$#%&@& Microbubbles!!!

[Hucklebery]

Last weekend I put in a new sump/fuge in my 135 reef. When I did this, I took my Iwaki MD55RLT return pump apart and cleaned the impeller assembly and housing area. I also cleaned my skimmer inside & out. The first day after I put it all back together it ran flawlessly, with only a very few microbubbles making their way into the display tank.

Now, for the last two days there is a constant, super-heavy flow of microbubbles coming back into the tank. It is so bad that the water coming in thru the return nozzles looks milky/cloudy, but it is just full of a bazillion microbubbles. I have looked at the return section of the sump, and I'm fairly certain there are nearly zero bubbles making it past the bubble trap or coming out of the fuge section. Could the freshly cleaned pump be the cause of all of these darn bubbles? If so, will it calm down like after a new skimmer breaks in?

 

[Hucklebery]

I should also mention that I put in a new section of vinyl tubing on the return line, but it is after the pump.

 

[aries70]

Sounds like something on the intake side of the pump is not tight enough and is sucking in air

 

[muttley000]

+1 on the intake. If the bubbles aren't making it past the trap, you're sucking air somewhere.

 

[Hucklebery]

Any ideas on how to track down where they're coming from? I would think that it there is a bad seal it would also have a water leak???

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15710868#post15710868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hucklebery
Any ideas on how to track down where they're coming from? I would think that it there is a bad seal it would also have a water leak???

If the bad seal was before the pump you wouldn't have any water leaking out --- it would act like a venturi sucking in air. The only time you would notice any water is when the pump is off.

Years ago I had a similar issue, I didn't glue the PVC properly right before my pump, and was getting micro-bubbles but never had any leak. I turned off the pump for an hour, to see if there was any water leaking. After that hour I had about a dime sized puddle, so it was a very slow leak, but enough to cause bubbles.

So I would suggest turning off the pump for a while and checking for an small leaks before the pump.

 

[Hucklebery]

Good suggestion Todd. I'll do that and see what I get. Thanks!

 

[Hucklebery]

Tried your guys' suggestion and found a fitting leading from the sump to the pump leaking air. A few turns on the fitting to tighten it up and another hose clamp=NO MORE BUBBLES!!! Thanks guys!