Thousands of tiny bubbles.

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

So I recently asked about chemicals. After having my local fish experts test my water they agreed that my water was cycled and ready for a couple starter fish. Now my biggest worry is the tank has Thousands of tiny air bubble throughout the water. I know this can be bad as they can get stuck to fish which some have and give them problems breathing. I called my fish experts and they told me to take the sock that i had on the water pump off in hopes that a nice flow of water not going though the sock would help with this. Now I was told to wait a few hours for this to cycle though but I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions.

Barrett · Jul 7, 2017

Are you currently going through a diatom bloom?

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

if your referring to algae then no i'm not its a fish only tank. and there is not algae at all within the tank. I think the bubbles are manly coming from the pump but i the pump us completely submerged

Barrett · Jul 7, 2017

Joshua Agostoni said:
if your referring to algae then no i'm not its a fish only tank. and there is not algae at all within the tank. I think the bubbles are manly coming from the pump but i the pump us completely submerged

I only asked because when my tank went through a diatom bloom (brown dusty looking algae). That is completely normal for an tank during cycle. There were micro bubbles everywhere being released from the algae. It only lasted for a little over a week and now all is cleared.

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

Yeah im pretty sure its coming from the pump im wondering if the tiny hole in the pumps outlet not being submerged could be the problem however its shooting out water at all times.

saltyfilmfolks · Jul 7, 2017

Do you have a skimmer? and sump? micro bubbles is my first thought or water level in the sump is too low and the baffles are making air bubbles as the go over..
A picture might be nice

Fishfinder · Jul 7, 2017

Joshua Agostoni said:
Yeah im pretty sure its coming from the pump im wondering if the tiny hole in the pumps outlet not being submerged could be the problem however its shooting out water at all times.

Can you post a picture of the return pump? Not sure about the tiny hole in the outlet

Barrett · Jul 7, 2017

I would seal any hole in the outlet this can be a source of air in the system, as the water moves past the hole it will pull air in with it.

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

Well i just added a protein skimmer today but i had the problem before that was added. As for the sump I d have a sump but the water level is fine and I have an auto top off system. the pump is fully submerged.
https://www.dropbox.com/pri/get/201...ABzC1bDhZPekZ6xP0WDrTbwKdZ7O1cHCwXDK68ZNReLQw
https://www.dropbox.com/pri/get/201...ABd5rxKynlj64JhnVNLqq1UNAqs4fs1tHWxYFtgvUt-Yw
https://www.dropbox.com/pri/get/201...AD9dX2Ffml58RZDF72G_ebLVe4BeeGAo4K9bZHWt7G-8Q
https://www.dropbox.com/pri/get/201...ADh8zYSetrzdfEyOO1N76W8hzHQ7LTnvebhn4KXPL3m8Q I'm wondering if this hole not being submerged is a problem?

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

Als wanna point out that i had no idea how to add photos so that why there's double and only two photos shown. didn't even realize they where being attached thought it wasn't working

Dancingmad · Jul 7, 2017

Had a hole in my return in the event of a power outage to break the siphon. Could be it, but IME MY microbubbles when i experience them are due to the skimmer. Never had my siphon breakin hole in the return line cause bubbles that tiny. Also, i actually add mechanical filtration(filter socks / sump block) to help capture the micro bubbles. Theyll get caught in the fibers, accumulate in size till theyre big enough to float up and pop!

Every system is different - one easy way to confirm if its the skimmer is to run it wet (cut off the air line + reduce flow so it doesnt overflow your floor/sump with kaka) for a few hours - see if that doesn't help.

Gl happy reefing!

Joshua Agostoni · Jul 7, 2017

unplugged my filter and realized it was deff that tiny hole in the outlet. so i went ahead and sealed it and drilled a hole slightly lower.

Barrett · Jul 7, 2017

Joshua Agostoni said:
unplugged my filter and realized it was deff that tiny hole in the outlet. so i went ahead and sealed it and drilled a hole slightly lower.

Good to hear you found it. We have this problem a lot with the hydraulic systems on our trucks at work, loose connections or worn line allowing air to be sucked in the system and causing cavitation in the pumps and foaming over the hydraulic tanks.