Are microbubbles normal in a new tank?

[jasonrusso]

So I just set up my new 210 tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-225-gallon-build.288361/

It's been up and running for about about 5 days now. The fish seem to be doing well and my water parameters are good, but I keep getting micro-bubbles which is getting frustrating.

Now, I swapped over all my rock from my 150 and added some more. I swapped over most of my sand, but added some new sand. Pretty much all my equipment was swapped over.

At first, I could see that one of the return lines was getting a venturi from the siphon break. I corrected this issue with some airline under the water line, but I am still seeing bubbles!!!

In my sump, my skimmer (which is 2 years old and swapped from the old tank) seems to be putting out a bunch of micro-bubbles. I have an Oceanic sump so I do have a bubble wall, but I still see some bubbles in the return chamber.

So, I read in a couple places that because it is a new tank with new components (returns, durso stacks, hoses, glass, etc) that micro bubbles may be normal until the components become "wet." Has anyone experienced this?

 

[FishGuyBri]

So I just set up my new 210 tank.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-225-gallon-build.288361/

It's been up and running for about about 5 days now. The fish seem to be doing well and my water parameters are good, but I keep getting micro-bubbles which is getting frustrating.

Now, I swapped over all my rock from my 150 and added some more. I swapped over most of my sand, but added some new sand. Pretty much all my equipment was swapped over.

At first, I could see that one of the return lines was getting a venturi from the siphon break. I corrected this issue with some airline under the water line, but I am still seeing bubbles!!!

In my sump, my skimmer (which is 2 years old and swapped from the old tank) seems to be putting out a bunch of micro-bubbles. I have an Oceanic sump so I do have a bubble wall, but I still see some bubbles in the return chamber.

So, I read in a couple places that because it is a new tank with new components (returns, durso stacks, hoses, glass, etc) that micro bubbles may be normal until the components become "wet." Has anyone experienced this?

Yes. I had crazy microbubbles for a week in my 90. They all the sudden disappeared about two weeks in.

 

[jasonrusso]

Ok, since nothing I am doing seems to be making a difference, I am going to have to wait it out and see.

 

[jasonrusso]

Yes. I had crazy microbubbles for a week in my 90. They all the sudden disappeared about two weeks in.

Ok, since nothing I am doing seems to be making a difference, I am going to have to wait it out and see.

 

[3mm3]

Can also get them if you used glued pvc on the return and didn't get a complete fuse between 2 pieces. It will suck in air through pinholes and cause micro bubles.

 

[jasonrusso]

Can also get them if you used glued pvc on the return and didn't get a complete fuse between 2 pieces. It will suck in air through pinholes and cause micro bubles.

I didn't glue anything. They are megaflow overflow kits. The instructions said not to glue them. I used nylon tubing to the bulkhead and that goes right to the return. I don't see any water leaking out from the elbow. It's a really tight fit.

 

[3mm3]

Sorry I had to read your first post again. Are you able to adjust the air intake on the skimmer? On several of my new tanks I had my skimmer do the same. It took some adjusting for the skimmer to settle down and a little time.

 

[jasonrusso]

Sorry I had to read your first post again. Are you able to adjust the air intake on the skimmer? On several of my new tanks I had my skimmer do the same. It took some adjusting for the skimmer to settle down and a little time.

I cannot adjust the air intake, only the level. It's a reef octopus XS 200. I think I'll just try to wait it out.

 

[FishGuyBri]

I have RO INT 150 and man it looked so cloudy from the microbubbles. I did add a carbon bag for a few days, changed it once, then once my skimmer broke in the bubbles are about 90% less. If you search in this forum you will find where I was going nuts from all the foam and bubbles because I refused to wait it out lol.