Small bubbles from canister filter

[DrNic]

After my last water change on Sunday I've noticed small bubbles coming out of my canister filters output. Normally when this happens I just give the filter a little shake, which sends out a few bigger bubbles. This time however tiny bubbles just keep coming out even if I give it the occasional shake. This is my first canister filter so I wasn't sure if this was normal or not. Nothing is leaking but I'm wondering if I should pull out the filter and check all the tubing joints just in case.

Any thoughts?

[CrazedMichael]

This is normal after cleaning the canister. How long has it been bubbling till now?

Also, did you add water to the canister before connecting it, or did it fill up with tank water after connecting it? If so, then it'll take a while to degas due to bubbles in the filter medium.

[Lady Hobbs]

All the air will escape if you leave it alone and not shake it. Each time you give it a shake, you'll just expel more air. Mine does that after I've cleaned the sponges.

[DrNic]

I didn't clean the canister at all I just did a 30% water change in the tank. There are still little 'micro-bubbles' coming out now and it's been 5 days.

[Lady Hobbs]

Are you connections tight on that end?

[DrNic]

I've checked all the connections and everything seems tight. If I turn the filter off it doesn't appear to be leaking anywhere. It's been a number of weeks with at least 3 water changes and I'm still getting microbubbles coming out of the filter. Occasionally I can also hear larger accumulated bubbles hit the impeller and grind for a few seconds.

Here is a pic of the bubbles (best one I could get),



I'm using a bubble wand in the tank and I'm wondering if maybe the microbubbles from the wand are getting sucked into the filter and building up. I'm going to try to leave the airpump off for a while to see if the bubbles dissipate. I'm also planning on cleaning out the filter media next weekend and see if that helps.