Help Microbubbles Everywhere...

[Dizzy1831]

Ok I have had my 9010 running for over two weeks now, and it is still sending lots of microbubbles into the display tank. I have the skimmer in a sump. It even runs through a bubble trap before it enters the tank. It is hard to explain the sump setup but I will try.

It is an oceanic model 2 for those who are familar. So it basically goes

water in on BIO BALLs / refugium / bubble trap/ skimmer water out.
the / 's refer to different sections.

I have the outflow on the skimmer leaning back (45 degree angle) over the bubble trap so that some of the bubbles are disipated. I originally had it standing straight up but way too many bubles entered the tank then.
I know that there is some reskimming going on but it still producing about 50mL of wet skimmate per day.

If anyone knows what is causing these microbubbles please let me know

 

[rvitko]

I don't understand how you have the skimmer set up. It should be assembled as shown on pages 32-34 on the manual. Provided you use the sponge on the outlet and have it before a bubble trap I don't see how this is possible. Microbubbles can have at least a half dozen causes, some are technical some are biological/chemical so it isn't so easy to solve but it sounds like your skimmer isn't properly assembled.

 

[Dizzy1831]

i have it assembled as it shows on the diagram BUT instead of having the "return arm" with the bubble trap in a vertical direction I turned mine to a 45 degree angle so that it goes back over the oceanic bubble trap which is located to the left of the skimmer. The reason I had to do this was because with the "return arm" vertical the returning water flowed directly into the return. This produces massive amounts of bubbles large and micro as the water "spills" right where the return pulls from. For this reason I tilted the arm to the left to add the extra bubble trap and eliminate the direct flow into the main tank.

 

[rvitko]

I think the only real solution is to place the skimmer farther from the return on the other side of the bubble trap.

 

[Herbie]

I had a 9005 in-sump and NOW I am running a 9010. My 9010 outlet pipe is only about 3-4 inches away from my submersed 800gph return pump inlet (tunze master recirc. pump 1073.030). No bubble traps at all! I have VERY little, if any, bubbles returning to my tank........you really have to REALLY look close to see any ! My 9010 is producing approx 100-150 ML, sometimes 200 ML of skimate a day, so its working well on my 37 gallon. I run it with the stand pipe straight up- vertical, with the blue sponge EVEN with the top of the stand pipe. My water level in the sump is about 6-8 inches.
I cant figure how you could be getting any skimate at all with the "return arm" stand pipe, tilted at a 45 deg. angle! That pipe controls the height of the water in the skimmer. It is a VERY critical height on these skimmers. If it is off, even a few mm it will give you probs. Tunze had a small prob. when these skimmers first came out, where the pipe wasnt inserted in the elbow all the way and the skimmers were not working as well as they should.
Did you plug the hole in the back of the skimmer? When I plug mine I notice there are more microbubbles than running it open, so now I run it with the hole open.
You must have something out of wack with the surface tension of your tank water. Do you use any additives or tank "conditioners" ? Thats about all I can think of.
Try sqeezing the blue sponge, under water in your sump to get all the air bubbles out and so it is soaking wet. Then position it on your stand pipe VERTICAL even with the top of the stand tube. Maybe it just has to break-in some.........
Later.........Herbie

 

[rvitko]

Herbie, that was kind of my point but I wasn't sure. My experience is, you either have the skimmer perfectly assembled or it doesn't work, every piece for in sump use has to be installed. The water on mine creeps out so slow i don't see how you could have bubbles but as I said water factors can influence this, something like a lot of colloids could have this effect.

 

[Dizzy1831]

i will reposition the arm straight up and down and see how it works. It is possible that it produced so many bubbles the first time it was set up like this because it was brand new. It is really not possible to move the skimmer to another section.

thanks for all the info, I was not aware that the return arm had such an impact on the performance (mine still produced 50mL a day) on the 110. I will keep you posted on the change.

 

[rvitko]

What about the water coming out the hole in the back? I bet that may be the cause.