Microbubbles everywhere

Phantom7 · Feb 1, 2023

Hello! My display tank (220 gallon) has microbubbles flowing all around it. I’ve tried everything I can think of to make it stop. I’ve turned here for help.
There is a baffle in my sump where they may be forming, but I don’t understand why the bubble trap doesn’t get rid of them.

Any suggestions welcome. And this pump is only half the size i intend to put on it. i can only imagine what it would look like.

FreshSaltH2o · Feb 1, 2023

Is the pump sucking air by chance? The video isn’t working for me probably something on my end. Are the bubbles flowing out of the return? Do you have a skimmer what’s it doing? Are the bubbles coming from it?

Phantom7 · Feb 1, 2023

FreshSaltH2o said:
Is the pump sucking air by chance? The video isn’t working for me probably something on my end. Are the bubbles flowing out of the return? Do you have a skimmer what’s it doing? Are the bubbles coming from it?

errr, sorry about the video. So basically I have my filter sock area which does generate some bubbles, but the water is forced down in that area. Then there’s a fuge area that isn’t setup, and the water goes over into a protein skimmer area, and makes a fair amount of bubbles there. The skimmer currently isn’t present due to a terrible noise it makes, which ironically I just found someone with the same issue and possible solution, but I digress.
Then there’s a bubble trap loaded with sponge, but I watch the bubbles make it to my pump and they of course are getting gobbled up by the pump and put in the DT.

The pump is a Jebao DCP 8000, and I intend to put a DCP 13000 in its place whenever I get the bubble issue sorted.

gbroadbridge · Feb 1, 2023

Check your plumbing and joiners.

There is air being sucked in somewhere

Phantom7 · Feb 1, 2023

Here’s some pictures, though they don’t do it much ‘justice’.
The air is 100% being sucked in by the pump. There’s no suction leak anywhere, I’ve already drove myself crazy taking it apart piece by piece and still having bubbles, and with a flashlight I can see the bubbles entering the pump.

ckuhny3 · Feb 1, 2023

ckuhny3 · Feb 1, 2023

^this was my problem in my return plumbing maybe can help you. Might be there is air trapped in pipe from when power was off last

Phantom7 · Feb 1, 2023

ckuhny3 said:
^this was my problem in my return plumbing maybe can help you. Might be there is air trapped in pipe from when power was off last

How did you know I love this creator? Anyways, I have all vinyl tubing on the return side, and don’t see any obvious air pockets. I’ll give the video a watch anyways just to see if anything ‘clicks’