Return pump and micro bubble burst

[cbort]

On my 43g reef I have a Eheim 1260 return pump, and every so often a single burst(not a steady stream, more like a quick puff)of micro bubbles enters my display from the return. Can't figure it out. I have checked numerous things such as:
1.) return pump sucking in air. Water level sits 6-7 inches above pump and the water is very still.
2.) next I have looked for leaky plumbing leaking air into my return pipe, no such luck.
3.) next I thought maybe the locline that sits just above the waterline had a crack in it, replaced it with same results.

My next thing to try is going to be is to take the sponge cover off of my pump and see if that works. I thought maybe the sponge cover for the pump was collecting micro bubble until just enough formed a large bubble and gets sucked into the pump.

 

[Bigcefa]

Sounds like you checked everything pretty good, could be the sponge but it would be from it clogging and not letting enough water into the pump

 

[mchammer]

I had the same problem with my Mag 1200 return pump and I had a pre filter on it. The pre filter was trapping bubbles and every so often I would get a burst of micro bubbles. When I took it off I had some micro bubbles in the DT but after an hour or so they dissipated.

 

[hoooop54]

Don't you need the prefilter on the return?

 

[Bigcefa]

Absolutely not

 

[scarface70706]

dump the sponge filter. it is pointless and will eventually clog and become a nitrate and phosphate polluter.

 

[bugs713]

My 1260 will do the same thing and it is not the sponge, but rather the end cover of the inlet that allows a few bubbles to develop. You could break out a few of the plastic strainer pieces from the top, which would stop bubbles from forming, or just leave it.

I do believe the foam pre filter is what causes the little bubbles to form big bubbles that are caught by the plastic strainer cover, eventually getting blasted into the DT as micro bubbles.

 

[cbort]

Going to remove the entire front cover tonight and see how it does.

 

[kc350twin]

Cbort I am a firm believer that the lock line leaks air through it at some point. Sometimes I see salt build up in spots on the joints. Also with such a large pump on a small tank are you pulling some bubbles from the sump? I tend to stick to the 3-5x turn over through the sump.




Kc3

 

[t4zalews]

do you have it dialed back at all? I found that when I dialed back my 1262 too much I had some air bubbles spitting out, so I increased it a touch and no more bubbles. Do you have an antisiphon hole? this will cuz bubbles as well if not under water

 

[cbort]

Ahhhh the relief!! No more air bubble bursts!! It is amazing how much more clear your water looks with no more tiny micro bubbles clouding up the water and leaving bubbles all over your display rock work! Removed the front cover completely and the problem I've been having ever since I started my tank has ceased! Thanks all for the input!
Curtis