micro bubbles

[Ray333]

Hello, I have had my tank up and running for about a month, and I have had thousands of micro bubbles shooting into my tank from the get go. It just seems to get worse. My tank is 125 gallons with a custom built sump, Deltec AP 600 skimmer, Reef flo Dart return pump, and my tank was custom drilled with horizontal overflow box across the top back of tank. The return goes through the back of the tank in both top corners and goes all the way around the inside of tank like a loop with 3/4 inch pvc with 6 loc lines for jets. It looks like alot of bubbles are coming from the skimmer, but I shut it off completley and still have bubbles shooting out of returns. I have tried sponges, socks, floss and many other things. Is it just a break in thing or what? Thanks

[jenglish]

you will get bubbles from the skimmer that should lessen with the break in. I would think this would have happened by now. But you said that you still had bubbles w/ the skimmer turned off? was it long enough that there were no longer bubbles in the sump? Micro bubbles can take a long time to dissipate. Are you getting bubbles from the overflow?

[Ray333]

I was getting them from the overflow but I put socks in there and they pretty much stopped. No I didnt turn it off long enough for them to dissapear maybe a couple hrs or so. When I turn the whole system oof my water in the tank and sump just looks like gel because all the bubbles just sit there, they don't rise. There is bubbles trapped under my rocks, overflow box, under pipes, trapped under skimmer and skimmer pump. I have tried just about everything.

[jenglish]

there may be something that can be done to lessen it with baffles in your sump. I dont run a sump so I will leave that to some of the experts on the subject. I have honestly not heard of someone having that bad of a bubble problem before. Have you tried adjusting your skimmer ? Again I've not ran a coralife before so I am unfamiliar with their operation. Sorry I can't be more helpful. If possible a picture of your sump setup will help when some of the more plumbing knowledgable members are on

[Fly Guy]

if you still have them even with yoru skimmer shut off, sounds like maybe you have a leak in your plumbing creating a big venturi effect in your return line(s)

are the bubbles coming out of all 6 of your returns?? or just some of them.

Get a wet rag/towel, and witht he return pump running pretend all of the joints are leaking, and one by one manually try to 'fix" it by wrapping this wet towel tightly around the joints. This wont stop it completely, but if there is indeed a leaky pipe, it should reduce the bubble enough to identify the culprit joint.


If that is offbase, and all of the bubbles are in the sump simply cukign into the return line, we need to see a pic of your sump and all details as far as pumps used and size etc

You should also not need any socks or sponges or other "bubble filters". We just need to fix the set up and they will go away without using things that just need cleaned

[Ray333]

I thought there may be a leak somewhere and I tried to put water around the joints but couldn't see any fizzing. I am getting bubbles out of all 6 locs. I will try to get some pics.

[Fly Guy]

you dont want to necessarily look for fizzing as you wont see it on the push side of the pump. It would be pushign water out if anything, not air which it obviosuly isnt. its only leaking air in.. You want to manually close any gaps that are allowing air in on the push side and look for a decrease in bubbles out the return ports as you do it to identify the bad joint

[Ray333]

Yeah I didn't want to use the socks but they seem to help a little but I don't think that was the problem anyway. I would love to do away with the socks because the way I have everything set up is a pain to get them in and out.

[Ray333]

Do you think the return pump could be bad or sucking air, maybe a cavity in the pump. I have the pump opened all the way. I have a very high flow system and my sump refugium is a tumbleing action.

[Fly Guy]

we really need a decent picture of your sump.

Im nto convicned in any way that you do in fact have a bad joint, or it is only a bad joint cauing your bubbles. I just threw that out there as you said you still had bubbles when the skimmer was off. There are other things that can result in that as well

Originally Posted by Ray333

I have a very high flow system and my sump refugium is a tumbleing action.

this is not the goal of a sump nor refugium and most likely the main issue. but again, pics please

[Loverotties]

I agree with Fly! I think a joint or just a airpocket somewhere!

[ozzychas]

do you have a bubble trap in your sump, i had the same problem in my 55, but it was coming in on my closed loop wave maker too many hoses and clamps took me month's too find it , the easyest way too find out where the bubbles are coming from take a flashlight at night and shine it in the water for your return if it is not their it is in your lines. try and post some picks!!!

[cerobbins]

You should be able to rid yourself of microbubbles without baffles and bubble traps. I also would suspect you have a leak somewhere. Again pictures would make this much easier.

[Ray333]

My fish guy here in town seems to think it has to do with the water not having enough established bacteria in the water to break down the bubbles and alow them to rise to the top of the water and pop, being that when I turn the system off my water looks like gel because the bubbles don't rise they just stay suspended where they are. What do you guys think about this? Do you think the high flow and tumbleing action is what is making bubbles?

[jenglish]

I know that skimmers have a breakin time and so bubbles are often prevelant in the begining but you seem to have bubble produced by plumbing rather than all from the skimmer. I have never heard bacteria being involved in breakdown of a bubble and that doesn't honestly make any sense to me. Most people can run their system brand new and not have the problems you have. Most bubbles reach the surface long before they would have time for bacteria. JMHO