micro-bubbles

VegasJay · 05/20/2007, 08:40 PM

I know it is early (tank has only been up 24hrs with water, sand & initial 30# cured LR), but how should the micro-bubbles last before I need to start trouble shooting the plumbing, baffles,etc., or are they normal for an initial period of time?

Equip:

ASM G2 skimmer
Mag 18 return
90gal RR w/30 gal sump

demonsp · 05/20/2007, 08:50 PM

If its a skimmer your having micro bubbles in then they need 42 to 72 hours to adjust. Then if mounted on the back of the tank any differance in water makes them trip for 24 hours. Like putting your hand in tank to epoxying a new addition to water changes. A refugium placed skimmer helps with this alot.

VegasJay · 05/20/2007, 09:00 PM

The skimmer is in the sump and is separated by baffles before the water enters the return pump.

demonsp · 05/20/2007, 09:14 PM

OK in the first few weeks i used fish tank foam from petsmart to help defuse in the baffles and after time whene tank breaks in they minimize alot.

VegasJay · 05/20/2007, 09:19 PM

Thanks, I just removed some filter floss I was using to clear up the water (thinking that might be the source). Overall, the clarity is good, just ALOT of bubbles. I'll just give it some time . .

demonsp · 05/20/2007, 09:52 PM

Keeping the Outflow chamber as full as possible helps.

Randall_James · 05/20/2007, 10:47 PM

Yes they are normal for a new tank. I have seen them as a problem for up to a month and then they just go away.

You should make sure you are not pushing too much flow through your sump/refuge (3 to 5X max) and that the discharge of the skimmer is away from the return pump. Images of your setup are always helpful too..

VegasJay · 05/21/2007, 10:43 PM

Thanks for the info. Slow flow thru the sump is a problem. Have all piped returns trying to eliminate powerheads in DT. Right section of sump is fuge with ball valve to manage slow flow thru this section. Left section has skimmer with 80%+/- of overflow with mag 18 return. I can add a third baffle between skimmer and return pump, but might wait a couple of weeks and see if bubbles dissapate on their own?

here's my first attempt at uploading pics,

this should be the sump

this should be the DT, LR just added and waiting for base rock before aquascaping

Randall_James · 05/22/2007, 06:54 AM

There is a grocery list of problems pushing that much water through a sump. A closed loop is a far better solution. Tank flow btw should be 20X to 50X turnover..

VegasJay · 05/22/2007, 09:09 PM

For what it is worth the 3-5x rule is total volume (correct?), with the pressure loss, I am pushing about 700 gph (per the head loss calc) thru total vol of 110g so approx 7x. I also have two drain lines into the sump/fuge, so the actual input into the skimmer section is a little less. Appreciate the input and agree that I will need to address the increased turnover in the DT ultimately.

Sk8r · 05/22/2007, 10:44 PM

If all else fails, pipe the skimmer outflow back to the main inflow chamber of the sump, make the bubbles run the full length of the sump. That will eliminate a lot.

VegasJay · 05/22/2007, 11:15 PM

As always Sk8r, thanks for the advice. there always seems to be a solution to the problem on this board. right now the water is crystal clear (w/o DT lights) and hope the bubbles will dissapear over time - I have the patience to wait. The skimmer has only been running 5 days and based on previous threads I don't want to over adjust. I have no livestock and can wait for everything to settle.. . .

05/20/2007, 08:40 PM	#1
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	micro-bubbles I know it is early (tank has only been up 24hrs with water, sand & initial 30# cured LR), but how should the micro-bubbles last before I need to start trouble shooting the plumbing, baffles,etc., or are they normal for an initial period of time? Equip: ASM G2 skimmer Mag 18 return 90gal RR w/30 gal sump

05/20/2007, 10:47 PM	#7
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Yes they are normal for a new tank. I have seen them as a problem for up to a month and then they just go away. You should make sure you are not pushing too much flow through your sump/refuge (3 to 5X max) and that the discharge of the skimmer is away from the return pump. Images of your setup are always helpful too.. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/22/2007, 06:54 AM	#9
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	There is a grocery list of problems pushing that much water through a sump. A closed loop is a far better solution. Tank flow btw should be 20X to 50X turnover.. __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

05/22/2007, 10:44 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If all else fails, pipe the skimmer outflow back to the main inflow chamber of the sump, make the bubbles run the full length of the sump. That will eliminate a lot. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/20/2007, 08:50 PM	#2
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	If its a skimmer your having micro bubbles in then they need 42 to 72 hours to adjust. Then if mounted on the back of the tank any differance in water makes them trip for 24 hours. Like putting your hand in tank to epoxying a new addition to water changes. A refugium placed skimmer helps with this alot.

05/20/2007, 09:00 PM	#3
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	The skimmer is in the sump and is separated by baffles before the water enters the return pump.

05/20/2007, 09:14 PM	#4
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	OK in the first few weeks i used fish tank foam from petsmart to help defuse in the baffles and after time whene tank breaks in they minimize alot.

05/20/2007, 09:19 PM	#5
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	Thanks, I just removed some filter floss I was using to clear up the water (thinking that might be the source). Overall, the clarity is good, just ALOT of bubbles. I'll just give it some time . .

05/20/2007, 09:52 PM	#6
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Keeping the Outflow chamber as full as possible helps.

05/21/2007, 10:43 PM	#8
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	Thanks for the info. Slow flow thru the sump is a problem. Have all piped returns trying to eliminate powerheads in DT. Right section of sump is fuge with ball valve to manage slow flow thru this section. Left section has skimmer with 80%+/- of overflow with mag 18 return. I can add a third baffle between skimmer and return pump, but might wait a couple of weeks and see if bubbles dissapate on their own? here's my first attempt at uploading pics, this should be the sump this should be the DT, LR just added and waiting for base rock before aquascaping

05/22/2007, 09:09 PM	#10
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	For what it is worth the 3-5x rule is total volume (correct?), with the pressure loss, I am pushing about 700 gph (per the head loss calc) thru total vol of 110g so approx 7x. I also have two drain lines into the sump/fuge, so the actual input into the skimmer section is a little less. Appreciate the input and agree that I will need to address the increased turnover in the DT ultimately.

05/22/2007, 11:15 PM	#12
VegasJay Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 30	As always Sk8r, thanks for the advice. there always seems to be a solution to the problem on this board. right now the water is crystal clear (w/o DT lights) and hope the bubbles will dissapear over time - I have the patience to wait. The skimmer has only been running 5 days and based on previous threads I don't want to over adjust. I have no livestock and can wait for everything to settle.. . .