Micro bubble problem

USMA36 · Sep 10, 2017

just added several new pieces of coral using coraline purple epoxy by oceans wonders. It has been making my SC302 Skimmer go crazy with micro bubbles. It’s been almost 18 hours already with no sign of letting up. I did a 15% water change to no effect. Should I just turn off the Skimmer to keep he micro bubbles out of my tank? How long Can I keep the Skimmer off without effecting my tank?

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 10, 2017

You don't need a skimmer for a reef tank, so indefinitely really.

USMA36 · Sep 10, 2017

How long should it take for the Skimmer to calm down again. I’m running fresh carbon and 15% water change for over 24 hours now.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 10, 2017

I'm afraid I've never used that brand. Did you use a lot?

And personally I would not worry about the micro bubbles.

DSC reef · Sep 10, 2017

The epoxy is setting it off. I use that brand of skimmer and it's sensitive. As long as its not overflowing I'd let it run. If it is then give it a day. I wouldn't worry about a water change at this point. When I change a sock out the skimmer goes nuts for an hour.

USMA36 · Sep 10, 2017

About 1/3 stick. Used it to glue down 6 or 7 frags. Worried the micro bubbles irritating the corals. There’s a lot of them.

USMA36 · Sep 10, 2017

DSC reef said:
The epoxy is setting it off. I use that brand of skimmer and it's sensitive. As long as its not overflowing I'd let it run. If it is then give it a day. I wouldn't worry about a water change at this point. When I change a sock out the skimmer goes nuts for an hour.

Ha! It’s been 24 hours and a small water change. Still over flowing and a crap ton of bubbles coming from the bottom of the handle. It’s gone crazy before just never for this long. I guess I’ll only do one or two frags at a time and not 1/3 of a stick.

DSC reef · Sep 10, 2017

Oz your skimmer rayed for 180 gallons or the 150? On the 150 gallon one the adjust comes loose off the back of the body

USMA36 · Sep 12, 2017

72 hours after a 20% water change and new carbon and still having the same issue. I feel like this is not normal.

DSC reef · Sep 12, 2017

I'd take it apart and make sure everything is put together solid. My adjustment tube would become separated from the body just a little and I'd have a lot of micro bubbles. I eventually glued it.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 12, 2017

USMA36 said:
About 1/3 stick. Used it to glue down 6 or 7 frags. Worried the micro bubbles irritating the corals. There’s a lot of them.

It won't bother them. Trust me , I own two tunze skimmers. Lol.

I hope it gets worked out soon for ya

USMA36 · Sep 12, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
It won't bother them. Trust me , I own two tunze skimmers. Lol.

I hope it gets worked out soon for ya

The micro bubbles in the display tank won’t bother the corals it fish? I already took it apart. Everything seems good.

saltyfilmfolks · Sep 12, 2017

USMA36 said:
The micro bubbles in the display tank won’t bother the corals it fish? I already took it apart. Everything seems good.

Nope. Not at all. My one tunze is in a sumpless 30. It literally made micro bubbles for months before I replaced the pump.

And a fwiw. There's an odd "remedy" folks use called micro scrubbing using bubbles.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/micro-scrubbing-bubbles.224373/
Cures cyano , Dino's and male pattern baldness appearanlty. Lol.

Beardo · Sep 12, 2017

Micro bubbles have never bothered anything in my experience.
One thing I have done in the past after chemiclean treatment is I put a valve on the skimmer airline and throttled the airflow until the skimmer stopped overflowing. This allowed the chemical to be skimmed out. As the foaming decreases the valve can be opened farther until it is no longer needed.

DSC reef · Sep 12, 2017

Beardo said:
Micro bubbles have never bothered anything in my experience.
One thing I have done in the past after chemiclean treatment is I put a valve on the skimmer airline and throttled the airflow until the skimmer stopped overflowing. This allowed the chemical to be skimmed out. As the foaming decreases the valve can be opened farther until it is no longer needed.

That's a really good idea

Beardo · Sep 12, 2017

DSC reef said:
That's a really good idea

I can't take credit for the idea. Just something I came across awhile back while reading through different forums.

USMA36 · Sep 13, 2017

Day 4 still no change. Doesn’t seem to be getting better either. Tomorrow I’ll have to do another 20% water change. I really dont like going so long with my skimmer acting like this.