Microbubbles in DT

Olof · 10/24/2012, 05:29 AM

Hello,

I'm constantly battling microbubbles in the DT. I've tweaked and tweaked and now hopeful I'll get some tips to get rid of them.

It seems the flow over my last bubble trap ( ironic ) bulkhead into the return section is too fast. This produces bubbles that are picked up by the left-hand side pump.

I've tried placing filter media in the last bubble trap section and raising the water level in the return section. Each appears to work for a little while but then the left-hand return starts spewing 100's of micro bubbles again.

What am I missing, doing wrong?

Thanks

Cirrhitichthys · 10/24/2012, 05:59 AM

Could you perhaps be able to provide a few pictures of your setup?

Just a quick suggestion, put a bit of foam around the intake of your pump. I'm not sure what brand, but if it has an intake pipe then it should be relatively easy to do.

Fizz71 · 10/24/2012, 06:17 AM

Just to be clear, it's the last chamber overflow that's CREATING the bubbles, right? So it's not bubbles left over from a previous chamber then. If that's the case, have you considered putting an elbow (2x45s) on the pump's intake so it's pulling the water from the very bottom of the tank (so the bubbles never make it down)?

A picture would definitely help since this is very specific to your sump layout.

bnumair · 10/24/2012, 06:29 AM

slowing the water flow in the sump will also help reduce bubbles making into the main. slower flow will give more time for bubbles to surface and defuse.

10/24/2012, 05:29 AM	#1
Olof Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Wash DC Posts: 40	Microbubbles in DT Hello, I'm constantly battling microbubbles in the DT. I've tweaked and tweaked and now hopeful I'll get some tips to get rid of them. It seems the flow over my last bubble trap ( ironic ) bulkhead into the return section is too fast. This produces bubbles that are picked up by the left-hand side pump. I've tried placing filter media in the last bubble trap section and raising the water level in the return section. Each appears to work for a little while but then the left-hand return starts spewing 100's of micro bubbles again. What am I missing, doing wrong? Thanks __________________ 190gal w/45gal sump started 09/01/12, 200lbs Marshall Island LR, 4" sandbed, Vortech LEDs and twin MP60s...

10/24/2012, 05:59 AM	#2
Cirrhitichthys Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 46	Could you perhaps be able to provide a few pictures of your setup? Just a quick suggestion, put a bit of foam around the intake of your pump. I'm not sure what brand, but if it has an intake pipe then it should be relatively easy to do. __________________ Patience and Knowledge are the keys to success. Being able to resolve problems on your own is helpful too. Current Tank Info: 3g Picotope Cycling, 5.5g AIO in the works

10/24/2012, 06:29 AM	#4
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	slowing the water flow in the sump will also help reduce bubbles making into the main. slower flow will give more time for bubbles to surface and defuse. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

10/24/2012, 06:17 AM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Just to be clear, it's the last chamber overflow that's CREATING the bubbles, right? So it's not bubbles left over from a previous chamber then. If that's the case, have you considered putting an elbow (2x45s) on the pump's intake so it's pulling the water from the very bottom of the tank (so the bubbles never make it down)? A picture would definitely help since this is very specific to your sump layout.