Micro bubbles

I know this is a common problem, especially with newer reefers, but my micro bubble problem is a little different. I don't have any filter socks on my PVC yet, so I know that the bigger bubbles are coming from there, and my skimmer. However, I randomly get jets of bubbles that come out of the black nozzles into my tank. I know that having bubbles in my sump will cause them to come out of the nozzles, but the jets of bubbles aren't constant. It can be a small jet of medium sized bubbles one time or a big jet of tiny bubbles another. It really bugs me because I just want my tank water to look more clear. Is there anything I can do?

 

What's likely happening is you're getting some bubbles slowly building up someplace in the pump intake and when there are enuff of them, the pump "burps" and shreds them OTW to the DT.

One thing that may help would be to put a 90* elbow on the intake side of the pump (just light hand tight), and aim the open end down. Bubbles want to float, so this should help avoid the pump from sucking them into the intake. I use this on almost every system we have. It's also helpful in the event your pump bay gets low...it keeps the pump from sucking air just a bit longer.

Also, do you have a bubble trap in your sump?

 

Yeah, I have a bubble trap. My return pump has the sponge thing on it, if that makes any difference.

My return pump:
ReefSupplies.ca, your Canadian online reef aquarium store.

My skimmer:
Reef Octopus NWB-150 Pinwheel In Sump Skimmer


Here is how my sump is set up..

 

OK, so no bubble trap between the one side and the pump bay...a filter sock would definitely help there. Do your drains empty above of below the water level in your sump? If above, the additional splashing will add more bubbles to the mix.

Do try the elbow thing tho...it does help. you might also try to "face" your pump's intake away from the non-bubble trap side of the sump, this will give any bubbles more time to rise to the surface and not get sucked into the pump.

 

They empty below the water level. But I don't know how I'm supposed to attach a 90degree elbow if the intake end of the pump isn't very big, plus it isn't made in a way that the elbow would work, unless I have to unscrew the plastic part (if that's even doable) and then screwing on an elbow piece

 

Most pumps have either MPT or FPT on their intake/outputs.

What pump are you using (brand and model number)?

 

I posted the link a few posts ago. Here's the link

ReefSupplies.ca, your Canadian online reef aquarium store.

 

Oops...sorry I missed that...you sure did.

in this case, you can get a short piece of flex hose to use as an adapter, and put a 90* insert x insert barb (AKA barb elbow) on the end of it pointing downward. Here's a link with photos of the barbs:

90* Barb Elbow

Basically, all the short flex tube does is mate the elbow to the pump intake since you can't screw anything onto it.

 

I'll get some of that and see how it goes... but wont using smaller tubing limit some of the amount of water moved by the pump?

 

You need to use the same size as your pump's intake...so if you have a 1" ID intake, you get 1" ID tubing and a 1" ID barb elbow...no restriction. You might lose a TAD due to the elbow, but it beats bubbles in your DT.

I use this trick whenever I need to add something to a piece of equipment that isn't set up for "normal" PVC fittings.

Of course, if you can find a regular slip PVC elbow that slides snugly over the "nipple" on your pump, you can do it that way, and if it's "close" but a tad loose, you can snug it up with a few wraps of Teflon tape before adding the elbow.