Micro Bubbles (1 Viewer)

[jesusq]

Hello,

I'm setting up a new tank 120 Gallons. I have a 30 Gal sump with a mag 9.5 and a reef octopus. The tank is new, just installed base rocks and water this past weekend, but after adding the water and shortly after adding reefcrystal salt, I notice an abundant of micro bubbles. The skimmer is going crazy continuously skimming and even though I have bubble traps on the sump and I not notice any, there's a lot of micro bubbles coming out of the returns.

What could cause all of these micro bubbles?

Could it be the salt? I notice it right after adding the salt, but it was shortly after adding water, and I'm using the bulk reef 5 stage RODI.

Help...

 

[Tempset]

1. Fresh new salt with carry oxygen I to the water with it. So that'll take a short time to clear up.

2. Set your skimmer to skim as DRY as possible. That'll avoid so much "crazy skimming" as you described.

3. Micro bubble usually find their way OUT of the water column via sump dividers. I could've mis-read, but did you say you had a few of those or no?

4. Depending upon if your skimmer is NEW or not, it also takes time to "break in" ad may be releasing a few more bubbles than normal.

I say make your adjustments as needed & then just give it time.

 

[jesusq]

The skimmer nor the tank are new. I did filled the tank up with and added four gallons of vinegar and let it run for four days. Then emptyed it, cleaned it, waited until completely dry for a day, and then filled it up with RODI and then added the salt. That's all that have been done... The sump had bubble traps, but it still makes it's way up the return pipe and into the tank.

The tank, sump, skimmer and salt was sitting in a storage for about four months before taking it out. I don't think this would cause anything...

 

[Tempset]

One of two possible reasons cone to mind.

1. Sounds like your flow may be to heavy through your sump.

2. You need more baffles(bubble traps).

 

[jesusq]

I think the problem is coming from the skimmer, it's making way too much bubbles. More than ever before. I haven't added anything other than salt, unless if it's the salt that was stored for four months in a storage could go bad.

 

[Tempset]

I doubt the salt went bad as long as it was sealed to the air.

Generally the MORE oxygen you have going into your skimmer, the better.

However, if more bubbles are leaving the skimmer before they have a chance to dissipate within the skimmer - that could be an issue.

The setup is freshly started right? Why not turn off the skimmer entirely for 1/2 day & see if the micro bubbles go away.. If they do, you've got your answer.

 

[Aesl1982]

Could be air getting into the return line ?

 

[steveb]

1 - You may need to add a short length of pipe to the output on your skimmer to push the bubbles to the corner farthest from the bubble traps also could be from the skimmer not being used for a long time may take a little while to break in again

2 - slow the flow through your sump to give the bubbles more time to rise to the surface and pop

3 - also check to make sure you have no leaks on the suction side if the pump is external.

Agree w/tempset, turn the skimmer off, if after a little bit bubbles go away see # 1 and #2 above. If they don't look into #3 if the pump is external.