Please help with microbubbles.

[saltyphish]

Okay, so here is the problem.....microbubbles! I am at my wits end and have tried everything I can think of but can not get rid of them. I have a 29 gallon coralife biocube. In chamber 1 I use a aquatic life mini 115 protein skimmer. In chamber 2 I use steviet's media basket with chemipure elite in the lower chamber, purigen in the middle chamber, and poly filter floss in the top chamber. I also have the refugium basket with some biomedia in it. In the third chamber I have a rio6hf return pump connected to the return nozzle with 16/22 eheim tubing. I took the 90 degree elbow out. I have turned the inlet nozzle on the return pump in the opposite direction of flow from rest of chambers. I have even filled up all 3 chambers to the top to eliminate splashing or possible air being drawn in. There is no exposed plumbing! I have adjusted the return nozzles so they are not creating little whirlpools at the surface of the tank. I have shut down the protein skimmer before to isolate the source of the bubbles only to find I am still getting microbubbles in my display tank. I can see the bubbles coming from the return pump nozzle, but what is causing this. Any suggestions? Is it possible my return pump that is submerged under 10 in of water is creating microbubbles somehow?

 

[NanaReefer]

How big is the return pump?

 

[saltyphish]

350 gph

 

[ws6kid]

How long has the skimmer been running? Very common for nano skimmers to have a longer break in period and create micro bubbles in the tank.

 

[saltyphish]

6 mths for skimmer, but I get microbubbles even with it off. I originally thought the same thing myself.

 

[sucker]

check return line for leaking

 

[NanaReefer]

I also think your return is sucking air. Any chance you have another pump, maybe smaller in gph?

 

[Reefing Madness]

The return is sucking air from somewhere, thats the issue, gotta hunt that down.

 

[Fieryfrog]

I have always wondered, besides being a little ugly and annoying, can microbubbles be harmful to fish or coral?

 

[saltyphish]

I agree with it being the return pump but how would it be sucking air if it is 10" under water. The only connection that is out of water on the return is where it connects to the lockline in the display and that I assure you does not leak I have triple checked that. Is there something I am missing here? I do have 2 other pumps I can use one is the mj1200 at 295 gph, and the original stock pump that came with the tank at 264 gph. Seems like I had microbubbles with both of those as well. Thanks for all input.

 

[NanaReefer]

May be causing a vortex. My MP10 will do this if I have it to close the the waters surface or turned up to high.,

 

[saltyphish]

I've checked for vorex. I actually installed a y adapter for my return nozzle and aimed it down a little because I did see some vortex developing but not anymore.

 

[BigDaddyReefer]

Is it possible to put a filter sock over you return pump? I've heard that works

 

[saltyphish]

I have thought of using a filter sock. I just wasn't sure how good of an idea it was ie. flow restriction. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[b-rolla]

any loc line in the return? I just battled this, tried everything and it was a portion of the locline that wasnt submerged.

 

[b-rolla]

sorry just saw your other post.. my locline wasnt leaking water either but was definitely pulling into it. might be worth a shot to check.

 

[tigerdragon]

could be getting bubbles from another chamber encroaching into rtn sect. is pump hard plumbed or vinyl connection could be a clamp connection not tight enough

 

[saltyphish]

Pump is not hard plumbed. I tried removing locline, still got microbubbles. I placed the return pump in a filtersock like someone else suggested and the microbubbles have decreased significantly. No where near as annoying so for now I have a fix it seems. Thanks for all the posts everyone.

 

[BigDaddyReefer]

Yes!! Glad it worked!

 

[saltyphish]

Yes big daddy a major relief. It was so bad it was driving me nuts. Got to the point where I didn't even spend time looking at my tank like I use to. Now I love it. Sure there are a few bubbles floating around but maybe 6 or 7 at a time and I can definitely handle that. Going to order more socks to change them out periodically. Thanks for everyone's posts. Major help!