Help me find my microbubbles

[Max93]

Hi,

for forever now, I’ve had microbubbles in my tank.
Here is my process, equipment and how I’ve narrowed it down:

1. Icecap gyres 4K - figured out that these where making microbubbles but then fixed it by letting them run forward and reverse which allowed the bubbles that where being created to stop. Solved.

2. skimmer - ran tank with skimmer off, there were still bubbles.

3. Uv sterilizer - watched for thirty minutes straight on the outflow, no bubbles just clean water.

4. overflow water level. Waterbox 220.6 fixed to manufacturers recommendations, still have microbubbles.

5. I have been noticing that from time to time, say every ten minutes or so, my return nozzle (I have two one on the left and one on the right coming from the overflow box) the one one the right, throws a burst of bubbles. Then my gyres break them up into tiny microbubbles.

point 5 is what I want to tackle - where is this sudden “burst” of bubbles coming from every few minutes? Is it from my return pump?

I just wanted crystal clear water and I have it… but these darn microbubbles. I don’t have any leaks that I can think of. Should I maybe take apart the return pump and put it back together again? Not sure how to tackle this issue so it doesn’t keep happening to me.

thank you! Let me know if you need more information/pictures.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Your return nozzle hose in your overflow may need a clamp. It could be sucking air.

 

[Max93]

Your return nozzle hose in your overflow may need a clamp. It could be sucking air.

I have a clamp on it that connects to the barb leading to the tank and also a clamp on the actual pump, so both inlet and outlet have clamps on both ends of the hose.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Here’s the obvious next question, are they tight? Clamps have a way of loosening over time.

 

[Max93]

Here’s the obvious next question, are they tight? Clamps have a way of loosening over time.

Just checked them now and very tight, they don’t move side to side or anything.

I’m cycling through everything again now, just running the tank with return and my octo 4s only (forgot to mention these but they don’t show any issues).

 

[Max93]

Ok get this,

I turned off everything except the return pump. The return pump that blows water into the display, is somehow forming a mini tornado every couple mines right above it. How is this happening if the pump is blowing water out not sucking water in?

 

[Max93]

Not sure if this helps but I found these larger bubbles on the return pump.

 

[Max93]

Upon further inspection I can see a ton of microbubbles that appear to be coming from my skimmer pump. Any idea how to fix this? The skimmer is over a year old. Maybe I need to adjust the physical height of the skimmer more outside of the water? I noticed that the exit there’s a little hole drilled there that is submerged.

in between the two red dots where the arrow is pointing.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

How high is the water level above your return pump?

 

[Max93]

How high is the water level above your return pump?

About 6-8”. No tornados are forming in the return area.

 

[Max93]

I cleaned my gyres and it helped with the microbubbles but I still have microbubbles. I don’t know, I guess I just have to live with them.

 

[kenand]

I cleaned my gyres and it helped with the microbubbles but I still have microbubbles. I don’t know, I guess I just have to live with them.

Read your post about microbubbles. I have them in my 90 gallon. Did you solve yours?

 

[Max93]

Read your post about microbubbles. I have them in my 90 gallon. Did you solve yours?

I ended up selling them and bought two mp60s lol

 

[mues]

i get microbubbles with evaporation as i dont have my ATO on my sump yet.. if return doesnt have like 9 inches of water above it, the water falling over from my bubble trap catches bubbles and throws them into my return pump