Overflow causing bubbles

[VoiceInTheDeser]

I set up my new 120 last week and I'm getting a pretty constantly stream of microbubbles. I went under the hood and I found that they are originating from the fall into the sump from my overflow.

The setup is that I have two drains, each bulkhead connecting to flex tubing that drops into the sump. It seems like the turbulence of the fall is picking up air, because the sump is really bubbly right where the drains enter the system. The baffles remove some by the time it hits my return pump, but not all of them, resulting in relatively minor, but noticeable, bubbles in the display.

The flex tubing is clear, so I can see through it. Both of them are not nearly "full." Like I'd say only about 30-40% of the volume of the tubing is being used by water and the rest is air. Is that normal?

I haven't even turned on my skimmer yet, which is gonna make even more bubbles and I'm not sure how to solve this. I've done some reading and people mostly blame low water levels and the return pump for bubbles. I haven't found anything that mentions the drains causing the problem.

 

[mcgyvr]

drains/falls can absolutely cause bubbles..
Are the ends of the drain tubes in the water or above it (I assume above since you said "fall") and you could extend them so they are under the water (if possible)

depending on the type of overflow you could be sucking air down with it too..
Typically reducing flow can help with that..

 

[ericarenee]

are those drain hoses corrugated or smooth inside. Corrugated drains can cause this super bad..

Sometimes you can makes sure they are under the water.. Then take a piece of air line tubing and push up inside them to the open air area inside the drains. secure this tube inside the sump above the water line.. Another fix could be adjusting the air line on top a Dorso Drain

Pics of the sump and Over flow might help someone post back with the exact setup and how they solved this..