Can we talk about Micro Bubbles?

3Twinklets · Apr 23, 2013

Is there anything more annoying?? (Well at the moment anyway) How do you get rid of yours?

revhtree · Apr 23, 2013

Yes I hate them!

A couple things I know that helps are:

1. Keep lower flow coming from your sump to your display.
2. Use a pre-filter on return pumps if possible.
3. Use baffles in your sump.

I would like to hear more as well.

Mattyice008 · Apr 23, 2013

Yep, bubble trap in sump pretty much eliminated all mine..

Rikerbear · Apr 23, 2013

What sort of set up do you have Wendy? Do you use a sump? Do you have a HOB skimmer? Use and AIO tank?
My AIO tank had a serious problem with them during my skimmer break in period. But have since settled down. I used Phosguard sheets tucked in and around the return pumps to block some of the bubbles.....adjusted the air intake on the skimmer.....and learned to live with them till they passed.

asmashling · Apr 23, 2013

+1 to Bubble Trap in sump/fuge

mcmarines · Apr 23, 2013

asmashling said:
+1 to Bubble Trap in sump/fuge

+1 worked for me

3Twinklets · Apr 23, 2013

I have a brand spanking new custom sump, and there were no micro bubbles after the install. I also have a brand spanking new, monster chunk, Reef Octopus SSS 5000 Int skimmer ( And I have bent Terry's ear more than once, Thank You Terry, about how to get this monster adjusted). I am beginning to suspect that the problem is there. (It is so big, it took 2 Twinklets to get it out of the box!)
I am sure interested in hearing more about the bubble trap that you guys are speaking of?

Eric B · Apr 23, 2013

Can you post a picture of the sump and skimmer as this might be the location but it is hard to determine with out seeing how it is set up. Most sumps that I have seen have some type of bubble trap built into them. (A bubble trap is usually 3 pieces of glass/acrylic placed into a sump where the water has to flow under/over them in a row to remove bubbles from the water.)

3Twinklets · Apr 23, 2013

Ah .I knew that this question would come. I can't. The sump is a brand new design and I promised the designer that I would not share photos of it. However there are photos of that particular skimmer all over the internet. Also Mike&Terrys is almost identical. (Besides, anyone here that has seen any of my photos, knows that I take horrible photos!)

I think you may be right about the actual placement. The outflow of the skimmer is right in front of my main drive pump. It would be great if something as simple as turning the skimmer would fix it! However due to the size of the skimmer pump, (These skimmers blast like crazy), and the size of my main drive pump, I still think it will take some kind of bubble trap.

Eric B said:
Can you post a picture of the sump and skimmer as this might be the location but it is hard to determine with out seeing how it is set up. Most sumps that I have seen have some type of bubble trap built into them. (A bubble trap is usually 3 pieces of glass/acrylic placed into a sump where the water has to flow under/over them in a row to remove bubbles from the water.)

Dana · Apr 23, 2013

When I added my sump, my skimmer went a little nuts and the micro bubbles came from there. Also if I turn my skimmer off for a while and turn back on it makes lots of micro bubbles for a while. After a couple of days they go away tho in my case. It's a reef octo skimmer as well

Zack · Apr 23, 2013

I saw you mentioned turning the skimmer around as an option, have you tried putting the skimmer return far away from the return pump as possible?

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Zack · Apr 23, 2013

I have an open sump- with no baffles at all and I have the skimmer return on one side and the return pump on the other. I ended up having to adjust my return pump down to stop my micro bubbles completely.

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