microbubbles and such

smellslikeTUNA · 09/23/2011, 09:27 PM

So I had no problems with microbubbles unitl I added salt yesterday. As I was was investigating this problem, I've determined the majority are from the skimmer, but I also suspect it may be in part from too much flow through my sump as well.

1. What should I do about the skimmer? The output is completely submerged and raising the water level any higher would seem pointless.
2. I turned down my flow to ~1/2 to 3/4 full last night which seemed to help a little since I am not running a filter sock (but do have a piece of pvc running from my overflow to about an 1" from the bottom of the sump)

That being said, while inspecting my sump I noticed that water water movement through my fuge and into my return chamber was very slow, almost too slow, and a brownish film was starting to form in a couple of the corners (I used red sea coral pro, i've read this can happen). So, how much flow is too much and how much is too little? Do I just need to continue tweaking the flow? Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Also, almost forgot. When I was looking at my return chamber I've noticed that the water appears syruppy (almost exactly how you can see the syrup floating around in a glass of apple juice or something similar) which I at first though was heat coming off my heater. However, I over did the salt by a hair so I removed some water tonight and directly dripped fresh RO/DI into the return chamber. I could see a seperation between the RO/DI and the saltwater below (looked like when you mix oil and water). I stirred it with a spoon and the line has mostly dissappeared, but the water in this chamber and only that chamber still appear syruppy? Sorry dont know what other word to use to describe this. Any explanation?

smellslikeTUNA · 09/23/2011, 09:56 PM

I moved my heater to my fuge chamber, lowered my water level about 3-4" in the return chamber and have the return running about 3/4 power. This fixed my problem with the syrupy water, don't think there was enough water movement in the return chamber. i'll have to wait and see if the brown gunk builds up again. The microbubbles have basically disappeared completely now, but the skimmers still off. Any ideas on what to do about the skimmer?

RL321 · 09/24/2011, 08:00 AM

bump

smellslikeTUNA · 09/24/2011, 09:43 AM

Thanks for the bump RL, apparently no one is interested in helping this weekend...
I looked into this for a while last night, thinking I may just need to let my skimmer break in... anybody?

heckfire · 09/24/2011, 02:09 PM

yes skimmers will allways produce bubbles , but much less after break-in, and yes a lack of flow will produce the film your talking about. you have to get you return pump as far from the skimmer output as possible or shield it, i use a piece of tupperware to deflect bubbles

xtlosx · 09/24/2011, 02:52 PM

I had the same problem for the first couple weeks when I started my tank. I have my skimmer int he drain chain, then there is my fuge in the middle with the return on the backside. Within a couple of days\weeks, the slime coat must have built up on the plumbing and now my tank is nice and clear....

Give it time, but def. like someone said, you want to have drain\return away from each other, separated by baffles or something to get those bubbles out!

rabbitfishy · 09/24/2011, 09:55 PM

I would suggest adding bubble chambers into your sump to remove any excess bubbles from your skimmer.

As for the water moving too slowly time to get a new pump :P

As for the brown film...i am not too sure about that since I don't have that problem...it might be from the water moving too slowly...

09/23/2011, 09:27 PM	#1
smellslikeTUNA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 453	microbubbles and such So I had no problems with microbubbles unitl I added salt yesterday. As I was was investigating this problem, I've determined the majority are from the skimmer, but I also suspect it may be in part from too much flow through my sump as well. 1. What should I do about the skimmer? The output is completely submerged and raising the water level any higher would seem pointless. 2. I turned down my flow to ~1/2 to 3/4 full last night which seemed to help a little since I am not running a filter sock (but do have a piece of pvc running from my overflow to about an 1" from the bottom of the sump) That being said, while inspecting my sump I noticed that water water movement through my fuge and into my return chamber was very slow, almost too slow, and a brownish film was starting to form in a couple of the corners (I used red sea coral pro, i've read this can happen). So, how much flow is too much and how much is too little? Do I just need to continue tweaking the flow? Any suggestions are much appreciated! Also, almost forgot. When I was looking at my return chamber I've noticed that the water appears syruppy (almost exactly how you can see the syrup floating around in a glass of apple juice or something similar) which I at first though was heat coming off my heater. However, I over did the salt by a hair so I removed some water tonight and directly dripped fresh RO/DI into the return chamber. I could see a seperation between the RO/DI and the saltwater below (looked like when you mix oil and water). I stirred it with a spoon and the line has mostly dissappeared, but the water in this chamber and only that chamber still appear syruppy? Sorry dont know what other word to use to describe this. Any explanation? __________________ -Great minds don't think alike, they innovate!- 57g Oceanic Illuminata \| Kessil A150W 10K LED \| 1x 453nm Stunner \| Trigger Systems Sump/Refug \| Reef Octopus NWB-110 Skimmer \| RKL+ System \| 2X Evo 750gph \| BFS RO/DI

09/23/2011, 09:56 PM	#2
smellslikeTUNA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 453	I moved my heater to my fuge chamber, lowered my water level about 3-4" in the return chamber and have the return running about 3/4 power. This fixed my problem with the syrupy water, don't think there was enough water movement in the return chamber. i'll have to wait and see if the brown gunk builds up again. The microbubbles have basically disappeared completely now, but the skimmers still off. Any ideas on what to do about the skimmer? __________________ -Great minds don't think alike, they innovate!- 57g Oceanic Illuminata \| Kessil A150W 10K LED \| 1x 453nm Stunner \| Trigger Systems Sump/Refug \| Reef Octopus NWB-110 Skimmer \| RKL+ System \| 2X Evo 750gph \| BFS RO/DI

09/24/2011, 09:43 AM	#4
smellslikeTUNA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 453	Thanks for the bump RL, apparently no one is interested in helping this weekend... I looked into this for a while last night, thinking I may just need to let my skimmer break in... anybody? __________________ -Great minds don't think alike, they innovate!- 57g Oceanic Illuminata \| Kessil A150W 10K LED \| 1x 453nm Stunner \| Trigger Systems Sump/Refug \| Reef Octopus NWB-110 Skimmer \| RKL+ System \| 2X Evo 750gph \| BFS RO/DI

09/24/2011, 02:52 PM	#6
xtlosx Just Reefin' Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Algonquin,IL Posts: 2,774	I had the same problem for the first couple weeks when I started my tank. I have my skimmer int he drain chain, then there is my fuge in the middle with the return on the backside. Within a couple of days\weeks, the slime coat must have built up on the plumbing and now my tank is nice and clear.... Give it time, but def. like someone said, you want to have drain\return away from each other, separated by baffles or something to get those bubbles out! __________________ Current tank: 150G 60x24x24 - 3x Radion Gen2s - 2x MP40s, Skimz SV223 DC, 40B Sump\Fuge - Purple S. Gigantea

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09/24/2011, 08:00 AM	#3
RL321 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: east central florida Posts: 352	bump

09/24/2011, 02:09 PM	#5
heckfire Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 331	yes skimmers will allways produce bubbles , but much less after break-in, and yes a lack of flow will produce the film your talking about. you have to get you return pump as far from the skimmer output as possible or shield it, i use a piece of tupperware to deflect bubbles

09/24/2011, 09:55 PM	#7
rabbitfishy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 38	I would suggest adding bubble chambers into your sump to remove any excess bubbles from your skimmer. As for the water moving too slowly time to get a new pump :P As for the brown film...i am not too sure about that since I don't have that problem...it might be from the water moving too slowly...