Micro bubbles

[Skyesfire]

Does anyone have any tips on how to get rid of microbubbles? They are coming from the sumps return line.

Thanks

[NanoCube-boy]

You ask your local shop see if they carry fliter sock.

[Skyesfire]

Didn't think of that.
Thanks

[trpigg]

What kind of setup do you have?
Inline pump or submersed?
Is you tank drilled?

I had the same problem and my idea has worked tremendously?

[Randall_James]

too much flow through the sump is a pretty common problem.

Do you run a skimmer
Baffles (as a bubble trap)
Macro algae
Reef rubble

[Skyesfire]

We just set up the sump yesterday (9/21). We have 4 baffles and don't have any rubble or macro algae yet. Will having algae (macro/chaeto) help? Our tank is not drilled, and we have a submersed pump.

Thanks.

[NanoCube-boy]

Chaets should help a little.

[barjam]

Get a 100 micron filter sock from MarineDepot and that will end all your bubble problems.

On a side note I tried the SeaChem 180 micron filter bag and it did absolutely nothing for bubbles and was a waste of money.

[barjam]

And in my case the baffes did nothing for the bubbles at all. My bubbles were from the skimmer though as my return is a zero bubble design and I don't think it would work well with an external overflow.

As a matter of fact I don't run the return through the sock, just the skimmer.

[Randall_James]

So no skimmer?

What is the flow rate throught the sump? Also a completely empty sump is going to be pretty lousy at stopping the bubbles.

I run a 4 baffle sump and in the last section (2 baffles meet the floor and the one in between them is about 4" off the floor) I load with reef rubble. It works as a bubble trap and it also adds to the live rock total for denitrification. (not to mention the pods, mysis, stomatellas that all live in it as well)

I use a foam standpipe on the skimmer discharge and nothing on the tank overflow (tried a sock but was always full of mysis when I cleaned it)

The biggest culprit is normally just too much flow in through the sump. An easy fix is usually just slow down the return.

[barjam]

Randall, you load the area between the baffles with rubble? That sounds like a good idea and I might try it.

Thanks

[Skyesfire]

I would say that it has about 300-350gph running through it, plus a skimmer. This sump was not a DIY. It's brand new. The first baffle runs down from the top leaving a one inch space from the bottom. Second baffle runs from the bottom to about half way up, leaving a one inch space between baffles. After the fuge is the second set of baffles, in reverse order.

My skimmer seems to put out to much foam, or not enough. I have it set about 50% up the inner collection cup. (Coralife)

Thanks for helping.

[Randall_James]

New Skimmers take some time to "breakin" and also for you to learn how to tune it. Tedious...

Now where does the skimmer discharge? (pics would be really helpful here)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8198861#post8198861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barjam
Randall, you load the area between the baffles with rubble? That sounds like a good idea and I might try it.

Thanks Yes, as much as I could fit in actually, I went to the LFS and bought the broken crud off the bottom of the rock pool. I think it took around 15lbs as I recall.

[Skyesfire]

I started with the skimmer on the return side. Then moved it over to the (water in) side. This reduced the bubbles from the millions to the thousands.

I'll work on taking a pic.

BTW- I did get a cupfull of brown stuff from the skimmer. It's rated for a little more than twice my total water volume.

[Randall_James]

If you get a sock or a foam tube on the skimmer discharge, get some macro algae and other stuff in there, your bubbles should pretty much be gone

[Shagsbeard]

Best way to reduce your flow is to install a line with a ball valve in it on the line that runs from your pump back to the tank. Bleeding off water from the return line right back into your sump decreases the flow into your tank without putting stress on your pump. As a bonus, this line can also be used to drain water from your system for water changes. I installed a 1/2 inch line off my 1 inch return line and it really wasn't enough... if I was to do it over I would have made this bleeder line a 3/4 or at least 5/8 inch hose.

A return pump is the one piece of equipment that I can think of where "bigger is better" doesn't apply. My overflow box was rated at 800gal/h so I thought it could handle 800gal/h. It can, but it forces a lot of bubbles through at this rate.

[Skyesfire]

I can't figure out how to post pics.

Randall_James thanks for your help.

[Skyesfire]

Here's what I got.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e207/big_fin_fish/100_0745.jpg




http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e207/big_fin_fish/100_0730.jpg

[NanoCube-boy]

You can try placing the sock on the output of the skimmer. In the middle, you will want to place the chaets there with lighting on top to keep them thriving.

[Skyesfire]

The lights that I ordered are on a UPS truck somewhere. I got 2 13 watt PCs, 1-10,000 daylight, 1- actinic 420nm. For the fuge.

[NanoCube-boy]

Great... That sounds good.

[Randall_James]

Well that looks like a nice setup. My approach (and only my opin) would be to get the center section going with Chaetomorpha. It will float, and then let it grow to about 3" deep. That will stop a lot of bubbles all by itself.

The next section, i realize it is only 2 baffles but you should still be able to stack some rock along the very bottom and then dump some reef rubble over the top of that to the top edge of the baffle. In other words a rock trap. The only difference between your sump/fuge and mine is that last set of baffles. I set them to hold rock and so there are 3 plates and the set is 4" wide just to hold rock

[Skyesfire]

Thank you very much for all your help with this! :D

[NanoCube-boy]

Yea place some rubble of LR, fuge mud, and or place some LS in the 1st and 3rd baffles.

[Skyesfire]

I put some sand, and rubble in there. Now you really have to look close to see any bubbles.

[NanoCube-boy]

Great news! All you need now is to place some chaetomorphas in there and hopefully there aren't any more bubble.

[Randall_James]

I would leave the floor at the return pump as clear of stuff as possible, it is going to be a stopping point for a lot of detritus. When I do my water changes, my siphon hose goes in that chamber and I stir the gunk up as the water is being removed.

[Skyesfire]

I want to Thank You again for your help.

It really worked out great.