Problem with micro bubbles in the reef aquarium

[inetmug]

Originally Posted by 2 TAZ

If you are running an external pump and there are little or no bubbles in the sump chamber that supplies the pump, then the source of the bubbles is probably a tiny air leak between the sump and the pump. Most external pumps have female threaded ends that excepts male PVC fittings, this point is a common source of air getting into the line. I have had this problem. I never had any salt creep at all at the leak, no water escaping only air entering. What worked for me was plumbers putty. I would use this only as a last resort as it is probably not completely safe as I believe it is petrolium based. Try applying more tefllon tape on the threaded end first, sometimes more tape solves the problem. Any connection has the potential of letting air into the line, check unions too. In my experience if it is sucking air the leak is between the sump and the pump, generally if the leak is after the pump normally water would leak out, not air leaking in. This of course is assuming the sump is free of bubbles and the water level in the sump is high enough air cannot enter at the intake for the pump
Good luck

I do not have micro bubbles, they appear bigger. But your explanation seems to be a good one.

What is a bubble catcher?

[Uncle Salty 05]

I had this problem a long time ago.
If you all of the threaded connections apart and seal them with silicone it will stop.

[nmbeg]

As for the waterfall, in my experience there should not be any drip in the waterfall more than like a centimeter or so. If it's dropping more than that, it will create turbulent flow and bubbles. For me, filter socks also helped to stop bubbles in the sump, and thus in the main tank.

[inetmug]

Originally Posted by nmbeg

As for the waterfall, in my experience there should not be any drip in the waterfall more than like a centimeter or so. If it's dropping more than that, it will create turbulent flow and bubbles. For me, filter socks also helped to stop bubbles in the sump, and thus in the main tank.

You are talking a waterfall in the sump I take it?

[nmbeg]

Yes waterfall over a baffle in a sump.

[reepher315]

+1 for filter sock.

That stopped all my air bubbles. They had been comming from my overflow.

[inetmug]

I fixed it. Actually, I should say my wife fixed it LOL.

After reading many many threads on air leaks on suction, fittings, etc., I went back to basics. I always noticed that in the reinforced but clear tube, there was never any bubbles, and the sump looked clear. So, I pulled the return off the bulkhead, connected a longer hose, and presto no air. So that told me it was in the return pipe. So then pu put the hose (with a ball value) on the return pipe. Fully open same "big" bubbles. On 3/4 they went away. I read plenty on restricting the return flow.

On closer inspection, I found a hole that was partially clogged up, what I think was maybe a siphon break from my bud. The pump was refurbed by Dolphin, so it is way stronger. It was basically sucking air there. I altered the fitting after the hole to make a high siphon break just to be sure, and it all went away.

One more down....

[SkyReef]

Reading your thread made me reflect on how many zillions of microbubbles my tank had. Yet, once fix solved this problem: a filter sock beneath my overflow pipe in my sump. Wow, what a difference.

[Kevin Guthrie]

AFAIK the only problem with bubbles is that when they break they aerosolize a little bit of salt water which eventually becomes visible as salt creep on nearby surfaces. OTOH they tend to stick to detritus every once in a while and send it to the surface to be skimmed out.

My sump is in the basement and the copper plumbing pipes near the sump are green.

[SkyReef]

In the two days since my microbubbles were stopped, I have noticed that my ORP reading is higher. I wonder if microbubbles affect ORP levels, or if it is merely a coincidence.

[Rhodophyta]

Originally Posted by SkyReef

In the two days since my microbubbles were stopped, I have noticed that my ORP reading is higher. I wonder if microbubbles affect ORP levels, or if it is merely a coincidence.

Perhaps it is the other way. What you did raised ORP levels, and higher ORP readings resulted in stopping the microbubbles. Or coincidence.

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by Rhodophyta

Perhaps it is the other way. What you did raised ORP levels, and higher ORP readings resulted in stopping the microbubbles. Or coincidence.

The microbubbles were stopped with a filter sock.

[Rhodophyta]

Originally Posted by SkyReef

The microbubbles were stopped with a filter sock.

You stated that earlier. A filter sock is going to remove particulates before they dissociate into the water. In theory that should improve ORP. With less dissolved organics in it, you could theorize that the water can now absorb more gasses, reducing the production of microbubbles. It's not so easy to tell what is a cause and what is effect. Time and again science shows that the obvious assumption is not always correct. Not that it's wrong this time. It is just better to observe what happens and not be premature in assuming we know how or why it works.

[SkyReef]

Originally Posted by Rhodophyta

You stated that earlier. A filter sock is going to remove particulates before they dissociate into the water. In theory that should improve ORP. With less dissolved organics in it, you could theorize that the water can now absorb more gasses, reducing the production of microbubbles. It's not so easy to tell what is a cause and what is effect. Time and again science shows that the obvious assumption is not always correct. Not that it's wrong this time. It is just better to observe what happens and not be premature in assuming we know how or why it works.

Thanks, Rhodophyta. Sounds correct. The only thing I would add is that there were huge amounts of bubbles cascading in the middle chamber of my sump, where the drain pipe terminated. I think those bubbles were simply migrating into the return chamber and being pumped back into the display tank above. My suspicion of cause and effect here is based on the immediacy of the loss of micro-bubbles, once the filter sock was placed on the bottom of the drain pipe. Within minutes of putting the filter sock on the drain pipe, the micro bubbles disappeared.