Particulates in Display Tank

Dangleflow9 · 05/11/2014, 01:20 PM

Hey guys,

I've been running a 120gal with a 30gal sump for about a year now. I've got a filter sock, phosphate reducing filter media, and plain filter media between my return pump and where my sump drains into my filter sock. I am also running a Coralife protein skimmer that sits next to the return pump. My design isn't great, and I wish I had done a lot more research before I set up my tank. However, I am a sophomore in college, so money is tight. Also, this is my first, big, saltwater tank. With that in mind, could any of you more experienced members offer me some advice with the following?

1. I sometimes have a large number of microbubbles in my display. I moved my protein skimmer return into the same side of the sump as the main display return to try and eliminate some of the bubbles with the filter media. I think my trap just sucks. I'm sure it's too late to make any significant changes to this, but if anyone has any advice besides removing and replacing my current sump with one that was designed better, that would be great.

2. I seem to have a lot of random solids in my tank, at least more so than in display tanks at my LFS. I have good flow around the tank, and no build up of detritus anywhere. It just seems that, by the time one thing finally gets filtered out, another thing starts floating around. Is there anything I can do about this? It's not noticeable unless you get up close and are looking for it, but I feel like reducing the number of suspended particles would further increase the health of my fish/coral. Nothing has shown signs of poor health, I just want to reduce the possibility of future problems.

My water quality is as follows:

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
pH:8.1
Ca: 430

magnoliarichj · 05/11/2014, 01:21 PM

Pics

Dangleflow9 · 05/11/2014, 01:22 PM

Here are some pictures

magnoliarichj · 05/11/2014, 07:32 PM

There's a lot going on in such a small space

Kyuss · 05/11/2014, 08:40 PM

Your skimmer is in the same chamber as your return so it's gonna happen. You need a bubble trap between the skimmer and return pump to get rid of em. I'd put the skimmer by the drains, and stack the live rock on the return pump side where the skimmer is currently sitting. Ditch the sand that's currently in there.. it's a small amount to where it's not going to make much, if any, impact.

Dangleflow9 · 05/12/2014, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyuss

Your skimmer is in the same chamber as your return so it's gonna happen. You need a bubble trap between the skimmer and return pump to get rid of em. I'd put the skimmer by the drains, and stack the live rock on the return pump side where the skimmer is currently sitting. Ditch the sand that's currently in there.. it's a small amount to where it's not going to make much, if any, impact.

Okay, should I get some more LR since there will be a lot more space on that other side?
I had the side with the sand full of macro algae, but an emerald crab got nice and fat off that. So I had to move him back to the display. Im trying to grow the limited amounts I have left back to their original level. What should I do keep them from floating away since they wont have any substrate?

Aqua Joe · 05/12/2014, 12:12 PM

It looks to me like his outlet pipe on the skimmer is running back to the fuge side so there shouldn't be too many micro bubbles going to the display. My question is where do you have the cup drain line running?? It looks like you have it connected to the little air escape nipple on the skimmer's exit pipe.

Dangleflow9 · 05/12/2014, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Joe

It looks to me like his outlet pipe on the skimmer is running back to the fuge side so there shouldn't be too many micro bubbles going to the display. My question is where do you have the cup drain line running?? It looks like you have it connected to the little air escape nipple on the skimmer's exit pipe.

If you're talking about the air line, it runs from a holder on the bottom of the collection cup (out of the water) down to the tip of the pump inlet. The air is drawn in with the water and beaten into bubbles by the impeller.

Aqua Joe · 05/12/2014, 04:51 PM

I'm talking about the drain line from the bottom of the collection cup (looks like blue air line tubing).

Dangleflow9 · 05/12/2014, 09:02 PM

Oh, its clear tubing with a ball valve on it. I empty it into old milk jugs to dispose of the wet skimmate.

05/11/2014, 01:20 PM	#1
Dangleflow9 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Central VA/ Western MA Posts: 63	Particulates in Display Tank Hey guys, I've been running a 120gal with a 30gal sump for about a year now. I've got a filter sock, phosphate reducing filter media, and plain filter media between my return pump and where my sump drains into my filter sock. I am also running a Coralife protein skimmer that sits next to the return pump. My design isn't great, and I wish I had done a lot more research before I set up my tank. However, I am a sophomore in college, so money is tight. Also, this is my first, big, saltwater tank. With that in mind, could any of you more experienced members offer me some advice with the following? 1. I sometimes have a large number of microbubbles in my display. I moved my protein skimmer return into the same side of the sump as the main display return to try and eliminate some of the bubbles with the filter media. I think my trap just sucks. I'm sure it's too late to make any significant changes to this, but if anyone has any advice besides removing and replacing my current sump with one that was designed better, that would be great. 2. I seem to have a lot of random solids in my tank, at least more so than in display tanks at my LFS. I have good flow around the tank, and no build up of detritus anywhere. It just seems that, by the time one thing finally gets filtered out, another thing starts floating around. Is there anything I can do about this? It's not noticeable unless you get up close and are looking for it, but I feel like reducing the number of suspended particles would further increase the health of my fish/coral. Nothing has shown signs of poor health, I just want to reduce the possibility of future problems. My water quality is as follows: Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 pH:8.1 Ca: 430

05/11/2014, 01:21 PM	#2
magnoliarichj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: florida west coast Posts: 1,455	Pics

05/11/2014, 07:32 PM	#4
magnoliarichj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: florida west coast Posts: 1,455	There's a lot going on in such a small space

05/11/2014, 08:40 PM	#5
Kyuss Megistered Rember Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 470	Your skimmer is in the same chamber as your return so it's gonna happen. You need a bubble trap between the skimmer and return pump to get rid of em. I'd put the skimmer by the drains, and stack the live rock on the return pump side where the skimmer is currently sitting. Ditch the sand that's currently in there.. it's a small amount to where it's not going to make much, if any, impact.

05/12/2014, 12:12 PM	#7
Aqua Joe Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 69	It looks to me like his outlet pipe on the skimmer is running back to the fuge side so there shouldn't be too many micro bubbles going to the display. My question is where do you have the cup drain line running?? It looks like you have it connected to the little air escape nipple on the skimmer's exit pipe.

05/12/2014, 04:51 PM	#9
Aqua Joe Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 69	I'm talking about the drain line from the bottom of the collection cup (looks like blue air line tubing).

05/12/2014, 09:02 PM	#10
Dangleflow9 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Central VA/ Western MA Posts: 63	Oh, its clear tubing with a ball valve on it. I empty it into old milk jugs to dispose of the wet skimmate.