Why so many tiny bubbles?

[JCnflies]

THx in advance for the help.

When I first set up my tank, I had lots of little bubbles (and I mean tons enough that they would get on the rock, corals nad disturb the watere clarity. First there were bubbles in the refugium, but not any more. Now the fuge has very bubbles and they immediately dissipate.

I can;t see any kinks in the tubing to the outflow and overflow. I am to the point that I am guessing that somehow the pump is introducing the bubbles (Iwaki).... I just don;t know. Has anyone ever had this problem before or have any other ideas I have not thought of? THx again.

 

[mcmxc17]

Have you checked for a vortex on your return pump? Does the water cascade over anything before being returned. i.e. is there a seperator wall without a bubble trap in the return section of your sump? How does your protein skimmer feed back to your tank? A few things for you.

 

[jnfallon]

if there is a leaky pipe upstream of the pump you will have tons of bubbles. Otherwise as mcmxc17 said, you may be creating a vortex, meaning you are creating a "tornado" of air in the sump.

 

[KathyC]

Many have had the problem before, so welcome to the club!

It also doesn't necessarily have to be a visably leaky pipe, it can be any connection that has water running throught it that isn't totally sealed. It just takes the tiniest bit of air getting into hosing or PVC to create those annoying bubbles.
You mention you looked for kinks in your hosing...make sure all your clamps are really snug on your hoses. If that doesn't do it, retighten (and retape) any unions and anyplace you have a ball/gate valve. Hopefully that will do the trick.
IF you still have them after that you'd need to look at your glued PVC pieces.

 

[Sk8r]

The skimmer produces quite a few: route the skimmer outflow to chamber #1 of your sump with a hose, and especially if you can stuff some cheato in the middle with a light, it will diminish the bubbles considerably if not eliminate them

 

[d4a2n0k]

What size is your sump and which Iwaki are you using for a return pump?

 

[KathyC]

Where are the bubbles - the sump or the tank?

 

[JCnflies]

Well, here's the situation as best as I can describe it.

(1) I cleaned the dickens out of my fuge forthe first time in months (I am normally very on top of htings but family respnsibilities precluded my being a as ggos to my tank as I should have been. It is an understatement to say my notrates will be down a ton! Zoos thahad not opened in weeks are wearing brighthappy faces now! I changed about 40 - 50% of the water, too. THeonly casuality seems to be the cleaner shrimp.

(2) I tightened everyu clamp and put some silicone tape around the fit overs. Thank you so much Kathy C - I was shocked at how loose the clamps were! Every clamp leading to the pump has been tightened and all tubing pulled up super snug! Still there are microbubbles!

(3) I made the mistake, since I was in full bore cleaning mode, of rinsing the sponge from my skimmer (ASM - G3 (I think G3)), so now I can see bubbles going into the part of the fuge near the drain to the pump.

(4) I see bubbles going into the pump.

(5) Now do I silicone the outside of all the bulkheadings?

 

[mcmxc17]

Have a pic? They say it is worth a 1,000 words!

 

[fio1022]

What kind of tank,It might be it sucking air down the return?

 

[JCnflies]

It's a 75 with an MRC fuge ................. about 25 gallons.

Great news!!!!!!!! I fixed it. And I found another possible cause. Debris had clogged the screening that I put in front of the outflow. As soon as I removed the debris, no more bubbles ......... until a vortex started. Mama mia! So I added a little water and now there is no vortex. But it seems that the margin of "full" to vortex water level is not very big. Is there a way to guard against a vortex? I was thinking of trying to put a kind of ceiling above the outflow.

Thx.