Micro bubbles

[Abbyreefer]

I had the same problem as my return was more like 7-8 x the display tank water volume and have my baffels spaced out 1 inch appart. WHat I did to reduce the mico bubbles substantially was in the baffel side where the return is I bought a box (2 pads) of the fluval 404 filter pads and put them inside the 1 inch baffel and on the opposite side where my skimmer and line in from the tank baffel is I put 2 smaller bags of carbon and the rest of the filter pad and viola bit of carbon to the system and pretty much no more mocro bubbles

Good luck.

PS - check to make sure you dont have any air getting into your return lines that could be a major problem as well that would be easily fixed.
________
Honda CRF100

[outtafocus]

Marc sent me a really good and simple idea to help with microbubles.

Get a piece of 2" PVC that is 11" long, and stand it up in the corner of the sump where the skimmer is. Put your drain into that pipe, so that it is submerged no more than 1" into that pipe. The bubbles will mostly be in that pipe. Water will overflow the pipe and fall 2" to the skimmer section water height.

If you prefer, drill a bunch of 1/2" holes in one end of the PVC pipe, so that the bottom 2" is well perforated. Now fill it up with bits of live rock rubble, and the water will pour through the rock and very few bubbles will come out of the pipe.

Make sure the skimmer's output is facing away from the bubble trap, so any microbubbles have to travel around the skimmer to get to the bubble trap.

Marc

The length of the PVC depends on the depth of your sump.

[GMGQ]

Yeah, that's basically like the 'corner bubble tower' concept in his sump designs. Getting a separate 2" pipe 'tower' is the quick way if you dont already have a corner bubble tower (which I do).

Unfortunately, a lot of microbubbles still come out of it...

Originally Posted by outtafocus

Marc sent me a really good and simple idea to help with microbubles.

Get a piece of 2" PVC that is 11" long, and stand it up in the corner of the sump where the skimmer is. Put your drain into that pipe, so that it is submerged no more than 1" into that pipe. The bubbles will mostly be in that pipe. Water will overflow the pipe and fall 2" to the skimmer section water height.

If you prefer, drill a bunch of 1/2" holes in one end of the PVC pipe, so that the bottom 2" is well perforated. Now fill it up with bits of live rock rubble, and the water will pour through the rock and very few bubbles will come out of the pipe.

Make sure the skimmer's output is facing away from the bubble trap, so any microbubbles have to travel around the skimmer to get to the bubble trap.

Marc

The length of the PVC depends on the depth of your sump.