Micro bubbles... Need better filtration?

[Bethany97]

Hello all,

Recently the water in my tank has had noticeably more micro bubbles in it than it previously did. (Although the tank has only had the seahorses and clean up crew in it for about three weeks.) I am assuming that the micro bubbles are a result of organic particles from the mysis shrimp I feed my tank. I don't see any signs of a sudden algae bloom that could cause the micro bubbles from photosynthesis, so I'm assuming that isn't my problem.

I'm using an Aqueon QuietFlow 20 with a 125gph flow. This filter apparently isn't going to cut it, so I was hoping you guys could help give me a couple of filtration suggestions?

My tank is a 20g with two H. Erectus seahorses, and a cleanup crew.

Note: I don't have a sump, so I can only use HOB filtration at the moment. (This is why I don't have a protein skimmer, I've heard HOB protein skimmers are awful about causing micro bubbles, which leads back to this current situation haha.)

Picture attached of how bad the micro bubbles are in my tank. (There's also a TON of Copepods on the glass, so some of what you're seeing is those guys.)

 

[twilliard]

Is the source of the micro bubbles from the hob filter?

 

[Diesel]

Test for Po4 and No3, it might be that you still going through a cycle.
Sometimes when I dose No3 at the end of the day I'll see some micro bubbles on the rock due to a elevated No3 level, higher than my scheduled level.

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I have found adding a piece of sponge to the output from the hob skimmer as well as the hob filter has almost eliminated my micro bubble issues. I just cut a small slit in each sponge and let the water flow through the sponge and into the water. Almost bubble free. That is, if the micro bubbles are caused by said filters.