120 Gallon Progress - Page 18

NanoReef · #**171** 03-23-2006, 06:39 PM

ok, so i got a couple weeks of great running but im noticing lots of microbubbles in the water, can i fix this by putting nylon of some sort of the return pump intake??? o ya i have LR coming on Tuesday!!! yay

mr_alberta · #**172** 03-23-2006, 06:49 PM

A filter sock on your drain pipe where it enters the sump will help with microbubbles.

TheReefGeek · #**173** 03-23-2006, 07:35 PM

What size is your sump? What is your return pump?

If the microbubbles are not from a skimmer, and they are making it from your sump to your display, then your sump design is not allowing enough time for the bubbles to rise to the surface and pop, before hitting the return pump.

This means your sump is of poor design, or your return pump is too powerfull for the size of sump.

By poor design I mean not enough baffles to act as a bubble trap. How many do you have? What is the spacing between them?

Sometimes the turnover rate through the sump is just too high to be dealt with by baffles. In this case I would throttle back your return pump. Don't try to accomplish too much water flow through your sump return.

You can also play with the angle the return line empties into the sump, try putting a 45 degree elbow on the end and have it enter just below the water line.

A filter sock is a patch, it doesn't address the problem. It may solve it, but they are notoriously undermaintained and end up causing more harm than good.

Skimmerking · #**174** 03-23-2006, 08:21 PM

Most likely its from your skimmer running and the water is coming out and in the sump probably a little fast , Like stated use a sock you filter floss will work.

Skimmerking · #**175** 03-23-2006, 08:24 PM

DUDE Where are the pictures of the display tank... OMG

lets get some out there...

OCDP · #**176** 03-23-2006, 08:25 PM

No doubt. We need some pictures.

TheReefGeek · #**177** 03-23-2006, 08:31 PM

You definately have to find out where the microbubbles are being produced first.

It could be an air leak in the plumbing, from the water draining into the sump, or from the skimmer.

You need to narrow that down first. Testing is pretty easy. First a visual inspection. Is the drain line from the display into the sump making bubbles? If yes, follow them, are they throughout your sump, and going into your return pump? If not, shut off the skimmer for a while and see if the microbubbles quit. If they do, then it is from your skimmer. If neither of these seem to be the problem then likely you have an air leak in your plumbing somewhere.

I wouldn't put a filter sock on anywhere until you narrow down the problem first.

Skimmerking · #**178** 03-23-2006, 09:11 PM

Rory the reason i am knocking out the pump its a flow pump so you not going to get the bubbles like a pressure pump.

the second it the sump is a 25 gal i think and the return is a mag18 so in Mine experience i would say it's the water is going thur the sump too fast.

TheReefGeek · #**179** 03-23-2006, 09:21 PM

A mag 18 on a 25g sump is asking for micro bubble problems.

It could be the skimmer, or it could just be the water falling into the sump from the drain line is creating microbubbles. That is what happened to me when I ran too big of a pump on too small of a sump.

I would cut back the return pump, and install baffles.

Better yet, use the mag18 on a closed loop and use a smaller pump for the sump return. Or use a much bigger sump.

Skimmerking · #**180** 03-23-2006, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

A mag 18 on a 25g sump is asking for micro bubble problems.

It could be the skimmer, or it could just be the water falling into the sump from the drain line is creating microbubbles. That is what happened to me when I ran too big of a pump on too small of a sump.

I would cut back the return pump, and install baffles.

Better yet, use the mag18 on a closed loop and use a smaller pump for the sump return. Or use a much bigger sump.

exactly that is my point about the mag 18

What i would do is install a big power head like a hagen 800 400 gph and have the mag 18 on the CL like you have stated
and then you have all that reactoion time for the skimmer to clean the water even more. I can't remember where i have read about a lower return pump is better any ways. and a lower return pumpliek a Powerhead will save you in the long run.. less electricity