Baffle system for rubbermaid tub

[cloakerpoked]

Does anybody have any ideas for a baffle system in a rubbermaid tub? I'm having problems with a ton of microbubbles making it into my display, to the point where it looks filthy, and it really bugs the crap outta me. If anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear it or see your pictures of how you dealt with this problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

[roshi719]

Do you have filter socks on your drains?

 

[cloakerpoked]

Nope, just a wall of live rock and filter floss between the pump inlets and the drains.

 

[roshi719]

My first suggestion would be to put filter bags on the drains then. Just make sure you clean them regularly so they don't turn into a nitrate factory on you.

 

[roshi719]

All the systems in my store have filter bags on the drains and I have no problems. My display tank at home has no filter bags, but I don't have bubbles because I have a slower return pump and run the pump on the opposite end of the sump as the drain. All systems are using 100 gal rubermaid tubs.

 

[cloakerpoked]

My pumps run on the other end of the tub, but they're moving a lot of water through my 30 gal tub. I have a Mag18 in the sump, and a Little Giant 4 running through a bulkhead in the tub. I have a lot of drains (7 in total) dumping a lot of bubbles into the other side, so I think that the socks might be the first place to go. Anything else that might reduce my bubbles more, or no?

 

[roshi719]

would it be possible to plumb another 30 gal sump into the system and then just run your pumps out of that one? 30 gal sump just sounds a little small for having 8 drains going to it. I would be worried about the sump overflowing when the power goes out.

 

[cloakerpoked]

I'm running a manifold off the pumps, and some of those are mini "closed loop" systems like the chiller. I converted the 2 returns in the overflows into drains, so 4 of them come from the tank itself, so even though water is coming back into the sump from a lot of directions, it ends up being less than 8 gallons total that I add with the power out. I've been thinking about building a custom sump that takes maximum advantage of my tank as its currently set up...but I'm also thinking about upgrading the whole system when I move in the fall...so right now I need to decide on a direction...mainly if this tank will be my display in several months, or if it'll be time to get the dream system.

 

[roshi719]

Yup gotta figure out if you just need a temp fix or if it's time to get the saw and drill out and go to town.

 

[cloakerpoked]

Well, either way I think that a quick mod of my current system makes the most sense for me....If I'm upgrading, it would be to get a brand new sump.

 

[killingseed2000]

put the return in side another container, put a couple 3/4 holes in the bottom but not too many allow some water to travel by hole and the rest to tavel to the top to help release the air. small trash can, large bowl that ,at most you can reshape or resize.

 

[Saltysteele]

i saw another reefer's set up, where he had a large rubbermaid (100g?). inside, he had a square kitty litter bucket on top of the same. in the top bucket, he had chaeto with a lamp, which flowed into the lower bucket with a deep sand bed. water came from the tank, into the top bucket, down to the second bucket and then into the rest of the tub.

i don't know if this helps at all, but hopefully it can inspire you?

 

[cloakerpoked]

There is filter floss in the bottom of this bucket and holes drilled all around the perimeter up to 6" from the bottom. It's working great so far, has really reduced the microbubble problems in the tank. Its not perfect, but its definitely a big start.

 

[Saltysteele]

awesome! hey, do you have gold in dat thar buckit?

just be aware that you'll probably need to replace/clean the floss every week, otherwise you'll have a nitrate factory on your hands

is this under your tank, or is it remote?