WHERE ARE THE BUBBLES COMING FROM (1 Viewer)

[Guest]

Ok, I replumbed my return to external instead of internal.
It is not leaking anywhere, but I am getting the tinyest bubbles spraying into my tank.

They are so tiny, at first I thought it was just junk I had stirred up in my sump, but it's been 4 days now and I'm getting a lot of bubble build up on the front of the tank and on some leathers.

I don't understand where they are coming from?
Is it because my return pump is having to work to hard to get water to it?
Do I need a larger diameter pipe going to the pump from my sump?

 

[AggieBrandon]

is there anything that could be causing bubbles to be sucked into your intake for your pump before it goes to the tank such as a skimmer or powerhead or the drain line from your main tank?

 

[HolyBanana]

I'm starting to see bubbles too, but they are coming from my sand. Thats a good sign for me. (darn nitrates have skyrocketed after my cycle)

 

[fishcraze]

As AggieBrandon mentioned, it could be the bubble presented at the intake of your pump, eg. the overflow of water from the refugium chamber to the returning chamber causing bubbles at the the intake, etc..

Or do you have a filter sponge/foam on the intake of the pump and clog it up?

IMO, the normal fine bubbles (due to mechanical problem as mentioned) shouldn't cause trouble to your tank. But if you see a lot of bubbles on the rocks and corals (esp. spong tree, stony corals..), then be careful. It could be a sign of red slime or algea bloom coming up.

 

[Guest]

The only thing that has changed between no bubbles and bubbles everywhere is I moved my pump to external instead of in my sump.
So now it has 3/4" plumbing to the intake instead of just sitting in water.

There are no leaks on the plumbing, I've been checking it close for past few days.
I'm so confused and aggrivated....

 

[Guest]

Are you running an external or submersible pump? If you are running an external it is possible to pull air in through any small holes or cracks in the plumbing or pump housing. Anywhere where there is suction, and is exposed, it is possible to introduce air into the return flow.

 

[AggieBrandon]

maybe go back and apply a bead of silicone around all the edges of each connection. That way the possibility of air entering the system through a tiny hole will be impossible.

Brandon

 

[aqua-nut]

Brandon's thinking is right.

As long as the system is powered up, a pinhole may be drawing in a bit of air but it would not leak unless you shut off that pump and watched it carefully for a number of hours.

Because the bubbles are so fine, I'd guess to say it is on the intake side of the pump, and the blades of the turbine is breaking it up.