How Do I Stop Microbubbles From Entering My DT

xcastn0shad0wx · 07/08/2009, 11:31 AM

I just built my sump out of a 20 gallon long and I am getting micro bubbles in my DT. I will post pictures and if anyone can give me any advice on how to fix the problem that would be great. I'm wondering if the tap water that I am testing it with is why I'm getting bubbles?

This is my first time posting pictures so I hope I did it correct.

jimsplace · 07/08/2009, 12:21 PM

I can't tell from the pic's, but if your flow to the pump is from under the partition. then try adding a piece of foam to stop any bubbles from going through.

walkthedog · 07/08/2009, 12:27 PM

It looks like there isn't enough space between the return and the drain pipe. 4 things that might help are.
1. filter sock can help reduce bubbles. (this is what I do)
2. slow the flow down (this will reduce the turbulence and give the bubbles more time to work them selfs out.
3. bubble tower ( This can work great in smaller sumps) do a search on it and you can read up on it)
4. adding another baffle might help also.

Just to let you know. If you are getting bubbles now with fresh water.... WATCH out! Water forms bubbles easier as you increase the salt content.

Good luck. Bubbles can be frustating. Also, with new plumping the bubbles can take a while to work out. As things stablize the pipes will get a slime coating on the inside of them. This will help reduce the bubbles also.

Toddrtrex · 07/08/2009, 12:31 PM

Is your inflow split into the far left and far right sides of the sump? If so you need one more baffle for the left hand side. The way you have it now Over/Under is bringing the bubbles from the inflow right to the pump. One more baffle (( Over )) will keep the bubbles at the surface and help them disperse.

xcastn0shad0wx · 07/08/2009, 12:34 PM

The flow from the pump is from both the refugium on the left and the skimmer on the right. I've tried foam and it does cut down on the amount of bubbles but not nearly enough. I don't get any bubbles from the refugium side because there isn't hardly any flow on the left/refugium side, but i do get alot/all my bubbles from the skimmer side. You can see the microbubbles going through all the baffles and it just looks like a cloud because I have so many.

I'm thinking of either making my flow skimmer > refugium > return instead of what i have know which is skimmer > return < refugium .

or just keeping it the way it is but increasing the distance between each baffle?

I would appreciate any advice! Thanks

Toddrtrex · 07/08/2009, 12:55 PM

Ahhh, so the issue is from the right side. Any easy fix/try would be to remove the very last baffle -- you have it Over/Under/Over/Under -- remove the Under one, so that the bubbles stay at the water surface, and not at the bottom, near the pump intake.

If that doesn't work, you could try going inflow/skimmer >> fuge >> then return. That is how I have all of my sumps and don't have any issues with bubbles.

evsalty · 07/08/2009, 01:07 PM

The main reason you have bubbles is because you have a water fall effect on each of the "over" baffles that is creating more bubbles and is after the bubble trap on the right side. If you raise that water level of your return section you will not have any bubbles getting thru.

07/08/2009, 11:31 AM	#1
xcastn0shad0wx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 50	How Do I Stop Microbubbles From Entering My DT I just built my sump out of a 20 gallon long and I am getting micro bubbles in my DT. I will post pictures and if anyone can give me any advice on how to fix the problem that would be great. I'm wondering if the tap water that I am testing it with is why I'm getting bubbles? This is my first time posting pictures so I hope I did it correct.

07/08/2009, 12:21 PM	#2
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	I can't tell from the pic's, but if your flow to the pump is from under the partition. then try adding a piece of foam to stop any bubbles from going through. __________________ Jim Current Tank Information; - 90 Gallon DT / 30 Gallon Sump - SPS Dominate - IC VHO Lighting

07/08/2009, 12:31 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Is your inflow split into the far left and far right sides of the sump? If so you need one more baffle for the left hand side. The way you have it now Over/Under is bringing the bubbles from the inflow right to the pump. One more baffle (( Over )) will keep the bubbles at the surface and help them disperse. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

07/08/2009, 12:55 PM	#6
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Ahhh, so the issue is from the right side. Any easy fix/try would be to remove the very last baffle -- you have it Over/Under/Over/Under -- remove the Under one, so that the bubbles stay at the water surface, and not at the bottom, near the pump intake. If that doesn't work, you could try going inflow/skimmer >> fuge >> then return. That is how I have all of my sumps and don't have any issues with bubbles. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

07/08/2009, 12:27 PM	#3
walkthedog Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Charlotte,NC Posts: 370	It looks like there isn't enough space between the return and the drain pipe. 4 things that might help are. 1. filter sock can help reduce bubbles. (this is what I do) 2. slow the flow down (this will reduce the turbulence and give the bubbles more time to work them selfs out. 3. bubble tower ( This can work great in smaller sumps) do a search on it and you can read up on it) 4. adding another baffle might help also. Just to let you know. If you are getting bubbles now with fresh water.... WATCH out! Water forms bubbles easier as you increase the salt content. Good luck. Bubbles can be frustating. Also, with new plumping the bubbles can take a while to work out. As things stablize the pipes will get a slime coating on the inside of them. This will help reduce the bubbles also.

07/08/2009, 12:34 PM	#5
xcastn0shad0wx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 50	The flow from the pump is from both the refugium on the left and the skimmer on the right. I've tried foam and it does cut down on the amount of bubbles but not nearly enough. I don't get any bubbles from the refugium side because there isn't hardly any flow on the left/refugium side, but i do get alot/all my bubbles from the skimmer side. You can see the microbubbles going through all the baffles and it just looks like a cloud because I have so many. I'm thinking of either making my flow skimmer > refugium > return instead of what i have know which is skimmer > return < refugium . or just keeping it the way it is but increasing the distance between each baffle? I would appreciate any advice! Thanks

07/08/2009, 01:07 PM	#7
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	The main reason you have bubbles is because you have a water fall effect on each of the "over" baffles that is creating more bubbles and is after the bubble trap on the right side. If you raise that water level of your return section you will not have any bubbles getting thru.