Micro bubbles

BadFish619 · May 13, 2019

So I recently removed my bio balls and have rearranged my sump. I never had micro bubbles before but now I am. Below are pics that move from left to right in my sump showing setup. The water moves left to right. I have two sponges you will see blocking each section making air bubbles unlikely. But here we are? Anything you guys can make out that may be causing it?

BadFish619 · May 14, 2019

Bump!

LilElroyJetson · May 14, 2019

It looks like it’s happening in the skimmer chamber from the photos though difficult to tell. Have you tried shutting off the skimmer (and other pumps, one at a time) to try to see whether one of them is causing it? Also, do you have any type of bubble diffuser where your drain enters into the sump? That would help a lot if that’s the source of the micro bubbles.

BadFish619 · May 14, 2019

Well I was figuring the 2 sponges on either side of the rocks would diffuse them. I had the skimmer in the middle section yesterday and no problems with bubbles which is weird because it was closer to the return pump and the same sponge was blocking the two sections. Maybe I'll try a diffuser where the water enters the sock. But honestly I feel like the two that are there and the entire middle section all but devoid of flow should be enough to stop them! Definitely bugging me lol

LilElroyJetson · May 14, 2019

BadFish619 said:
Well I was figuring the 2 sponges on either side of the rocks would diffuse them. I had the skimmer in the middle section yesterday and no problems with bubbles which is weird because it was closer to the return pump and the same sponge was blocking the two sections. Maybe I'll try a diffuser where the water enters the sock. But honestly I feel like the two that are there and the entire middle section all but devoid of flow should be enough to stop them! Definitely bugging me lol

I hear ya. Try to diagnose which piece of equipment is causing the microbubbles first, then we can address what the best solution is (whether it be a bubble diffuser, potentially moving the skimmer back to the middle section if that’s an option, etc.). Shockingly, micro bubbles just have a way of working their way thru sometimes (I’ve had mine flow underneath my sponge).

BadFish619 · May 14, 2019

LilElroyJetson said:
I hear ya. Try to diagnose which piece of equipment is causing the microbubbles first, then we can address what the best solution is (whether it be a bubble diffuser, potentially moving the skimmer back to the middle section if that’s an option, etc.). Shockingly, micro bubbles just have a way of working their way thru sometimes (I’ve had mine flow underneath my sponge).

So with skimmer off, bubbles still present. Filter sock is actually under water at the bottom. Return hose is submerged.
What could I use to diffuse the water from the overflow? Put a sponge around the end? I find it odd that in the middle section with the rock I can't seem to really see any bubbles. And absolutely nothing changed with return line.

BadFish619 · May 14, 2019

Only thing really to have changed is the removal of the bio balls which were under the filter sock. I'm sure they diffused the air bubbles but wouldn't expect so much that I wasn't getting bubbles. Especially since it looks clear in return pump section

KrisReef · May 14, 2019

Are these bubbles in the main tank or just in the sump?

I had a similar skimmer and it had a grommet in the skimmer body where the pump injected water and sometimes that would leak? The return sponge on the level adjustment would also sometimes allow bubbles into the tank especially when After I moved it for maintenance, drove me crazy so I bought a replacement skimmer and solved my issue.

The micro bubbles it made took a few minutes to clear after I shut the skimmer off.