Tunze 9010 Micro Bubbles

[jyach]

I have just recently switched my 9010 skimmer from in the sump to in the tank mode. The skimmer has run for about a year in the sump without any problems. Now that it is in the tank I have tons of micro bubbles coming out of the bottom of the skimmer. I have taken apart and put the skimmer back together at least a dozen times trying to find the cause of the micro bubbles. The skimmer skims great just have a ton of micro bubbles coming out of the skimmer. Tried closing the adjustment door on the front of the skimmer still get micro bubbles. Does anyone have any ideas on what I should check on the skimmer to eliminate the micro bubbles???????????????

 

[rvitko]

Make sure when you converted it you removed the coupler between the pump and the front intake.

 

[smatter]

I have mine in the tank and it does release bubbles sometimes, especially after oily food or epoxy use. When it has a good head of foam going, the bubbles are minimal.

 

[jyach]

Yes Roger, I double checked again to be sure and the coupler is removed. I even have micro bubbles coming out of the hole in back of the skimmer where the water comes out. I checked the air line channel to be certain there are no leaks in that. I even tried reversing the bottom plate with the slits that the water and micro bubbles come out of. This didn't seem to help so I returned the plate to its normal position. I haven't added anything to the water, I just change 5 gallons a week as a normal water change. I use Kent salt mix. Have used this mix with no problems for years now.

 

[rvitko]

Is the pump installed so that the outlet is inserted into the clear pipe in the skimmer? Besides the two points I have mentioned I am at a loss for a cause and I might just try letting it run for a week. If the flow near the skimmer is very strong that could be another cause. The skimmer will always release a few microbubbles periodically, but it should not be constant. Besides these technical causes the usual cause is a water chemistry issue, the most common being a surfactant chemical, oxygen saturation (notable because the bubbles increase in amount over the length of the photoperiod) or excess KH and resulting excess CO2 (KH above 14 dKH)

 

[jyach]

I will try moving the skimmer to a different area. It is close to the water return for the tank. As far as KH measurement the reading is 11 dkh. And I'll recheck to make sure the pump output is installed into the clear pipe. Thanks for all your help.

 

[jyach]

Roger, I moved the skimmer away from the water return for the tank. Also the pump output is installed into the clear pipe. I still have the micro bubbles. I guess the bubbles are something I'll have to live with. I was thinking about putting the skimmer on a digital timer, so when my tank lights are on the skimmer is off(not making micro bubbles). Than when the lights are off for the evening the skimmer can turn on and clean the tank (making micro bubbles). Unless there is somehting else I could try to eliminate the micro bubbles? Thanks again Roger for all your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rvitko]

It really should not produce that many bubbles. Give it until the end of April, and observe for what I had said about oxygen saturation ( do the bubbles increase as the daylight hours carry on?)