Need help! Bubbles in a new setup (w/ sump)

[keith p]

I just helped my friend setup his new tank. everything went smooth except we are getting micro bubble!!

Here's the setup:

40G breeder, 20L sump. Glass holes overflow. Mag 7 return pump.
I made the sump baffles out of 1/4" acrylic. 1/2" returns & 2-1/4" overflow.
The PVC, disconnects, and ball valves are all from Lowes or Ace hardware.
Everything was cemented and siliconed afterwards. The threaded portions have Teflon tape.

The tank is getting micro bubbles. What do I do? I thought it was air getting in the return lines. Now I'm thinking it's big bubbles in the overflow being chopped up by the filter sock I put on the bottom of the overflow tubing.

Here are pics:

[keith p]

Ok. I took the filter sock off. I think this is the problem:

[thesaent14]

i see i see

[92gallonreefer]

if your worried about dirt getting in the sump/fuge then you can stick a sponge filter between the first two baffles

[thesaent14]

Originally Posted by 92gallonreefer

if your worried about dirt getting in the sump/fuge then you can stick a sponge filter between the first two baffles

and if you do that it will get full of dirt and overflow

[bbl_nk]

In regards to the sump and the incoming dirty water, what if any filtration, barriers, sponges do you use to trap debris? You don't just want it flowing through to your return pump and getting it back in the water, right? Or do you? I am looking to set up my sump soon and will have some sort of "fuge" area but want to make sure I set it up right and not overflwo the bad boy.

Thanks!

[keith p]

I actually have a sponge on BOTH bubble traps (not shown in pics). The problem is the big bubbles are getting caught. The micro baubles are EVERYWHERE.

Is my drain too big??

[dillan]

do you have a smaller pump you could use as a return to slow it down a bit

[PhotoJohn]

put some cheto in your drain areas, it will collect all the bubbles

[keith p]

I have had the pump cranked down, I have had the pump cranked up. Nothing helps.

Tonight we will make an "S" shaped trap at the end of the drain pipe.

Even the company that we purchased the overflow kit from said this is really odd.

[PhotoJohn]

you are running salt water in it now right?

[PhotoJohn]

have you put cheto in the area where the drain enters? it will trap the bubbles. Carmie uses cheto to eliminate bubbles from her skimmer

[keith p]

We ran it for 3 weeks with fresh water, to both help wash off any residue and to check for leaks. It's been running for 1 week w/ salt while cycling. We still have to add another 40 lbs of rock before we add any live stock.
I have a softball of cheato (in my nano's fuge).
Do you REALLY think the cheato will help? I'm being told this is VERY abnormal.

We added an "S" bend and ball valve. We can eliminate a lot of the big bubbles, but the micro bubbles are driving us NUTS!

[PhotoJohn]

the cheto will collect the bubbles...you can always try it if you have some

[dillan]

how about trying to make the bubble traps a little bit wider so the bubbles have a chance to rise to the surface instead of just being sucked right through to the next chamber and make sure your return to the display makes contact with the water and is not dropping in causing more micro bubbles on that end

[CarmieJo]

It is a little different situation but I run my skimmer returns into a 2L pop bottle full of cheato and have ZERO microbubbles. Before the cheato I had them continuously.

[thesaent14]

Originally Posted by dillan

how about trying to make the bubble traps a little bit wider so the bubbles have a chance to rise to the surface instead of just being sucked right through to the next chamber and make sure your return to the display makes contact with the water and is not dropping in causing more micro bubbles on that end

i was just wating for some one with the answer to your problem i am not to good typing but thats your problem the traps are to close and if you want add bioballs to some of them if you need more help send me your number and ill xplain what to do


thanks

manny

[rroselavy]

Your Mag 7 should have 500-550 gph with your 2-3 foot head pressure. You could probably do with 400-450 gph pump, but your Mag 7 isn't drastically over powered.

I would get rid of the socks and the pads. Spells trouble.

You could take a simple off-the shelf container, like a rectangular tupperware or similar that would fit in your first sump compartment, and cut openings in the bottom 1" of the sides to accommodate the full flow. Something as simple as a plastic half-gallon milk/orange juice container with the top cut off - as long as it is taller than your water line. Position it under your drain pipe so the bubbles escape upward but your flow goes downward. Fill it with LR rubble if you like.