Micro bubbles from Skimmer help

[kita_katan]

I have a huge micobubble issue in my DT. I know its coming from the skimmer, the bubbles are not only in the skimmer but they mix together and end up going to the bottom of the skimmer and to my return pump. It is modded but I can't figure out how to keep this from happening. My skimmer is working great except for that.

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[kita_katan]

Or if anyone knows where I can get a copy of the owners manual?

Sorry I tried increasing and decreasing the flow with the valve that leads directly into my return chamber. This is the way that it was originally plumbed so I am not sure how the previous owner kept the micro bubbles out of the DT. Could the pump be to much? Would it help any to rase the skimmer up a little bit?

Thanks!

 

[Rippinfrags]

It has nothing to do with your skimmer. How is your sump setup? Do you have a bubbly trap before your return pump?

 

[Rippinfrags]

That was supposed to read "bubble trap"

I would do away with egg crate underneath your protein skimmer it is going to trap some serious deitrous.

 

[kita_katan]

I did get the tank and sump second hand so it was already set up. The guy we got it from never said anything about micro bubbles but I have it set up the exact same way as he did.

In the front of the sump is a chamber for the protein skimmer, next is the bubble walls then the return pump chamber and the very last chamber is the fuge with cheato.

My issue is that the skimmer was modded so the outtake is actually going directly into the return pump chamber. So actually the bubble walls aren't doing anything. I am wondering if I can take off the mod on the skimmer so it doesn't go directly into the return pump chamber but I am not sure how to do this since I don't have the original standpipe.

 

[Rippinfrags]

You could try and put a filter sock around the outlet of your protein skimmer.

 

[evolved]

My issue is that the skimmer was modded so the outtake is actually going directly into the return pump chamber. So actually the bubble walls aren't doing anything. I am wondering if I can take off the mod on the skimmer so it doesn't go directly into the return pump chamber but I am not sure how to do this since I don't have the original standpipe.

Yes; that's the root of the issue. Get the output back into the skimmer chamber somehow, and you'll solve the issue. You could take the mod off, but the gate valve does provide better control than the original standpipe. Personally, I'd figure out a way to mod the mod, and keep it all on the skimmer chamber side.

The only thing not clear to me; what is the pipe to the right of the skimmer output? Near the upper center of the photo.

 

[kita_katan]

The pipe with the black valve on it is the return pump, it used to have a chiller on it so I modded the return to the third return pipe thats what the tubing is for.

I just put a filter sock on the skimmer output and it seems like it is helping, I think though overall I am just going to try to redo the mod on the skimmer so it will go into the same chamber.

Anyone know why the previous owner would plum the skimmer going right into the return chamber? I have no idea how he didn't have this issue other then maybe using the filter socks.