Micro bubbles from reefpack500

[swish_fish]

Hi there,

I'm running a reefpack 500 in my 50gallon seahorse tank. I'm largely happy with my system except for the burst of micro bubbles I see approx every 1-2 mins. Any idea's how to stop this problem from letting this product down.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[smatter]

How long has it been running? The bubbles usually subside after the run-in phase. Are they coming out of the filter or the skimmer?

 

[macawdad2003]

Hey Swish,

I had the same problem. I think you may be talking about the comline side and not the skimmer, am I correct? The microbubles are probably as a result of air in the filter cartridge and it will purge with some time. My suggestion is if you are using the filter media that came with the kit to wet it first before placing in the bell shaped cartridge. Then fill the cartridge with water and place in the housing. This should help the microbubbles from being purged every few minutes. Kinda was trail and error for me.

I have had my reefpack running for a few weeks and I am almost ready to introduce some fish. I think, however, I am going to add a HOB Fuge. I can't get my nitrates to zero out and I know in the long run it will make for a happier ecosystem. Other than that the Reefpack seems to be a great product.

Hope that helps and happy reefing.

 

[swish_fish]

Cheers guy's,

It is the comline side. Its been running for around 4 months now and it seems to just keep getting that air in there. I've tried filling the sponge and bell with water but with little success.

 

[macawdad2003]

I thought about removing a few layers of filter media to increase flow through it. It may help. I thought about doing that when I was having the very same problem. I wonder how that would affect the performance. I don't think it would all that much.

I hope that situation improves for you. I know the feeling of having everything going smoothly and just one little thing goes wrong and drives me nuts.

Good luck. I wonder if anyone else has anything they care to add.

Matt

 

[Herbie]

Hey Guys,
I have been running the Reefpack 500 for a while now on my 75..........LOVE IT !!! Best filter/skimmer/top-off combo out there IMHO. I have upgraded the skimmer side to a 9010, versus the 9005 that is standard with the ReefPack 500. Now I am running the 9010 hydrofoamer with the 9005 cup. This combo alows me to REALLY dial in the skimate.........very light or very dark, or anywhere in-between. It skims like a beast now. Works great!

I have been fighting the micro bubble issue for quite some time and have tried just about everything to stop it. It always seems to spurt out some bubbles every couple of minutes from the 3166 filter. IMO, I think that the pump that comes with the 3166 ReefPack 500 is a tad too strong, creating the bubble problem when the media becomes just slightly dirty.
I have found a couple of things that seem to help stop the micro bubble problem.

I had a hard time getting the water level high enough inside the 3166 and up to the wavy line on the skimmer.........it always seemed a little to low to me.........but stabil.
On the inside of the 3166, there are mount tabs for the sensors for the osmo. The float is fine and just a safety, but the sensor mount for the water level was too low IMO. Instead of clipping the optic sensor "in" the holder, I positioned my sensor to sit "on top" of the mount tab. It Brought the water level up approx an inch to an inch and a half higher. My water level in the tank is now perfectly at the wavy line on the skimmer...........AND this seemed to help with the microbubble problem, as the water level is a little higher, so air will not be as easily introduced ito the 3166 pump.

Also I am using the 0870.000 refillable cartridge.........

BUT..........To help with the micro bubble problem I am NOT using the "filter bell" that comes standard with the ReefPack. I am using the base for the filter bell attached to the 870 cartridge ONLY. It works GREAT, and has greatly reduced the micro-bubbles shooting out from the 3166. Water completely surrounds the cartridge now. With the filter bell........air would get trapped and would slowly, over time, get released into the pump. Now, without the filter bell, I barely have micro bubbles anymore.

I Have a mixed reef with SPS,LPS, softies,zoo's.........basically everthing..........so I run Carbon 24/7. I have found through trial and error, that the SeaChem Matrix sperical carbon, works the best in the 870 media holder. Its the perfect shape, and doesnt "chip" apart so easy, like most other carbons.

HTH..........
Later..............Herbie

 

[rvitko]

You can also try the 800.14 coarse foam, it is meant to be wrapped with 800.22. Shortening the lighting duration and making sure the KH is below 12 degrees is also helpful as basically the water is degassing in the partial vacuum of the filter bell.

 

[smatter]

Is the 0870 meant to be used alone or can some mechanical media be used with it. I would like to run both together if I can.

 

[Herbie]

I use the 870 cartridge alone, without the filter bell. I dont think there is enough room inside the bell, to fit a wrap of pre-filter material around the 870. I think it would be too tight of a squeeze, and would hinder the water flow into the filter bell. I run carbon in the 870. Every 2-3 weeks, I dump the carbon into a kitchen collander (not my wifes!), rinse it out and put it back into service. You would not believe how much detritus the carbon will trap!I do this a few times, then I change out the carbon.
What happened to your avatar smatter..........I liked the old one!
Later............Herbie

 

[smatter]

I like the old one better too, I just thought I needed a change. I thought the carbon would be a pretty good mech filter by itself, just thought I'd ask. I'm not a big fan of fine mech filtration anyway. I have a 3166 and an 870 coming any day now. I'm going to run my 9005 in one corner and the 3166 in the other. Now I can mount my Osmolator inside, no more brackets. The 9005 is attached with the magnet from the Reefpack and Roger kindly built me a 3166 with a magnet mount on the bottom so it doesn't interfere with the sensor.

 

[Herbie]

Agreed on the magnet issue. The "overfull" float will stick to the magnet through the 3166 body if mounted up top. Brian at FinsReef set my ReefPack500 up to accept the bottom magnet mounts also..........works great.
Also..........Is anyone else running the osmo top off hose into the skimmer? I just hooked my osmo hose up (after the kalk dispenser), right up to the ozone port on the skimmer. Fits perfect (ziptied!)and keeps the line above the waterlevel, so there is no siphonback. The skimmer does not seem to be affected by the constant top-off. The water kind of runs around the outside reaction chamber inside the skimmer and out the back hole of the skimmer.
smatter.........the new avatar was cool too. I was just used to your old one (now, new one again! :thumbsup: ). Something about it !:bigeyes:
Later...........Herbie

 

[macawdad2003]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9281139#post9281139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Herbie
Is anyone else running the osmo top off hose into the skimmer? I just hooked my osmo hose up (after the kalk dispenser), right up to the ozone port on the skimmer. Fits perfect (ziptied!)and keeps the line above the waterlevel, so there is no siphonback. The skimmer does not seem to be affected by the constant top-off. The water kind of runs around the outside reaction chamber inside the skimmer and out the back hole of the skimmer.

Brilliant! I have to rig it up that way. Thanks for the heads up Herbie.

Matt

 

[smatter]

Sounds like a good idea, but I would be worried about the long-term effects on the hydrofoamer and the inside of the skimmer. I have to clean the build-up on the inside of the hose often. I have my hose zip tied to the power cord of my Nanostream so the kalkwasser shoots out right in front of the pump, above the surface of course.

 

[Herbie]

smatter..........
I never worried about it much. The top-off water never really goes inside the pump compartment of the skimmer, where the hydrofoamer is. It goes up top around the reaction tube and out that open hole on the backside. The reaction tube/cup assy forms a seal between the top and bottom of the skimmer so there is minimal water transfer. If it didnt seal, there would be bubbles coming out around the outside of the cup. The outside of the reaction tube/cup does get some kalk/calcium build up, but it gets cleaned every few days........so no big deal. I just did a vinegar bath( for preventitive maintanance, they were working fine) on both pumps after about 6 months of use, and I didnt notice any calcium build up in either pump.
Thanks for the heads up though..........I will have to keep an eye on it from now on.
Later...........Herbie

 

[rvitko]

The filter 3166 hasa hole in the side that the hose is supposed to be inserted into. It is much easier if you cut the hose at a 45 degree bevel, it is a very tight fit so this lets you get a part through that you can then pull through with pliers.

 

[smatter]

What other media have you used in the 0870? I have some Pura Complete and some Phosar, but it looks like it might be a bit small. I am going to pour some in tonight and see if it stays in. Is it better to use the 0870 with or without the filter bell. I am seeing some bubbles with the cartridge it came with, but its only been running since last night so maybe they will subside.

 

[rvitko]

I have always used it with the filter bell, I have used every Tunze media we offer and I have also used Chemipure.

 

[smatter]

I found a solution to the PHOSaR falling through the slots. I picked up some Marineland Rite-Size coarse blue filter pad and cut a piece twice the height of the 0870. I then spread the media evenly over one half and folded it in half. It's nice the pad is coarse enough to allow some of the media to nestle inside the fibers. That way when you roll it up it doesn't all fall to the bottom and you have good distribution throughout the roll. It then slides easily into the 0870. I have it running inside the bell and don't see many bubbles. This is exactly what I was looking for, coarse mechanical with phosphate media, and since my tank is small I don't have to fill the 0870 with chemical media all the way to avoid water bypass. I may have to order an 0871, it would work even better.

 

[smatter]

Well, the filter pad inside the 0870 clogged up pretty fast. The slots are too narrow to stuff a pad inside. The water level in the tank dropped because the flow was restricted too much and the water level stayed high inside the 3166. I ordered the 0871, I think it will work much better when I want to deploy finer media.

I want to pick up some Matrix Carbon or other pelletized carbon to use in the 0870. Do you think filling it all the way would be overkill for my tank? It holds quite a bit.

 

[macawdad2003]

Smatter, I found when using a full cartridge of carbon that the skimmer does not work as effectively. I end up filling it about 1/2 way for my 75G. I use ESV carbon in mine and have not had an issue with it falling through the cracks. I try to get what's going to fall out to fall out during the rinse.

Matt