Micro bubbles

[juny00605]

I am setting up my 150 gallons with a sump similar to melev's model F. I am getting a ton of micro bubbles from the skimmer side. I have the returns 1 inch belof water and using a 1200 gallon pump. Should i use a smaller pump? should I put the returns over the water? What do you guys think?

Here is a picture for reference
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq31/jramos1821/DSC00646.jpg

[juny00605]

^^^

[Jason Donohoe]

I am running my return into a bubble tower made of 4" pvc pipe. The pipe sits on the bottom of the sump and has teeth cut out the entire circumference. The top extends up out of the water. It drastically cut down on the bubbles in the skimmer section.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/jasondonohoe/nov242008030.jpg

[juny00605]

I solved my problem using a Sock on the returns. I love the idea of the bubble tower, probably i'll make one myself. Thanksfor the info.

[Jason Donohoe]

No problem. :)

[catman78]

jason.donohoe

Can you post a few pics of cutouts?
Apprx length, width of cutouts.

Are the cutouts on the bottom, middle, etc.

I'd like to make my own.

Thanks

[Jason Donohoe]

Here are some other images of the bubble tower. The main tower is 4" PVC. I drilled 1/2 inch holes spaced aprox 1 to 1 1/2" apart around the circumference aprox 1 " from the bottom. I then used a hack saw to cut from the bottom of the PVC up to the holes in a triangular shape.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/jasondonohoe/equipment/006.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/oo249/jasondonohoe/equipment/007.jpg

[jacobterrell]

If you are getting that many bubbles from the skimmer you probably don' t have it adjusted correctly. Those bubbles should go up into the skimmer rather than you overflow. Kind of a waste of your pumps efficiency really.

[catman78]

jason.donohoe

Thanks for the pics

Mark

[catman78]

juny00605


Which pipe(s) are the returns and what one is the skimmer?

If skimmer return is plumbed into same section as return from overflow the only way to confirm would be to test each separately.

From the image it's hard to tell where bubbles are coming from.

Is sock over skimmer tube?

[juny00605]

I put the sock on the return pipes ( the ones on the left) The right one is the intake for the external skimmer and the tubbing is the return from the skimmer. The skimmer is not returning any bubbles back. Just in case i have the drain in the oposite side now. O am thinking that probably the space for the return side is too small for the pump return.

[catman78]

juny00605

How wide is the space?
How many bubble traps do you have?

Filter Socks work, however they're a pain in the A.. to keep clean.

I would try making the tubes jason.donohoe made.
Run your rigid PVC down the center of each tube and then fill tubes with rubble.

That's what I'm going to try, I'll let you know how it works.

Additionally, if it is a new setup, it will take perhaps a month or two to build up slime coating on inside of all plumbing. Slime tends to decrease bubbles.

Good Luck

Catman.

[Jason Donohoe]

I think your space is going to be fine once you add a bubble tower. Just to be sure to make it high enough that you are not getting spray out the top. I would bring it up as far as the elbows. The tower I made is 2 pieces with a junction because the pipe from the overflow could not be moved and I had to sneak it under. The return goes aprox 2" under the water. You may want to put the return from your skimmer back into that section once you have the tower in place. Even with correct settings you may still get some micro bubbles that your baffles will take out.

[juny00605]

It's true, I hate cleaning socks. I will try the bubble tower this weekend and report back also. Thanks everybody.

[catman78]

jason.donohoe

Have you tried experimenting with different depths of return pipes?

I see you have them @ 2" below water line.

I figured if you buried them close to the bottom, bubbles would have more time to dissipate on the way up through the 1st trap.

I remember seeing a video showing the addition of adding rubble to tube. Looks like bubbles and surging was decreased quite a bit. Unfortunatly, I cannot remember site.

Any thoughts?

[Jason Donohoe]

I was worried if the return tubes were too deep that bubbles would escape through the bottom of the tower. I don't have any rubble in the tower (I saw the same video you did but didn't have the extra live rock. I think it may have been a Reef Keeping mag article. I found a pic here http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/newbie/testpop.htm?images/bubble_tower.jpg, but not thw video). I did recently build a small shelf out of eggcrate that fits inside the tower and holds a filter bag with charcoal. Even before that I didn't have bubbles exiting from the bottom of the tube.