Eliminating microbubbles in rubbermaid stock tank (no baffles)

[burningmime]

I have a 100 gallon stock tank I'm using a basement sump, and an external skimmer. It's mostly working fine, but there are TONS of microbubbles in the display. The skimmer output shoots them down into the sump, and the return picks them up. When the skimmer is on max, the display is frankly cloudy with the amount of bubbles and you can just see them shooting out of the return jet. I've tried to move the skimmer output down close to the pump, up out of the water, and every which way on the return side of the tank, but it doesn't really change much; the bubbles can't reach the surface to pop and are sent back to the display.



What's the next step here? Could I direct the skimmer output to some sort of chamber slightly above the water level and then let that overflow into the sump? Would that do anything?

 

[Saltyreef]

Try a slight film of molykote 111 on the inside of the output hose into the display.
Closer to the skimmer output side of the hose.

 

[Saltyreef]

This guy just used a piece of foam.

 

[burningmime]

Try a slight film of molykote 111 on the inside of the output hose into the display.
Closer to the skimmer output side of the hose.

The output to the display (display is about 12 feet up from where the pictures are taken) or the skimmer hose?

The air would still be in the water, right? So would that just help it mix better or something?

 

[Saltyreef]

The output to the display (display is about 12 feet up from where the pictures are taken) or the skimmer hose?

The air would still be in the water, right? So would that just help it mix better or something?

The grease acts as a defoamer so it may remove the bubbles.

 

[WVNed]

Why is your skimmer putting out bubbles? Adjust it. I have 2 in my system and they done make them.
Build a bubble trap out of PVC.

 

[workhz]

You have a tube that's dumping water full of bubbles at around the same location the return pump is? Why not just move that tube back a couple of feet or more and lay a piece of acrylic kinda angle over the pump? Like a little cover just to keep most bubble away and force them go up. Doesn't have to be perfect.

I had a baffle fail in a sump so it just lays against my pump now. Still did the job of keeping bubbles out.

 

[WVNed]

Get a large piece of PVC, 4 inch or larger or use an old bucket. Drill some holes around the bottom and shove a piece of course filter material in it above the holes. Make it tall enough to come just above the surface of the sump. Stick the skimmer hose in it.
To get the bubbles out you have to slow the water way down until they rise faster than it flows. You should be able to get bubble free water out the bottom from the holes.

But I would still adjust the skimmer.

 

[Rubberfrog]

Throw some foam in front of the return pump

 

[burningmime]

Why is your skimmer putting out bubbles?

Isn't that what they do? I can turn down the air draw and make it skim more wet, but it will still be bubbly.

You have a tube that's dumping water full of bubbles at around the same location the return pump is? Why not just move that tube back a couple of feet or more and lay a piece of acrylic kinda angle over the pump? Like a little cover just to keep most bubble away and force them go up. Doesn't have to be perfect.

I had a baffle fail in a sump so it just lays against my pump now. Still did the job of keeping bubbles out.

The main reason is that I don't want to be re-skimming the same water, although I guess it can't hurt. The left side of the sump is where the skimmer intake pump is. I want most of the skimmed water to go to the display, not back into the skimmer.

Get a large piece of PVC, 4 inch or larger or use an old bucket. Drill some holes around the bottom and shove a piece of course filter material in it above the holes. Make it tall enough to come just above the surface of the sump. Stick the skimmer hose in it.
To get the bubbles out you have to slow the water way down until they rise faster than it flows. You should be able to get bubble free water out the bottom from the holes.

But I would still adjust the skimmer.

I'll give it a shot; thanks for the idea. Although by slowing the water, doesn't that mean I'll have less flow through the skimmer itself, once it reaches equilibrium? Or am I missing something here?

 

[Kodski]

Firstly I'd move the output as far away from the pump as possible. If you're still having issue, you can easily make baffles with this aquamesh from BRS

Aquamesh Green 2 - Coarse

Progressive density mesh mechanical filtration system can be used as a system or separately. Aquamesh #2 is great for almost all filtration applications from capturing free floating detritus to removing microbubbles. Aquamesh #2 and #3 are the most common used. Dimensions:19.5" x 24" x 1.5"...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[burningmime]

Firstly I'd move the output as far away from the pump as possible. If you're still having issue, you can easily make baffles with this aquamesh from BRS

Aquamesh Green 2 - Coarse

Progressive density mesh mechanical filtration system can be used as a system or separately. Aquamesh #2 is great for almost all filtration applications from capturing free floating detritus to removing microbubbles. Aquamesh #2 and #3 are the most common used. Dimensions:19.5" x 24" x 1.5"...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

The reason the output is there is so I'm not re-skimming the same water. The skimmer pump is on the far left side of the sump and the return is near the right. There's also a pump I'm using like a powerhead to try to get the water drifting from left to right. I don't have great tank turnover (only about 2x water volume per hour) because of the head pressure of a basement sump, so the theroy was to try to get as much of that low turnover into the skimmer and UV as I can. I don't know how well that works out. Here's kind of the idea:

Moving the skimmer output as far from the return as possible would mean it would be re-skimming the same water, right?

 

[WVNed]

Isn't that what they do? I can turn down the air draw and make it skim more wet, but it will still be bubbly.

The main reason is that I don't want to be re-skimming the same water, although I guess it can't hurt. The left side of the sump is where the skimmer intake pump is. I want most of the skimmed water to go to the display, not back into the skimmer.

I'll give it a shot; thanks for the idea. Although by slowing the water, doesn't that mean I'll have less flow through the skimmer itself, once it reaches equilibrium? Or am I missing something here?

I am not saying to change the skimmer output. You have a stream of water and bubbles in a tube coming from the skimmer. Dump it into a larger vessel so the velocity of the water slows down. Then the bubbles can rise to the surface.
Any bubbles still traveling with the water will tend to stick on the coarse filter material and clump together. The clear water will come out the bottom.

I use a stock tank myself and you have to do things a bit different sometimes.

 

[workhz]

Think a bit of experimentation is in order. Luckily you have plenty of room and space to do whatever you want.

 

[burningmime]

I am not saying to change the skimmer output. You have a stream of water and bubbles in a tube coming from the skimmer. Dump it into a larger vessel so the velocity of the water slows down. Then the bubbles can rise to the surface.
Any bubbles still traveling with the water will tend to stick on the coarse filter material and clump together. The clear water will come out the bottom.

I use a stock tank myself and you have to do things a bit different sometimes.

Ah I see what you're saying! OK; I'm going to give that a try.

 

[Kodski]

The reason the output is there is so I'm not re-skimming the same water. The skimmer pump is on the far left side of the sump and the return is near the right. There's also a pump I'm using like a powerhead to try to get the water drifting from left to right. I don't have great tank turnover (only about 2x water volume per hour) because of the head pressure of a basement sump, so the theroy was to try to get as much of that low turnover into the skimmer and UV as I can. I don't know how well that works out. Here's kind of the idea:

Moving the skimmer output as far from the return as possible would mean it would be re-skimming the same water, right?

If your tank turnover is only 2x, skimming the same water will make no difference at all. Lets say your skimmer feed pump is 400 gal/hour. Theoretically that means that the skimmer will filter all the water in the sump 2x by the time the volume of the tank will run through the sump. Its going to be skimming the same water no matter where the output is. To increase efficiency of the skimmer you'd need to increase sump turnover in your case.


This is assuming you don't have some huge display tank like 200+ gal. I don't see display size mentioned anywhere.

 

[hart24601]

Why is your skimmer putting out bubbles? Adjust it. I have 2 in my system and they done make them.
Build a bubble trap out of PVC.

I’m sorry I can’t be a more help for ideas but I also think micro bubbles are not normal for skimmers. I have a 150g downstairs stock tank and the skimmer is on a diy shelf of pvc and egg crate with the return pump directly under it and I don’t have any micro bubbles. It might be skimmer design but I hope you find a fix.

 

[paintman]

I have the same exact skimmer. If you don't want to go through the hassles of building a bubble trap out of pvc tubing just do what I do. Put a filter sock over the end of the outlet tube. Problem solved.
FWIW try to turn the tank rate over to match the skimmer feed pump. But be careful, this skimmer is a beast, you can easily over skim your tank.