Micro bubbles and sand?

Hi everyone I'am new to the site and think its great. Just wanted to know if anyone can help. I have a 90 gal with a 20 gal diy sump. It starts with a 10" intake area with protien skimmer then goes through 3 baffles then into a refuge with some small live rock and mac alge then across into the return(small 4" peice separate rock from pump there is no drop off into pump area). I still have micro bubbles making it back into the tank and seem to have sand or particles also flying around. I have a sponge just befor the return pump but it does seem to be enough. Should I filter sock my intake,will that work? I have my return from my protien skimmer filter socked. The tank has only been up for 4 months could the sand still be settling? Thanks Matt

90 GAL 140# ROCK LIVE SAND
2 cleaner shrimp, 1 sallylight foot, 4 emeralds, red and blue leg, 4 mexican turbo, 8 turbo snails, 1 blue porclien crab, 1 spotted goby, 1 yellow fin wrasse.

 

A couple of quick thoughts:

I personally do not like socks (people will disagree since it’s a preference item) but I find them to dirty too quickly and add to your maintenance. I would suggest that your skimmer be after the fuge not before it.

The refugium should flow 10% of your tanks volume per hour, that’s pretty slow to produce mico’s – what is your flow? Any way to move the return pumps intake away from where the water enters the chamber or perhaps install another baffle in the return section?

 

I doubt the sand is still settling. The longest that takes to happen would be a month, and I've only heard of that once. It usually settles more quickly in a week or two or less

 

The flow rate is pretty slow. I don't have the room to move the skimmer. The water goes under the last baffle and into the refuge the return pump is in the same area.(was tight on space for my diy, 20 gal high) Any other sugestions thank you so much for you help.

 

could you please post a picture of the return section in particular? I am about to head out but it will help everyone else who reads the thread. Besides, always show off the DIY's !!

 

I will take a pic tonight and post Thanks

 

I took a couple of pics maybe this will help. Thanks again

 

This picture helps to better understand the set up. The Eheim return pump has a built in sponge plus from this pic there is zero air it can suck. The problem is not in your sump.

If your return line(s) are blowing micro bubbles than that air is being pulled from somewhere in the return line starting directly above the sump – check all the fittings to see that they are tight. If they are I would suspect its your siphon break, check to see if it’s the culpert (cover it with your finger and see if the bubbles stop)

On a side note, you have a 90 gallon tank and there doesn’t seem to be too much room in your sump – can it handle the run off in the event of a power outage? I know, silly question but better to ask and get the “of course” answer than not and find out later you should have

 

The sump can handle to run off I did check that before installing bafflles. Don't blame you for checking. This maybe a stupid question but what to you mean when you say siphon break. I will check all my fittings to see and maybe I will replace my return hose just incase. Thanks again!!

 

The up-pipe that returns the water to your DT has a hole in it at the top somewhere – when the power goes out the hole breaks the siphon so your tank doesn’t drop a few extra inches into your sump. Find that siphon break and cover it with your finger and see if the micro bubbles stop – since the return pump can not suck bubbles than the air needs to be pulled after that point. Someone else might have another idea, but for now this is worth checking. BTW, good job on the DIY sump – excellent baffle design.