Sump acting as protein skimmer

[keddre]

I was having micro bubble issues before, but now my sump is acting like a protein skimmer which is problematic for my tank.

It's a 55 gallon tank (30 actual gallons) with a 20 gallon sump (15 actual). It Is running 500 gph, and surprisingly no micro bubbles are making it into my tank. My drain valves are also dialed in. I also do all feeding by dripping food into the return section, were the bubbles are occurring. Here is a picture taken after I stirred most of the bubbles back into the water column. Thanks in advance

Also note that the turf scrubber isn't running

 

[DancingShark]

Maybe putting food in the return is one of the problems. I was having the same issue with foam setting on the return section. It went away when I started using filter socks. I can't really remember it was about 7 month ago. Although a filter socks will act as a skimmer as well when its clogging up.

 

[Tariq]

Pure microbubbles dissipate rather quickly.
Your sump pic shows foam with various size bubbles. I am inclined to think you have organic compounds accumulating in water.
Is your protein skimmer working correctly and producing foam?
I would focus on water quality related issues.

 

[keddre]

It went away when I started using filter socks

I purposely don't run filter socks because I need to keep food in my water column 24/7.

I am inclined to think you have organic compounds accumulating in water.

This is correct, I dose phyto, marine snow, and zooplankton constantly.

Is your protein skimmer working

No skimmer on my tank, so in a way yes.

I would focus on water quality related issues

My nitrates hover between zero and five and no algae growth

 

[keddre]

Anyone else have any ideas, now that I have a sea Apple I'm dosing more and the problem is getting worse. Thanks

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It's proteins and organics in the water.

You really do need a protein skimmer if your going to run An NPS system. If it's properly sized it won't strip the food from the water.

You'll also want to look as some marine pure blocks and probably carbon dosing too. It's the only way to keep the nutints down wc. Its how The real biologists do it.

Look up Mat Wandell and the Steinheart aquarium. Brs also has his talk from macna last year on NPS.