Hi, I have a 20 litre tank with undergravel filter that I just installed. The tank has a curved front so I had to cut the undergravel filter to shape. There is about 5cm of gravel on it. When I initially connect the air pump, bubbles escape from the tube but after a while, the bubbles decrease and eventually stop. When I release the air tube from the air pump, I get a air pressure sound and water rushes out from the air tube to the water level. I find it really hard to even blow into the air tube. The air pump is always kept above water level. What's wrong with my setup?
2007-06-25 19:12:20 · 5 answers · asked by Harvs 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I'm not using an airstone. Instread, there's a tube that I feed the airline into and another tube that extends from the UGF to into the water that expells the bubbles. When the UGF gets 'blocked" I need to blow vigorously into the airline causing air bubbles to escaple from the gravel until the bubbles start escaping from the bubble exit tube instead. Then i plug in the pump and it does alright for a few hours till the back pressure builds up again. So far, there isnt any kinks on the airline and its pretty short
2007-06-25 19:50:31 · update #1
Problem Solved. Some gravel got trapped under the undergravel filter and caused the air surface area under the UGF to decrease thus increasing the back pressure. Thanks for all the replies! Have a great day~! :)
2007-06-26 06:05:11 · update #2
Your problem has nothing to do with the gravel at all. The air pump should be able to make bubbles even if your gravel was allowing no flow through it.
I can think of 3 possibilities: 1. Your air tube is clogged or kinked. 2. The air stone at the end of the air line is clogged. 3. Your pump is wearing out and can no longer pump bubbles well.
2007-06-25 19:47:04 · answer #1 · answered by coffeend 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know but I had a 25 gallon and three 5 gallons on the same pump. The pump sit beside the 25. Two things come to mind, one you might have too much gravel over the filter and the other is to small of a pump.
2007-06-25 19:31:46 · answer #2 · answered by Coop 366 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You didn't state if you were using an airstone, but i suspect this is whats going on. Airstones like most anything else can be defective. If you are using an airstone remove it and see if it is still hard to blow through. If you are not using an airstone look for blockages in the tube or kinks in the airline.
2007-06-25 19:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by hop 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bettas are tropical. keeping a betta in an unheated tank will cut years off their life (not... 3yrs is not a long life for a betta). the tank isn't really suitable for any fish (except random killifish as another answerer mentioned but they're extremely hard to find). however, a few plants and you could add a mystery snail or a few small "pest snails" or a few shrimp.
2016-05-20 22:41:07 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most likely a clogged airstone, possible your check valve is backwards, but im thinking clogged air stone
2007-06-25 19:47:25 · answer #5 · answered by michael_j_p_42503 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋