A very odd filter problem (Clowns will be clowns)

[Chickadeedeedee]

Hey All,

So I have been having a very odd problem with my HOB filters. I am running Tidal75 filters. They have a "skimmer" that pulls water from the surface through a grate similar to a weir. During the night my dumb clowns have discovered they can stick themselves to this to sleep. This causes the filters to suck air and make a terrible noise while flooding my tank with microbubbles. This is not a big issue with the small male, but when the large female sticks herself to the filters it is an issue. She almost gave me a heart attack when I went to check on the noise tonight and I found her stuck to the filter discolored (due to sleeping) and covered in microbubbles that kinda looked like ick for a few secs. I have either had to turn off my filters till they swim away or turn them way down for the night to stop the air being sucked in. Has any one else dealt with this? I am assuming I am just going to have to live with it haha.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I believe there is a valve for that surface skimmer that you can turn it down at night.
But are your clowns new? Do you have rocks and sand and corals? How is the water oxygenated at night?

 

[Chickadeedeedee]

I believe there is a valve for that surface skimmer that you can turn it down at night.
But are your clowns new? Do you have rocks and sand and corals? How is the water oxygenated at night?

Also note that it is not a skimmer as reef keepers think of a skimmer.
The clowns are not too new. They are about 6 months old along with the tank.
I have have rock and 3 in of sand. I am having an algae bloom so I am thinking about oxygen. Water is oxygenated via 2x wave makers pointed up to the surface. There is quite a bit of water movement. I also have 2x tidal filters so a bit of extra oxygen there. No evidence of oxygen issues with my "normal" fish. They all act fine at night. The cardinals swim in the column like normal and the tang/gobi stay in their caves.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

sounds like clowns being clowns then lol

 

[Chickadeedeedee]

sounds like clowns being clowns then lol

I swear no fish has risen my blood pressure as much as my dumb clowns.

When I woke up today, the female was happily swimming around without a care in the world...