Millions of Micro bubbles HELP!!!!!

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by 250gallon, Sep 1, 2006.

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  1. 250gallon

    250gallon Plankton

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2006
    Messages:
    6
    Location:
    York, PA
    Hello Everyone,

    I have a 250 gallon setup with a wet/dry sump and the skimmer is in the sump. I had the bubble problem under control when I had a fish do a nemo and kill the pump. So I went and got a new pump which is the same one as the one that died. Now I have millions of micro bubbles in the whole tank and it has been 3 0r 4 months running. At first I thought it was just because it was new but by now it should have calmed down I would think.

    The dirty water goes into the filter system via two overflow boxes and then the skimmer is in the clean water taking the water there and going thru the skimmer and drops right back down into the clean part of the sump and then get sucked out of the sump by the pump and gets blown back up to the tank as clean water with a million micro bubbles. I can take pics of everything if needed.

    Any HELP would be great. If I can not get it fixed I am thinking of changing the whole filter system and skimmer out to something that will cause less micro bubbles.

    Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2003
    Messages:
    5,538
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC,Canada
    It sounds like one of your fittings may have a leak, causing it to suck air. What I have done in the past is. All joints between plumbing parts I rap with electrical tape. I watch each time a rape another joint to see if the bubble stop. This can take some time depending on how many joints you have.

    It could also be the water exiting the skimmer is full of air bubbles and going into the main tank before the bubbles have dissipated. Try to have the out going water from the skimmer go through some filter floss or something first?

    J
     
  4. 250gallon

    250gallon Plankton

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2006
    Messages:
    6
    Location:
    York, PA
    Thanks I will try all of the above.
     
  5. trizzot

    trizzot Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2004
    Messages:
    78
    Location:
    Cleveland, Ohio
    try a sponge in front of your return pump.
     
  6. 250gallon

    250gallon Plankton

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2006
    Messages:
    6
    Location:
    York, PA
    It is not coming from the skimmer since I thought that was the problem so I turned it off and still having the same problem. So I put tape on all the joints that were apart and or have a clamp on it and still have the problem.

    I think it is time for me to get a new filter system and skimmer and try something different.
     
  7. LVReefer

    LVReefer Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2006
    Messages:
    36
    Location:
    Sin City
    If indeed nothing has changed other than your pump them logic would point to that as the culprit. Is it an external or an internal pump?