Micro Bubbles on Skimmer

JMcGarva · 02/16/2015, 10:05 PM

Hey all. Im just getting my 65g tank started. I have the coralife 65 super skimmer. I have it set up for the "hang on" option. Right now. I have the bubbles set to just run into the cone and not in the reservoir as the direction booklet.

I notice the out put going into the smaller filter box is blowing out TONS of micro bubbles.. (i think is what someone called it)

How long does that take to clear up before i dont see those bubbles anymore. The tank is still cloudy is only been 6 hrs since I added water and sand.

I did notice as soon as I turned off the skimmer for a few mins, the water got clearer already without those bubbles every where... but coralife recommends you run the skimmer for a week for the break in period.

Thanks

Stevenliu9 · 02/16/2015, 11:06 PM

I have a similar one from Coral life- It won't stop, that's the one downfall of a low end skimmer like coral life. The good news is- you do want the micro bubble as it oxygenate the water and lifts protein in to collection cup. The bad news is it is poorly designs that the micro bubbles escape the chamber as water exits. The best way to use this skimmer is place it in the sump and have another bubble buffer before the return sump.

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevenliu9

I have a similar one from Coral life- It won't stop, that's the one downfall of a low end skimmer like coral life. The good news is- you do want the micro bubble as it oxygenate the water and lifts protein in to collection cup. The bad news is it is poorly designs that the micro bubbles escape the chamber as water exits. The best way to use this skimmer is place it in the sump and have another bubble buffer before the return sump.

Do these things quiet down any? They are pretty loud. Also, the bubbles look like ****.. Thats all you see in the tank. They come out in front of a power head. Even if I move the power head, it still has these bubbles every where.. It almost looks like salt traveling across thats how tiny the bubbles are

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcGarva

Do these things quiet down any? They are pretty loud. Also, the bubbles look like ****.. Thats all you see in the tank. They come out in front of a power head. Even if I move the power head, it still has these bubbles every where.. It almost looks like salt traveling across thats how tiny the bubbles are

Here is a picture of the bubbles. Its all over the tank. All the way across

And the skimmer is noisy.. is this normal?

jmareef1022 · 02/17/2015, 06:04 AM

Did you read the manual to see if there was anything on microbubbles and noise? Im having the same problem just that almost all the bubbles are almost gone.. kinda just let her run and breakthrough it's cycle... I'd give it another few more days and see what happens. .

julie180 · 02/17/2015, 06:07 AM

Skimmers don't seem to like new saltwater. There are basically no organics to be filtered out. I would suggest letting the tank mature then trying it again. I ran a coralife for several years and I liked it.

Gashauler · 02/17/2015, 06:40 AM

It gets better but doesn't go away when the foam in the small box that it empties in to gets a little dirty

tzylak · 02/17/2015, 12:21 PM

1. It takes several days for the skimmer to break in.
2. The bubbles will diminish with organic matter.
3. Adding more opened-cell foam around the outlet will help.
I have one of these hanging on the sump for 6 months now and am really happy with it. -No bubbles outside of the catch box.
Have fun!

\Clownfish/ · 02/17/2015, 01:58 PM

I'm currently having the same problem with mine. I just let it run two days with out the container and put it back in yesterday. The noise now is not so loud and the bubbles are disappearing. I still have some but hopefully soon they'll go away

Salty Cracker · 02/17/2015, 02:05 PM

I run a hob skimmer in my smaller tank and for a few months I had the same problem. It's really chilled out now. And I feel your pain, I hated the way it made my tank look.

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by \Clownfish/

I'm currently having the same problem with mine. I just let it run two days with out the container and put it back in yesterday. The noise now is not so loud and the bubbles are disappearing. I still have some but hopefully soon they'll go away

What container are you talking about

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salty Cracker

I run a hob skimmer in my smaller tank and for a few months I had the same problem. It's really chilled out now. And I feel your pain, I hated the way it made my tank look.

Dang a few months?

\Clownfish/ · 02/17/2015, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcGarva

What container are you talking about

Sorry collection cup

tzylak · 02/17/2015, 03:38 PM

The best part of the skimmer is the nipple at the bottom of the collection cup. I put a tube on it to drain into a side container. After some fine tuning now it can go for weeks w/o servicing.
GREAT!

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by \Clownfish/

Sorry collection cup

Ok so the top cup you took off? Wouldn't the water just come out that opening? I mean its going up into the cup so if the cup wasn't there .. Then you know lol

JMcGarva · 02/17/2015, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tzylak

The best part of the skimmer is the nipple at the bottom of the collection cup. I put a tube on it to drain into a side container. After some fine tuning now it can go for weeks w/o servicing.
GREAT!

Yah that's what I got going on at the moment. It's going into a gaterade bottle just in case. Since it's new im not sure if the water level will change any. Plus It doesn't drain all that fast

\Clownfish/ · 02/17/2015, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMcGarva

Ok so the top cup you took off? Wouldn't the water just come out that opening? I mean its going up into the cup so if the cup wasn't there .. Then you know lol

Yep I took it off. If you are just starting to cycle I wouldn't turn it on. I turned my on once the cycle was over and ran the skimmer two days without he collection cup.

Branespikin · 02/18/2015, 02:00 PM

Microbubbles are the worst. I hear Aqua c Remora are best if using HOB.

Zooxanthus · 02/18/2015, 02:50 PM

I agree with julie180

02/16/2015, 10:05 PM	#1
JMcGarva Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 198	Micro Bubbles on Skimmer Hey all. Im just getting my 65g tank started. I have the coralife 65 super skimmer. I have it set up for the "hang on" option. Right now. I have the bubbles set to just run into the cone and not in the reservoir as the direction booklet. I notice the out put going into the smaller filter box is blowing out TONS of micro bubbles.. (i think is what someone called it) How long does that take to clear up before i dont see those bubbles anymore. The tank is still cloudy is only been 6 hrs since I added water and sand. I did notice as soon as I turned off the skimmer for a few mins, the water got clearer already without those bubbles every where... but coralife recommends you run the skimmer for a week for the break in period. Thanks

02/16/2015, 11:06 PM	#2
Stevenliu9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Madison WI Posts: 795	I have a similar one from Coral life- It won't stop, that's the one downfall of a low end skimmer like coral life. The good news is- you do want the micro bubble as it oxygenate the water and lifts protein in to collection cup. The bad news is it is poorly designs that the micro bubbles escape the chamber as water exits. The best way to use this skimmer is place it in the sump and have another bubble buffer before the return sump. __________________ Steven Liu See More at: bluemarineart.com Current Tank Info: 180 Mix Reef + 28G Seahorse Species Tank

02/17/2015, 06:40 AM	#7
Gashauler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 98	It gets better but doesn't go away when the foam in the small box that it empties in to gets a little dirty __________________ Awww Fishy Fishy

02/17/2015, 01:58 PM	#9
\Clownfish/ Saltwater Beginner $\Clownfish/'s Avatar$ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Anemone Posts: 629	I'm currently having the same problem with mine. I just let it run two days with out the container and put it back in yesterday. The noise now is not so loud and the bubbles are disappearing. I still have some but hopefully soon they'll go away __________________ Keep your friends close, and your anemones closer.
$\Clownfish/ is offline$

02/18/2015, 02:50 PM	#19
Zooxanthus Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Aurora, CO. Posts: 60	I agree with julie180 __________________ May your passion and reason be the sail and rudder of your sea fairing soul. Current Tank Info: 180 gal Reef 3x 250w HQI's w/T5's, Phosban reactor, Protein skimmer, UV. sterilizer, Trickle Filter

02/17/2015, 06:04 AM	#5
jmareef1022 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: S.Florida(Treasure Coast) Posts: 504	Did you read the manual to see if there was anything on microbubbles and noise? Im having the same problem just that almost all the bubbles are almost gone.. kinda just let her run and breakthrough it's cycle... I'd give it another few more days and see what happens. .

02/17/2015, 06:07 AM	#6
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Skimmers don't seem to like new saltwater. There are basically no organics to be filtered out. I would suggest letting the tank mature then trying it again. I ran a coralife for several years and I liked it.

02/17/2015, 12:21 PM	#8
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	1. It takes several days for the skimmer to break in. 2. The bubbles will diminish with organic matter. 3. Adding more opened-cell foam around the outlet will help. I have one of these hanging on the sump for 6 months now and am really happy with it. -No bubbles outside of the catch box. Have fun!

02/17/2015, 02:05 PM	#10
Salty Cracker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 218	I run a hob skimmer in my smaller tank and for a few months I had the same problem. It's really chilled out now. And I feel your pain, I hated the way it made my tank look.

02/17/2015, 03:38 PM	#14
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	The best part of the skimmer is the nipple at the bottom of the collection cup. I put a tube on it to drain into a side container. After some fine tuning now it can go for weeks w/o servicing. GREAT!

02/18/2015, 02:00 PM	#18
Branespikin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: College Point, NY Posts: 55	Microbubbles are the worst. I hear Aqua c Remora are best if using HOB.