Why are there bubbles at the top of my brand new fish tank???

Question

I just got a brand new 1 gallon fish tank. When I set that tank up I also set up another 1 gallon that I have had. They both now have bubbles to the point that they are overflowing. I haven't added the fish yet because I was waiting on them to stabalize. Now I'm afraid to add them in case the tank is unsafe. I never had this problem before with the older 1 gallon and I've never had this problem with my 10 gallon. There is nothing that I can think of... I don't use soap when washing them, I use fresh distiled water. If there is anything that you can think of please help! I really need to get my new fish into their tanks.

I am for sure that I'm using distilled water and it is because I'm not as new to this as you think. I have tried several varieties of water and have always had the best luck with distilled. The IS however the first time that I have had bubbles. It is strange because both of my tanks have them, new and old. The bubbles are more like a foam than anything else. I went ahead and put the fish in their tanks and they are very happy, I just don't want a mess of bubbles. I have checked the levels of the water and everything is healthy. The bubbles go away when I remove the tank's lids. I just don't get why both a new and old tank would do the same thing.

BTW, a one gallon tank is perfectly fine for a beta or why else would they make them? A beta's natural habitat is alot smaller than 1 gallon, so the tanks are big to them. I have never had a problem with beta's in a one gallon tank.

Answer 1

It probably isn't a bad idea to re-rinse them. Use a 1:1 vinegar:water solution, let it soak for an hour, and rinse thoroughly with hot water, then refill.

Are the bubbles being created by an air bubbler or a filter? Anyway, some water conditions create bubbles in the water. That might be the cause.

Anyway, once you've rinsed and re-filled, be sure to cycle your tank. In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish. So, it is vital to cycle your tank.
There are a few methods. Do you have access to an established tank? These bacteria live in the gravel and in the filter cartridge, so if you can get some from another tank, you can put the bacteria right into your tank (don't let the gravel or filter cartridge dry out). If you do this, in a day or two, your tank will beready for fish.
Another way is to get Bio-Spira. It is the actual live bacteria in a little pouch, and your tank will instantly be ready for fish.http://fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

Other methods, which include putting a source of ammonia in the tank and letting the bacteria build up on its own, or putting a fish in and letting the fish produce ammonia (which borders on animal cruelty, because the fish will suffer from the ammonia in the tank), take 2 to 6 weeks before your tank is ready. If you rush that, any fish you buy may die, so try one of the instant methods I mentioned above (bio-spira or gravel from another tank)

Answer 2

Holy crap! Overflowing? Wow.... If you have an aerator, which you should, then this would be one level of wow, but if you don't have an aerator, then this is double wow. Plain water should not build bubbles. Bubbles will rise to the surface and maybe float there for a few seconds, but clean water shouldn't build bubbles. You had to have gotten some soap in there from somewhere. Soap will kill fish faster than you can say die. Dump the water. Rinse everything really well. Get a new sponge/scrubber but, don't use even a new sponge/scrubber without rinsing it out well. Dedicate a sponge specifically for the tank. Never use it for anything else. Also, buy a water test kit to make sure the water is stabile. Let your water cycle well before adding fish. You really ought to let it cycle for at least a week, but preferably a month if you can. Anyway, clean the tank well, add the water again, test it. Once you see the test results, you may need to buy some chemicals to balance the ph levels. There is also a natural bacterial agent that you can add. They don't keep it on the shelves because it's alive and it has to be kept in the fridge, so ask for it. Then see how it goes.

Answer 3

The bubbles are not a problem in and of themselves. Distilled water is not good for fish, it has none of the minerals that regular tap water has and the fish need. It also has very little O2. Are you sure you are using "distilled" water and not mineral or spring water? Additives that may not be good for your fish are put into mineral and spring water by the bottlers.

Whatever is keeping the bubbles from escaping ito the room air could be a problem. There might be a film on the surface of the water from cooking in the house, or smoking nearby. If the water is not moving, then a film will develop and not allow the bubbles to escape into the room air.

No water movement makes it very difficult to get O2 into the water for the fish to breathe. A one gallon "tank" is way too small for any fish to live in. Even a betta needs 2-3 gallons with a heater and a filter. Yes, it is a "tropical" fish.

Answer 4

Did you rinse all the rocks and accessories?

I'd do it again. Drain the tank and rinse EVERYTHING very thoroughly in bathtub with very hot water. Add baby water instead of distilled. Run charcoal filter for a full 24hrs, check pH balance, then add fish.

There is also a natural algae that you can buy to make the water more hospitable. Just one drop per gallon.

Answer 5

Is the tank glass or plastic or acrylic (yes there is a difference? Plastic tanks have residues left on them from processing. This is a chemical sheet attached to the plastic prior to cutting it into the molds needed.

One solution is to dismantle and re clean the tank. You can use 1oz of bleach or better yet tank clean to one gallon of water and clean your tank with a non abrasive cloth. Rinse and refill. Remember to use either clor out or I prefer Novaqua +. It detoxifies tap water and breaks down the chloraminos quickly. Restart your tank. If it has a filtration, rinse it as well. Sometimes the charcoal in your filter can cause this "soapy" look as well if it wasn't rinsed well.

Answer 6

If it's just bubbles on the side of the walls of your tank, then you don't need to worry because these are just from filling your tank up with water. Air gets "stuck" on the walls, and over time, they will disappear. It happens to me all the time when I change the tank's water.

Answer 7

there is to much oxygen in the water

Answer 8

i would say you may have unsafe levels of nitrate , i would try putting in a low priced fish and try it