i really need you guys' help....

[nemofish2217]

okay, here's my ongoing problem that is frustrating me terribly....micro bubbles....

i cant figure out how to reduce them.....here's what i've got...

45 gallon cube with 10 gallon sump/ fuge. mag 7 return pump. one seio 820 and two Aquaclear 70's.

here's what i think the problem(s) could be but i need to know remedies to fix it....
1. about two joints of the pvc from the return are not glued..(for adjustment reasons).

2. My sump has baffles, however, they are not over-under like some sumps, they are all over... basically 3 pieces of acrylic siliconed inside the glass. The sump is designed as follows: first section- water drains and flows through LR rubble. Second section- mini fuge with chaeto. third section- protein skimmer. fourth section- return pump.

When the water comes over the last baffles bubbles are created becasue of the crashing, so i added a foam block to break up the bubbles. I can see no bubbles entering the pump, but in the tank the micro bubbles make it look very "cloudy."

The only reasons i can think of that are casuing the micro bubbles are:
a) The two unglued joints in the pvc are drawing air.
b) The protein skimmer is too close to the return pump, giving the micro bubbles
c) The reutrn pump is too strong, and is pulling too much water

I know some of you guys out there have battled micro bubbles, so i need your help in fixing my problem! Any advice, tips, or anything would be great.....thanks, and sorry for the long post....

 

[Billybeau1]

Is the return pump internal or external ?

 

[nemofish2217]

internal....its in the sump....

 

[Billybeau1]

Your taking in air somewhere. Probably between the return pump and the tank. The leak has to be above water level. Tighten all your fittings and check all your connections between the return pump and the tank. If alls tight there, Take your return pump apart and clean the impeller real good.

HTH

 

[Nabber86]

Re: i really need you guys' help....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6826532#post6826532 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nemofish2217
45 gallon cube with 10 gallon sump/ fuge. mag 7 return pump. one seio 820 and two Aquaclear 70's.

That is a whole lot of flow for a fairly small system. A tiny air leak will cause a lot of bubbles because there is not much room for the bubbles to dissipate (spelling?). Anyway, with that much flow you will have to be extra careful in tightening all connections to make sure that you are not drawing air into the system.

 

[HartfordWhalers]

slow the flow down

 

[nemofish2217]

so should i make sure the pvc is completely glued and then if that doesnt work then get a smaller return pump? like something in the 300-400 gph range?

 

[HartfordWhalers]

That is a possiblility

 

[Maldivan]

Your flow is MASSIVE! Overkill to the max . I have a Mag 7 on my 100gal w/ a 29 Gal Sump at 5' head Pressure. I bet you got a ton of flow . Hence the Niagra Falls.I agree w/ the others, id go down to a mag 5 , move the skimmer to the 1st part of your sump so the micro bubbles have time to pop. Also the baffles you have are useless if they dont go over-under. You could EASILY detach the center baffle and raise it uop to 1" off the floor, then youd have the classic over-under-over into the fuge and the bubbles will have time to pop hopefully. I also added rubble beteen my baffles to aid in killing off the micro-bubbles.

I bet after you drop down in flow all your problems will disappear. GOOD LUCK!

 

[nemofish2217]

thanks for the input....i sure hope so... i guess i was just thinking that i wanted a stronger return pump to make sure that enough water was getting to the fuge....i think that i have enough powerheads in the tank for good flow(its an sps tank).

So, getting a smaller pump, say mag 3 or 5 will not hurt my filtration or skimming? i was just trying to get as much water down there as i could..... what do you guys think?

 

[reefer6]

glue the twounglued joints they are acting like a venturi drawing air into the system.

 

[nemofish2217]

should i do that before i go down to a mag 5? i was going to change the pumps out when i went to glue the pvc... should i hold off on the mag 5 (i.e. put a union in the pvc and the switch out if needed) or should i just go ahead and change pumps?

 

[reefer6]

I always suggest a union for maintenance but gluing the joints will stop the bubbles. I dont think it is the pump unless you can see the bubbles getting pulled into the pump.

 

[nemofish2217]

that is the same thing i was thinking.....i might try gluing the return joints- i think there are actually four that arent glued, and then if that doesn't work then i will switch out pumps.....i hope one of these options work...as i am getting extermely tired of seeing bubbles....