Took out 2 PH to try to see if that was causing bubbles...

[MrRoo]

With TSwifty and Capn's help I have been trying to rid my tank of bubbles/particles which started after the sump was connected to the DT. I had 2 Koralia #2's and 2 #3's and I just took out the #3's and just running the #2's to see if they were kicking up the sediments or causing any bubbles. We will wait 24 hours now and see if that helps the situation or if anyone else has any ideas.

This post is mostly to update TSwifty and Capn since they were helping me out the other night and wanted to know the progress

[demonsp]

Well if you have a 150 gallon with only 2 k2 and 2 k4's then your lacking flow .Without flow then fish die and coral suffer. The PH wont cause bubbles but will move them around. My guess is the water level on the return side of the fuge is to low causeing air to be pulled in. Or its all new and needs time to break in. Turn the powerheads on and get a few better ones.

[MrRoo]

Don't have a 150, I have a 55g.

I was seeing if the larger PHs were disturbing the sediment and putting particles in the water.

[MrRoo]

Ohh and I do not have any K4's just K3's and K2's.

Now not to be mean or be a jackass but are you sure you are responding to the right thread? lol

[Aquarist007]

lance, he is only taking them off to see where the bubbles are coming from
we had it down last night that it was between the return pump and the tank--there are no bubbles in the sump
I thought it was the hole he put in the return line to break the siphon in case of a pFailure but I guess not

thanks for the update Mr Roo

[demonsp]

It says 10 years and 150. But under it it says 55 gallon.I was just checking.
This flow sounds good if not a little high.There placement has the greatest factor. And disturbing the sand surface is perfect.

What about the sumps water level at the return source?

[demonsp]

Hey Capn.Wazzz up. Did you see my updated pics?

[MrRoo]

Ahh forgot I had that in my sig

This was their placement:


Now I just have the K2's on the outher sides where the K3's were.

You can also see where the PHs dug a little hole in the sand.
Capn, I siliconed the hole yesterday but today I just replaced the entire thing to be 100% sure there was no air still getting through

[demonsp]

Yea. Try and set them up to create a circulation. One 2 and 3 on the right side facing front glass and then 1 k2 and k3 on the left faceing front center glass and offset them. If they meet in the middle it will blow the water back to the back center glass and then out again.In time the perpetuial motion will cause the flow to increase.

Then what about the sump level at the return and how lond has it been running?

[MrRoo]

Sump Level:



As of right now I am keeping the 2 K3's out. I have no coral so I don't need high flow right now.

[demonsp]

Fish need flow as this is how SW tanks get oxeygen in the water volume. You want good flow and something like a HOB filter to break the water surface for better O2 exchange. Your flow from the fuge is for the fuges health.To high and cant work to low and over works.Around 100 GPH through the fuge is good.
The level looks great but the setup looks new. If it is new then give it atleast 1 week to break in and the bubble will leave.Good flow would help this.

[MrRoo]

I have surface movement for oxygen/heat exchange.

Also my inlet from the sump ripples the surface.
Sump is 1 week old but it there were so many sediments/bubbles in the water it looked so dirty.

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by demonsp
Hey Capn.Wazzz up. Did you see my updated pics?

no I didn't--post me the link to them

[demonsp]

You do have surface movement but its all on the top half of the tank.This leaves the bottom open for trouble and lacking good O2. A flow toward the bottom to the top is best for overall tank health. I like to say that whene you feed then add extra frozen and whatch how it floats.It should stay in motion and never drop or stay suspended or settle anywhere. Good flow means coral will get foos and uneatin food wont settle and fish waste wont settle and other debris wont settle.

I think your seeing bubbles from the new addtition. These wont hurt anything and trying to remove may cause more harm.
If after 1 week of running the bubbles are the same then give it another week. If after one week the bubbles arent as bad then dont worry about this and let it all settle.

[Aquarist007]

IMO there is flow getting to the sand bed--judging by the pics
I'd put the two middle koralias on an interval timer like this

[demonsp]

Koralias by there prop design are not made for controllers.Then by his placement they actualy lose movement.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1377302

[MrRoo]

The way Koralia's flow there is getting flow to the bottom. It has been up for a week and I am still getting bubbles, thats why I am starting to remove things to see if that fixs my problems

[demonsp]

Have the bubbles reduced over time?

[MrRoo]

There seems to be less bubbles now after only a few hours yes. I usually give the new setup atleast 24 hours

[Tswifty]

have you determined that it is in fact micro bubbles and not small sand particles blowing around?

[MrRoo]

I think it is sand, not bubbles.

[demonsp]

This is alot of new PVC and glass.Give it some more time and it should reduce to nothing.

Originally posted by MrRoo
There seems to be less bubbles now after only a few hours yes. I usually give the new setup atleast 24 hours

[Tswifty]

That would make sense...

If you're not getting micro bubbles in the sump, then highly I doubt you would have any in the display tank, unless air was leaking into your return pipe somehow, or there was a design flaw in your pump.

Sand is stirred up very easily in new tanks, I hate trying to aquascape in a new tank, because you end up doing it blind after you move about 3 rocks.

Adjusting the powerheads should do it, it just may take a few tries to find the right placement and mix. I agree with leaving it for 24 hours, maybe even 48 before trying a new alignment.

Also, you want to make sure that your powerheads are not preventing particles from entering the overflow box... meaning blowing them away, where they cannot get syphoned down to the sump and filtered out.

[MrRoo]

Originally posted by demonsp
This is alot of new PVC and glass.Give it some more time and it should reduce to nothing.

I think the K3's were kicking up sediments

[MrRoo]

Swifty,

I think the K3's are too much for my tank, I think I should 2 more K2's. They either blow the sand or cause bubbles at the surface because of too much flow.