like the skimmers I used to use in my old salt water tanks?
In the invertebrate tank I would see a spike in foam if I over fed the live rock.

I have been racking my brain as to what I did wrong.. Thoughts at Dentro board has me thinking now..

Who was it that enjoyed salt water tanks ? .. water keeper?

A buy product of extra nutrients in the substrate stirred up buy the pump ..Think about it ..

Dan