Micro Bubble HELL Please help

[kipper1012]

I have a 180gal tank with two corner over flows with 1-1/4" drains and 3/4" returns one drain goes to the ATS that dumps into the center section of the sump. the other 1-1/4" drain goes straight down to the center section of the sump and is a good 6" below the water line.

Out of that drain I am getting massive bubbles that are making it through the bubble trap and over to the pump side and into the main tank

The pump I am using is a Mag drive 12

Any advise would be much appreciated this is my first big tank and I got it for a steal but I am ready to have a nervous break down

 

[kipper1012]

here is a diagram of my sump

 

[ca1ore]

A few things you could do. First, try running the second drain into the far right portion of your sump rather than the middle. Second, If you cannot do that, or don't want to, try adding a filter sock to the middle drain output. Third, and most complex, consider reconfiguring your plumbing to run a Herbie or BA drain system. That would probably mean repurposing one of the 3/4 runs as a third drain.

 

[Snookslayer85]

I would say to tie into the drain line that is going into the right side of your sump. Then add a filter sock to that drain at the end.

That is how mine is set up, and I get no bubbles at all. Easiest solution if you don't want to do any re- piping would be to cut off the middle drain to above the water line and add a filter sock to that. That should cut your micro bubbles down significantly. Also adding some live rock to that middle section will help as well.

My sump from left to right is the following:

Left compartment: Drains from two overflows with Large Filter sock, and pump for Skimmer
Middle compartment: Live rock, Chaeto, and other macro algaes, and the skimmer
Bubble trap: With mechanical filtration and rubble live rock
Right compartment: Mag 18 return pump, some rubble live rock near the return pump

 

[hollister]

Sponges help reduce this. Also if this is a new setup then they should reduce after a few days of break in.

 

[kipper1012]

ok I put both drains going into the far right section into a filter sock and that did the trick.

Thanks guys.

Now that I know that was the issue what is the "BEST" way to utilize this sump. How would you guys run the plumbing ? I have no problems moving pipe around I just want to make sure it is done the proper way

this is how it looks now

 

[Twistofer]

I love fuges...so I would put a refugium with lots of coral rubble and chaeto and copepods in the center chamber. I take it your skimmer is in the first chamber.

 

[kipper1012]

I don't have the skimmer in yet not sure where to put it.

I got the whole tank with fish from a guy used he gave me a octopus 150 skimmer new in box but all he had was the Algae scrubber running just like the diagram above nothing else.

he said with a Algae scrubber I don't need a skimmer