Skimmer crazy after adding clay pot

Jake_the_reefer · Jun 18, 2019

So I am trying to get my clowns to spawn so I bought them a terracotta pot (which I cleaned and soaked in water) but this morning my tank is full of micro bubbles and my skimmer is going insane (not making skimmate just alot of bubbles) could this be related to the introduction of the pot and I should do a water change or is my skimmer just needing mantinence cause the water j tube is full of algae

Big G · Jun 18, 2019

Some clay pots are not "fired"at all or are extremely "low fired" so some of the chemicals may be leaching from the pot. Always use a "high fired" pot (to test fill with water. If it holds water, it's probably high fired.

Jake_the_reefer · Jun 18, 2019

Big G said:
Some clay pots are not "fired"at all or are extremely "low fired" so some of the chemicals may be leaching from the pot. Always use a "high fired" pot (to test fill with water. If it holds water, it's probably high fired.

The pot was removed now I am running carbon and did a 40% water change

Peace River · Jun 18, 2019

IME, micro bubbles will continue to come out of pots for a few days after they are placed in water. I am not sure that anything harmful is happening, but by nature terra cotta pots are slightly porous. I have used many of these pots from the hardware store over the years with no negative noticeable effects, although I have learned to let them soak for several days until the bubbles stop being released. Additionally, the pot likely released some terra cotta "dust" in the process so that is probably what set off your skimmer. To be clear I have not added clay pots into any tanks with corals so I cannot address any impact that these may or may not have on coral. I have only used them in FOWLER or breeding tanks. The carbon and water change should clear up the tank quickly. Good luck!

Jake_the_reefer · Jun 18, 2019

The tank is already clearning and my skimmer is starting to act right after removing the pot

Peace River said:
IME, micro bubbles will continue to come out of pots for a few days after they are placed in water. I am not sure that anything harmful is happening, but by nature terra cotta pots are slightly porous. I have used many of these pots from the hardware store over the years with no negative noticeable effects, although I have learned to let them soak for several days until the bubbles stop being released. Additionally, the pot likely released some terra cotta "dust" in the process so that is probably what set off your skimmer. To be clear I have not added clay pots into any tanks with corals so I cannot address any impact that these may or may not have on coral. I have only used them in FOWLER or breeding tanks. The carbon and water change should clear up the tank quickly. Good luck!