Microbubbles. How can I stop them from reaching the display tank?

[Water Dog]

Oh, I see... I have the R-200 and it doesn't have that. It's a nice safety feature though.

 

[Dj City]

How did you stop the microbubbles from fuge to return?
Do you get microbubbles from your skimmer?

 

[Water Dog]

Still setting up, my upgrade is slowly progressing. In my old sumped system years ago, I found that by slowing down flow through the sump, it helped alleviate the micro bubbles making their way to the return chamber... that, and a properly broken in skimmer.

I'd imagine as your cheating grows in the fudge section, it would naturally trap the bubbles coming from the intake section.

 

[Water Dog]

Chaeto* Fuge* - I hate autocorrect!

 

[Wildman926]

Add a foam block to the skimmer intake. I don't like this option.

It would actually be added to the output, not the input. I do this on my Reef Dynamics skimmers to reduce micro bubbles, and turn them into macro bubbles...lol I then have a small acrylic sheet that walls off the output from the rest of the sump, so the micro bubbles have the opportunity to rise to the surface, instead of being sucked up by the return pump.

 

[jason2459]

It would actually be added to the output, not the input. I do this on my Reef Dynamics skimmers to reduce micro bubbles, and turn them into macro bubbles...lol I then have a small acrylic sheet that walls off the output from the rest of the sump, so the micro bubbles have the opportunity to rise to the surface, instead of being sucked up by the return pump.

Good catch. I actually meant return pump's intake. I needed coffee. Skimmer output would help the skimmers micro bubbles some what. I've had skimmers blast micro bubbles through foam blocks before too.

 

[WSC]

If you are using loc-line at the return inside your tank, there are loc-line valves that can be installed easily.

 

[chris@nemos]

We use these sumps and they work well. The overflow sounds like it's sending a lot of microbubbles through the fuge and into the return. Does the overflow make a lot of noise? Reducing the flow will slow the overflows down and keep the bubbles from getting into the sump.

To test to this you can install a valve on the overflow and cut it back slightly to reduce the amount of bubbles coming down the overflow. Be careful not to flood the tank by turning it back too much. then watch it for a few hours and see if the bubbles go away.

 

[Dj City]

My DC controllable pump should arrive by Monday. Once it's here and I install it, I will be able to play with the flow to see if I can reduce microbubbles into the sump.
I may very well have too much flow right now.

 

[Dj City]

My return pump is pushing 1200gph but I also have the two jeabo wp4's with the maxspect gyre and the jecod crossflow.

I have a LOT of flow throughout the display. I'm getting bubbles from the return outlets in the tank because the flow has increased since I went to one sump instead of the 4 sumps I had. No more 90○ bends for water to go through. It's s straight shot now from the DT to the sump and a straight shot from sump to DT.

 

[chris@nemos]

I think you're on the right track to resolving the bubbles. Keep us updated.

Thats a lot of flow in the DT. Will this be SPS?

 

[Dj City]

I think you're on the right track to resolving the bubbles. Keep us updated.

Thats a lot of flow in the DT. Will this be SPS?

Mixed reef.
Sps, LPS and softies.

 

[bruiser22]

I have the 200 sump and I'm having the same problem. With my refug light I can see the bubbles in that portion of the sump. The skimmer compartment does not have any bubbles. That has to be where It's coming from

I've got a lot sorted with my aquarium but i need some help / advice / solution to microbubbles.

I'm getting microbubbles in the display. I think the return is getting them from 3 sources within the sump.

1. Overflow
Water comes into the sump and creates a lot of bubbles. A small amount of water goes through 3 slits directly to the return section. I believe the slits are there to prevent the first section from filling too much.
2. Refugium
From the section that the water enters the sump, there are 3 slots that feed the Refugium. Microbubbles enter the fugue and go directly to the return that's located right behind the Refugium.
3. Skimmer
Skimmer produces microbubbles and they are carried to the return section.

I have a 110gal display with the eshopps R300 sump. Skimmer is SCA 302. Return pump is Pond master mag drive (1200gph) 3/4 inch return line / 1 inch drain line. No hard plumbing.

I attached a pic of the sump and how the water flows through it.

If any of you can help, please let me know how t to stop these microbubbles from getting to the display tank.

This is an eshopps R300 sump.
http://www.eshopps.com/products/filters/refugium/r300/

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I know this is a resurrection of an old thread but I have this exact sump with the same issue. The microbubbles are definitely being caused by the protein skimmer. Did this ever get resolved and how? From reading this it may just be my new skimmer but it is making me crazy!

 

[Dj City]

If the skimmer is new, this is going to happen for a while.

I have not had a microbubbles issue in a long time.

Be patient. It will slowly work itself out.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I had to upgrade to a much larger skimmer so it has only been running since July 25th. When upgrading tanks one forgets all the annoying stuff!!!

 

[Dj City]

It should have dialed in by now. July 25 to today is long enough for your skimmer to have broken in.

Are you sure the bubbles are coming from the skimmer?

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Pretty sure, I can see them in the skimmer section. Also, it is better first thing in the morning when the lights first turn on and get worse throughout the day. If that info helps at all?

 

[ShepherdTech]

Pretty sure, I can see them in the skimmer section. Also, it is better first thing in the morning when the lights first turn on and get worse throughout the day. If that info helps at all?

Did you ever resolve this? I have the r300 and had to turn one of my return valves 1/4 turn, slowing the flow way down to keep Microbubbles out of my display. They weren’t coming from the skimmer, as I turned it off for an hour or so as a test. It seems the Microbubbles are coming from the overflow. Considering ditching this brand new Eshopps r300 for something with a better design if that would resolve the issue.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Y

Did you ever resolve this? I have the r300 and had to turn one of my return valves 1/4 turn, slowing the flow way down to keep Microbubbles out of my display. They weren’t coming from the skimmer, as I turned it off for an hour or so as a test. It seems the Microbubbles are coming from the overflow. Considering ditching this brand new Eshopps r300 for something with a better design if that would resolve the issue.

Hey! Yeah, one day it just stopped. I adjusted the water level in the sump and one day poof! No bubbles.