Micro bubble issues

[Asbury030]

Hey guys I have a SKIMZ KONE SK181 in my 20 gallon sump with a 90 gallon display. The tank has been up and running for about 6 months or so with the skimmer running for about 3 or 4 months. It's sitting In about 9.5 inches of water. My issue is it is throwing a lot of micro bubbles into the sump which in return is going into the display tank and it's driving me crazy! What can I do to fix this or what am I doing wrong?

 

[Ty Hamatake]

What all have you tried? With my Octa 165i, the fix ended up being adjust my air intake down a little. Have you tried adjusting either the air intake or water output gate?

 

[Asbury030]

I read somewhere to leave them both open for awhile and see how that went, but that didn't seem to help either. I did close the air intake and opened a little about a half turn and that didn't seem to help either.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Hmmm... I know I had a huge problem with micro bubbles after water changes for a bit and it turns out it was the tubing I was using. Is it possible that you have anything in the water that is leaching? I just recently had to dose my tank with Prazi Pro and dealt with more micro bubble for about two weeks. Do you use aerosols in your house for airfreshening or anything?

 

[Asbury030]

No nothing like that at all... I'm gonna check my height and maybe adjust that and just give it a good look over make sure everything is hooked up right. Ive read that these are pretty good skimmers and usually don't have issues like this. maybe I'll post a picture tomorrow when I get home from work

 

[Ty Hamatake]

Yeah, I love my Skimz!

And you may be right. You are at the upper limit on water height and that could be a contributing factor.

 

[Reefs anonymous]

Adjust your return pump lower. Return less water.

 

[Asbury030]

I turned off the skimmer and slowed the pump down... still have micro bubbles. I'm going to try and turn down the pump one more time and see if that does it... Starting to drive me crazy!!!

 

[Simplicity Aquatics]

Try putting it up on a little stand, like an upside down tupperware or similar to test. Shallower water may help.

 

[Reefs anonymous]

I turned off the skimmer and slowed the pump down... still have micro bubbles. I'm going to try and turn down the pump one more time and see if that does it... Starting to drive me crazy!!!

You turned off the skimmer completely and slowed the return pump amount and you still have micro bubbles? I would turn everything off completely, wait till all the bubbles are completely gone in the display tank, then turn the returnnpump back on at a low level. If you get micro bubbles then, I would change the return pump. I had a similar issue with a pump and had a valve inline the return, I turned the valve lower but still would get micro bubbles. I replaced the return pump and the issue was resolved. But make sure your return pump isn't too big. What size is the sump and what size is your return pump? I would also use a D.C. Controlled pump rather than a valve inline to control the return amount.

 

[Asbury030]

Try putting it up on a little stand, like an upside down tupperware or similar to test. Shallower water may help.

I tried that

You turned off the skimmer completely and slowed the return pump amount and you still have micro bubbles? I would turn everything off completely, wait till all the bubbles are completely gone in the display tank, then turn the returnnpump back on at a low level. If you get micro bubbles then, I would change the return pump. I had a similar issue with a pump and had a valve inline the return, I turned the valve lower but still would get micro bubbles. I replaced the return pump and the issue was resolved. But make sure your return pump isn't too big. What size is the sump and what size is your return pump? I would also use a D.C. Controlled pump rather than a valve inline to control the return amount.

I have the Jebao DCT-12000 pump in my 30 gal sump. I turned the pump all way down today before work... I will check tomorrow and get back with you guys

 

[Reefs anonymous]

I tried that



I have the Jebao DCT-12000 pump in my 30 gal sump. I turned the pump all way down today before work... I will check tomorrow and get back with you guys

You realize that pump at its minimum adjustment will pump over 1000 gal/hr? On a 30 gallon sump that's HUGE. You should be looking at 3-5 times flow rate of your display tank. So for a 90 gallon display tank, I'd shoot for no more than 460-500 gal/hr max. That I would say is your problem. Too much water through put in the sump. After the water falls into the sump, bubbles are created, those bubbles don't have enough time to rise to the top of the water and pop in the sump because the return pump is so powerful that the bubbles are being pulled back into the pump and sent back into the display tank all chopped up into little bubbles.

 

[Asbury030]

GOTCHA!!! Thank you! What's a pump you would recommend?

 

[Reefs anonymous]

GOTCHA!!! Thank you! What's a pump you would recommend?

For what it's worth, I'm using the
CURRENT USA EFLUX DC FLOW PUMP 1,050 GPH on my 50gal tank and I like it. It's adjustable from 0 to 1050 gal/hr with infinite rather than step adjustment. I'm using it to feed my chiller, my reactor, as well as a return to the display tank. It's virtually in audible. I have it on a 24" ice cap sump. I believe what I'm telling you is right but let's hear what other opinions come along. Here is the flow chart on that pump. Specifically the green line graph. Notice at about 3 -4 feet the pump only puts out about 600-700 g/hr

 

[Asbury030]

Awesome! Thank you!