secrets to getting rid of microbubbles: flow or sump design?

[six.line]

if you don't have microbubbles and you engineered your sump/overflow in order to reduce them, what steps did you take?

I need to setup a sump, and i'll be putting in a bubble trap as well as a refugium, but i'd really like to maximize flow.

any help would rock.

[rockindacheeks]

I just set up my new tank and had a TON of micro bubbles. I got a filter sock and installed it in my sump and now have ZERO bubbles

[Pescados]

first off verify that your output is not sucking air from a bad seal n such,
next, I have my baffles running opposite of what you would normally put them, which creates more baffles in a smaller area, this assuming your not using a really large pump and your sump depth and height can handle the flow. This is great for running carbon and other stuff.
check out the pic in my gallery.
this method worked well for me... maybe over kill but theres no bubbles.

[Pescados]

o yeah, your an Orioles fan... Ben McDonald still owes me a baskett ball goal... ole high school friend :)

[six.line]

pescados: sweet. I always liked him. Too bad Baltimore can't get a decent pitching staff. (We have the greatest pitching coach, but it'll be awhile before he takes an effect.)

Also, what do you mean by 'your sump depth and height can handle the flow' ?

[sjm817]

A split drain, center return works well too. Two drains, one to left side, one to right. One side skimmer, one side fuge. Return in the middle. This makes your bubble trap effectively twice as large. You have to have the room to do this. Also, baffle spacing. The wider, the better. 1" is too tight.

And yes, filter socks work really well.

[Pescados]

[Also, what do you mean by 'your sump depth and height can handle the flow' ]

My bubble trap runs side to side in my sump, opposite of what the fuge and skimmer, return area water runs. The bubble trap area is 3.5 inch wide and the baffles are spaced every 2 inches with a height of 9.5 inches. With my pump, the water level climbs over the baffles about an inch. With any other pump, it would be just to much flow going through this bubble trap area.
If you go to melevs reef, he has tons of sump designs, all though I did not see any of his bubble traps done like mine. I was overly cautious about the bubbles. I went from a 55g that had no bubble issues to a 75g that had way toooo many bubbles. So when I moved and down sized, I was very cautious on the sump design.

[six.line]

so how do you know how high to make your baffles/bubble traps?

[Pescados]

what size tank and pump do you have? sump?

[Pescados]

what size tank and pump do you have? sump?

[six.line]

Tank: 29
Sump: 20

Pump: Thinking of running a mag7, but could change according to advice/research

[Pescados]

i tested my sump with a mag 7 and will be soon going to a 9. I also used the rio HC 2600 and it did well. So I would say space your baffles 1 inch if running them normal, if you do like i did, and run the baffles in opposite direactions, use 2 inch spacing with.
is this a 20g long?

[six.line]

no, it's not a twenty long.

still think a mag7 is ok?

[Pescados]

what are your needs? skimmer? refuge? what about return area and top off?
the more room you have for baffles is what is going to help.
if you have a hang on back skimmer, that may be your issues of bubbles and you can move the skimmer to the sump to fix this.