Stupid Micro Bubbles!!!! Please Help

[demariners]

So I have tried just about EVERYthing to eliminate micro bubbles in the tank. I have put a filter sock on pretty much every output of every pump in my sump. Still I get them. I think they are coming primarily from my ASM skimmer which I modded and put a filter sock on the end and STILL I get micro bubbles. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JSeymour]

Can you posts some pics of your sump? Using a bright light, you should be able to pinpoint what area of your sump is producing the bubbles, if it's even the coming from the sump. If you can't pinpoint it that way, it may be your return plumbing isn't seal perfectly and is producing a venturi. Look for salt creep on you plumbing. Sometimes there won't be any saltcreep on the piping, so using some electrical tape, wrap each connection, one at a time. Wait 30-60 minutes between each connection, to determine which connection is bad.

 

[clydog]

put a sump sponge between the bubble trap

 

[demariners]

I'm positive it is coming from my ASM skimmer. I have modded it to try and eliminate these bubbles but they still come out to the main tank. It is a small sump and that might be the problem also. What is salt creep?

 

[demariners]

What is a sump sponge and what is a bubble trap? I have a filter sock at the drain.

 

[clydog]

if you have baffles in your sump put a sponge between them....your skimmer should be before the baffles so that should make it stop....ihave a small sump with lots of flow thru it and i have to use a sponge inbetween the baffles or i get a bunch too

 

[demariners]

I do not exactly have baffles. I have a separator which has slits in it. Not sure you can see it from the photos. Where would I put the baffles? I even got a Maxi-Jet 1200 for more water movement in the sump.

 

[demariners]

The skimmer is one side and it's outlet goes back to the other side. I was hoping that would fix it but it is not helping. It is not as bad as it was before I modded it. If I turn of the skimmer I still get some bubbles but it is not as bad.

 

[clydog]

do you have room for a bigger sump? you can build a new one or try to add baffles/partitions to this one...most sumps look like thisView attachment 188411 the three baffles next to eachother are a "bubble trap"

 

[demariners]

No room for a bigger sump. This was custom built for this size. The partition I have looks like the right side of that picture with slits in it. I maybe able to adapt it but not sure.

 

[clydog]

how much water would you say is in the sump? how much flow do you have from your return?

 

[clydog]

how old is the tank and skimmer?

 

[demariners]

Sump probably has about 10 gallons. I put a valve to lower the flow rate. It is a 1200gph pump. My tank is a 55 ga corner tank. Tank is about 8 months but the skimmer is about 4 years old.

 

[clydog]

i would dial the return pump backto slow the flow....that should help....the sump not having a bubble trap is making hard to stop them

 

[clydog]

most recommend 3-5 times turnover thu the sump....so that only like 250 gph with your size tank....i personally like a little more but i would stay around 400 gph

 

[demariners]

I have done so to about half on the valve. We will see if that helps. Is that too little flow though on my tank?

 

[clydog]

read above post

 

[clydog]

on my 75 my return pushes 650 gph with my head pressure and i still have to dial it back.....whats your overflow rated for

 

[demariners]

It's built in. It's an aqueon 54 corner tank. I dialed it down and it seems to be working.....hopefully that was it.

 

[clydog]

that will help alot....post back with results