microbubbles arrrghhh!!!

ok i cant seem to figure out where they are coming from.

i have a 3 part sump. return in the middle. in that chamber there is no microbubbles at all. the mag9.5 i have is slightly turned down a bit, then it goes through 2 90 degree bends up through the bulkhead, another 90 then through locline into the tank.
it is just spitting out bubbles alllllll day long.
ive heard if there is a leak in the plumbing it could be sucking in air? is that true? im really frustrated and i need some help.

 

yeah if there is a hole it can act like a venturi and pull in air. it is just like how a venturi skimmer operates.

 

So how would i stop the leak? just take some pvc glue and reapply over ever joint?
im not sure that is even the issue but i am willing to try anything at this point.

 

If u can access the back of the tank easily, just take a flashlight and check all the joints for the leak. u should see salt creep build up or glistening water.
Are the bubbles constant or in bursts?

 

there both. all the time they will be coming out, then sometimes a big burst for a second or 2.

 

I can't think of a reason for this other than a venturi. could air be trapped in your pump and is slowly being released? I don't think it would last for very long if that was it though.
can you check for leaks easily?

 

are all the joints in the plumbing glued? How much water is over the top of the Mag 9.5?

 

All joints are glued. There was one union that slowly slowly leaked for the first week but stopped after hr that. The mag is under about 5 inches of water at all times if not more.

 

any chance of getting a pic of the plumbing? its obviously drawing air into it somewhere. where do you have the siphon break holes on the return line? if they are too close to the waters surface its possible they are sucking in air although mine are usually minijets of water agitation going 3 directions across the surface of my tank.

 

Make sure your sump pumps water levels are adequate. The first indication that my water levels are low is my pump begins to burst out micro-bubbles every so often.

The second option would be a leak somewhere in the line.