Occasional Burst of Bubbles

Hi Guys,

I am getting an occasional burst of micro bubbles from my return and can't really narrow it down. It did this sort of thing before I changed out my sump, but not quite this often. I don't think there is air in the plumbing. I think that it is coming from the foam cover on the mag 7 and home made filter sock cover I made for it. If I take the foam and filter sock off, the bubbles won't happen no matter how much stuff I move. Once it is back on, I can get it to happen. The reason for the foam and filter sock is to stop the micro bubbles from the return and skimmer section. I don't know if the micro bubbles are slowly accumulating in the foam and are released when it reaches capacity or what but it is annoying to watch. Does anyone have any other fairly maintenance free options. I thought about filter floss but don't know if that would work either. I have to wash the foam and filter sock once a week so I am looking for something about the same. Thanks!!!

Ivy

 

I would ditch the foam and the rigged filter sock. You can burn out a pump pretty quickly if you restrict its intake. Where are the microbubbles coming from in the first place? The Drain, the skimmer, or something else?

~Will.

 

Great response. IMO covers it all. Restricting a pump's intake is detrimental to the pump. Socks and foam over pumps is bad news unless you're meticulous about maintenance with regard to these two means of mechanical filtration.

Instead of restricting a pump's intake to manage microbubbles, consider changing the configuration of your sump. I know it's a lot of work--especially after you mention that you just changed your sump out--but in truth, if your sump is properly executed, you'd have not a single bubble.

It might be baffle configuration, or too fast a flow, or something else--but you should address the disease, not mask the symptom.

Good luck.

 

Thanks Will,

The foam is what came the mag drive pump. I just cut up a filter sock and glued it to conform to the foam. I understand what you are saying about restricting the pump though.

The bubbles are coming from my drain and skimmer section. I made a bubble trap but there are still a lot that make it through. I also have a ton of rock rubble in the drain in hopes that it would help diffuse the bubbles, but it isn't working as I had hoped.

 

Thanks ReefSparky,

I am very meticulous about cleaning the sock and foam, so it is never clogged. I would love to fix the cause but don't really want to redo the sump again. I have a bubble trap that seems pretty stock, but I honestly haven't messed with the flow. How far can I turn it down before it is too much? I can take a picture of the sump and it configuration if that would help. Thanks!!!!

 

Thanks sparky 8)

Is there any way to position a filter sock so it catches all the drain water coming down from the main tank? Also, depending on the skimmer you might be able to route the output of the skimmer to that sock as well. This is how I have things on my setup and it works great.

Once a week is kind of a long time to go in between sock cleanings, I try to rotate mine out every 3 days at the absolute most. Every third day (right before the sock is changed out), I get a 6 foot piece of 1/2" tubing and siphon out anything on my rocks or sand that I dont want there to the filter sock in the sump. There is no wasted tank water and my tank has been much cleaner ever since i started doing this.

~Will.

 

That is a pretty good suggestion. I might be able to configure something so that I can get a filter sock below the drain, but don't have the space for one on the skimmer.

 

A pic would be great.

Consider this: when a kid considers the prospect of getting a puppy he really does mean every word when he says, "yes, I would work day and night, 24/7 just to own this puppy. I'll take it for walks, feed it, bathe it, even take it to the vet on my bike. . . " However, as time goes on, that enthusiams wanes. So is the case with tank maintenance. Honestly, even if you're willing to work hard--why have an unecessary task when it can be prevented in the first place? Wouldn't owning the puppy be even nicer if walks and feedings and trips to the vet were not involved? I exaggerate, but you get the picture.

The work involved in yet another sump redo; might in the long run outweigh the PITA of changing filter socks and sponges that have no business being there in the first place. You can have a tank free of microbubbles without having sponges.

 

I may tinker with the current set-up and see if I can manage it before I do another sump build. I don't know that I have it in me right now

 

Here is a pic of the sump and baffle configuration. I took the sock and foam off for the time being. Thanks!!!