Biopellets making skimmer go crazy

SGT_DAO · 04/19/2018, 10:52 AM

Been Googling for answers, but I can't find it. Flame me if it is...So, I just started running a biopellet reactor, and it's caused my skimmer to dump ALOT of microbubbles that make it to the display tank. Sometimes so much air that the return farts bursts of bubbles. I'm sure this is normal, but will it subside when the bacteria colonizes?

mcgyvr · 04/19/2018, 12:04 PM

Did you clean the reactor before you used it?
It may not be the pellets but the reactor/oils,etc... on it..

But yes.. In general any recent additions to a tank can cause skimmers to act up.. They are a fine balance based on the surface tension of the water.. They will almost always return to their normal performance in a few hours to a few days or so depending on the contaminate..

SGT_DAO · 04/19/2018, 02:25 PM

Yes, the reactor was cleaned. few hours/days eh? well it's only been 6 days since it's been online...maybe it'll take longer? thanks for the reply

mcgyvr · 04/20/2018, 04:37 AM

So. how long has the tank been setup?
How long has the skimmer been in use?

In general I have a VERY hard time believing that microbubbles from a skimmer are causing burping in the drain.. Thats just likely caused by excessive flowrate which is very common with many types of overflow/drain systems..
Reducing return pump flow by adding a valve on the output of the pump is one way to solve that..

04/19/2018, 10:52 AM	#1
SGT_DAO Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 102	Biopellets making skimmer go crazy Been Googling for answers, but I can't find it. Flame me if it is...So, I just started running a biopellet reactor, and it's caused my skimmer to dump ALOT of microbubbles that make it to the display tank. Sometimes so much air that the return farts bursts of bubbles. I'm sure this is normal, but will it subside when the bacteria colonizes?

04/19/2018, 12:04 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Did you clean the reactor before you used it? It may not be the pellets but the reactor/oils,etc... on it.. But yes.. In general any recent additions to a tank can cause skimmers to act up.. They are a fine balance based on the surface tension of the water.. They will almost always return to their normal performance in a few hours to a few days or so depending on the contaminate.. __________________ Who me?

04/20/2018, 04:37 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	So. how long has the tank been setup? How long has the skimmer been in use? In general I have a VERY hard time believing that microbubbles from a skimmer are causing burping in the drain.. Thats just likely caused by excessive flowrate which is very common with many types of overflow/drain systems.. Reducing return pump flow by adding a valve on the output of the pump is one way to solve that.. __________________ Who me?

04/19/2018, 02:25 PM	#3
SGT_DAO Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 102	Yes, the reactor was cleaned. few hours/days eh? well it's only been 6 days since it's been online...maybe it'll take longer? thanks for the reply