Stumped tiny air bubbles

[fishman393]

In my corner flow there is a source of small air bubbles that I can't figure out where they are coming from. They then some how make it back into the tank as micro bubbles. They look to be coming from the bottom of the return pipe. No air bubbles in sump. Could it be my return is to much and need to restrict it? Will the small air bubbles hurt my tank in the long run. It's now three weeks old with just a few cuc in it. can you even restrict a return pump. Can get pictures if needed any help would be nice.

 

[Cymonous]

Are they coming from the outside of the return? Is the return going through a bulkhead? That sounds like you have a leak somewhere.

 

[fishman393]

It goes thought the bulkhead into the corner flow. yeah looks like from the outside of the pvc Never thought it could be that due to the water flow. With no air in the sump. I have pulled all pipes and resettled them and still make bubbles. I could always drain the corner flow and glue in the return pipe and see if that helps but really did not want to glue that part. Any other way to go around that if that is the case

 

[Cymonous]

If you do have too much flow from your return pump, the pipe won't handle the pressure without being glued. You can dial it back with a ball valve off the return.

 

[fishman393]

Stumped tiny air bubbles

Thank you I'll try that I have a ball valve on the return then read I should not restrict it. Sorry for the dumb question but my first big salt tank and I'm loving it so far. Just can't wait to decide what to out in it. Cycle is done just want the air bubbles gone before I get anything else init.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

What I would do is buy a small tube of aquarium safe silicone and cover every connection from your return pump to the tank with it.
Even a tiny tiny hole that you can't see is enough to create a venturi effect and bring air in with the rushing water.
I had this problem a long time ago and silicone cured it.

 

[jerseygurl]

I'm confused. The return line going from your return pump back to the tank is pressurized (by the return pump). If there was a leak water would squirt out, air would not be sucked in. You'd have a water leak, not air bubbles.

I bet there's micro-bubbles in your sump, they're just hard to see.

I'll be curious to see how you solve it.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Not if the hole is small enough.
I thought the same thing but was proven wrong when I siliconed everything and they stopped.

 

[fishman393]

Stumped tiny air bubbles

No water leak and no air bubbles in sump. Going to drain out the corner flow and try to seal that area just seems like it's coming from between the bulkhead and the pvc pipe.