Lots and lots of micro bubbles

[texfromkansas]

We have so many micro bubbles in our tank today. We added 130+lbs of rock yesterday to our new 125. Could this have something to do with it. I don't have the skimmer running yet. Should I restrict the return and slow it down? As you can see in the pic, it looks like it is snowing in there.

[Geoff]

where are the bubbles coming from? do you have a return pump? do you have a powerhead to close to the surface?

it could be the LR, but i should have dissipated by now. usually within a day all of the trapped bubbles are removed.

G~

[texfromkansas]

Originally Posted by Geoff

where are the bubbles coming from? do you have a return pump? do you have a powerhead to close to the surface?

it could be the LR, but i should have dissipated by now. usually within a day all of the trapped bubbles are removed.

G~

I have a little giant 1200gph return pump and i don't have the powerheads in the tank yet.

The bubbles are comming out of the retun nozzles.

[Hop]

Well the possabilities are that you are sucking air into the return pipe somewhere or your sump cannot handle the volume you are pushing through it and effectively dicipate the bubbles.

I do beleive in the 3-5 times the tank volume through the sump per hour. Others will disagree, but it's a good rule of thumb

[leveldrummer]

water is probably too low in the return area, add some water and see if it stops.

[texfromkansas]

Still have bubbles. I have raised and lowered the water level in the sump, restricted the return flow and have just as many bubbles as yesterday. Wouldn't I have a water leak if I have an air leak? The attached pic is from this morning.

[Hop]

Wouldn't I have a water leak if I have an air leak?

Not necessarily. It can create a vacuum and suck air in. I'm not sure of how your plumbing is set up but...If you have access to the return plumbing, I would try running a bead of PVC glue or silicone around each of the joints of the return plumbing. If you don't have access, it gets a little more complicated

[Loverotties]

I think a air leak.

[texfromkansas]

Originally Posted by Hop

Not necessarily. It can create a vacuum and suck air in. I'm not sure of how your plumbing is set up but...If you have access to the return plumbing, I would try running a bead of PVC glue or silicone around each of the joints of the return plumbing. If you don't have access, it gets a little more complicated

Should I do it with it runing? Here is a pic of the return plumbing.

[leveldrummer]

Originally Posted by texfromkansas

Should I do it with it runing? Here is a pic of the return plumbing.

yes, or shut it off, and the air leak should start dripping water. but with it running and sucking air, it should pull a little bit of the glue into the gap. hopefully closing it.

[texfromkansas]

I just cemented all the connections. No immediate changes.

[Hop]

Well a few other options are.
1. It's the threaded connections at the pump.
2. It's the lockline.
3. Give it a month and look for the saltcreep.
4. It's a joint where the glue you used didn't seep in.
5. Somehow it's cavitating the pump at the feed, but you should be able to see a little tornado being created and air getting into the intake for the pump.
6. The pump is too big and the sump too small and the turnover rate is not allowing the bubbles to dissipate in the sump. (I don't think this is 100% it as you have a bunch-o-bubbles).

Obviously it is a big hole, that is a lot of microbubbles.

You have me scratching my head I could probably figure it out if I was there... Just above the pump, the pipe Ts... where does it go? Is that a UV? The pic is cut off there.

[texfromkansas]

Originally Posted by Hop

Well a few other options are.
1. It's the threaded connections at the pump.
2. It's the lockline.
3. Give it a month and look for the saltcreep.
4. It's a joint where the glue you used didn't seep in.
5. Somehow it's cavitating the pump at the feed, but you should be able to see a little tornado being created and air getting into the intake for the pump.
6. The pump is too big and the sump too small and the turnover rate is not allowing the bubbles to dissipate in the sump. (I don't think this is 100% it as you have a bunch-o-bubbles).

Obviously it is a big hole, that is a lot of microbubbles.

You have me scratching my head I could probably figure it out if I was there... Just above the pump, the pipe Ts... where does it go? Is that a UV? The pic is cut off there.

Yes it goes to the UV and back in to the sump. I have the UV ball valve open about 1/4.
What is a lockline?

[texfromkansas]

Could the pump be bad? It is so hot I can't keep my hand on it.

[Hop]

Lockline is the flexible tubing you used for the returns



Are any of the joints of the lockline above water? Sometimes the same design that makes them flexible will allow air in at the joints.