Microbubble advice
 

Hello,

I am having a slight micro bubble problem with my tank. It is not too bad but I want to eliminate them completely. First I will tell you about my setup and it would be great if you found the cause.

The tank is 130 gal. and the sump is an ADHI 30 which I assume is 30 gal. in size. The return pump is a mag drive 9.5 where it is pumping about 4-5 ft of head. I am also using a 100 micron filter sock on the drain. There is also a baffle in the sump and I have this filled with mesh bags of carbon.

My concern is that my return pump may be to strong for the setup and is what is causing the bubbles. What do you think?

do you have a valve to control the flow after the return pump?

I was going to suggest the filter sock which worked for me. Since you are already using that check the connections in your return line. You may be drawing air through a bad joint. If you haven't already, run a bead of silicone around each joint that isn't under water. I've had that problem in the past.

I doubt that the problem is that the pump is too strong. As long as you aren't running the sump dry/overflowing the tank the return pump is not too strong.

Not drying the sump or overflowing the tank. I do not have a valve on the return line. You think that silicone might solve the problem on the connections? Is there anyway to check if this is happening before actually using the silicone?

So you guys don't think that my return pump is too big for the setup? This was my greatest worry since a new one would be expensive.

The mag 9.5 I am using puts out 800 gph at 4ft head. I am at about five feet with one 90 deg angle before it hits the tank. So I assume I am at about 700 GPH. The sump is rated by ADHI for 1000 GPH, so I assume I am within the limits for the pump?

wow your using a mag 9.5 for you tank....damn i got that on my 55gallon......i wouldnt worry about your pump being to big.....but if your worried about that you can do what i did just split it off with a ball valve back into your sump.....

Flow is not an issue as i have about 2000gph in the tank, its just the sump turnover that the mag 9.5 controls.

I don't think so I have an ehiem 1262 rated at 900gph on my 120 in its perfect flow my sump is only 37 gallons also

Here is a link to a photo of my sump maybe this will help

[url]http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=22061&cat=0&page=1[/url]

But if its not the pump what could it be? I don't think I have air going in through any of the connections? But who knows and how could I check?

Any skimmer?

Yes, I am using an ati bm200.

I would check the skimmer before anything I think that is your problem