Microbubbles in main tank...?
by
, 03-06-2012 at 12:00 AM (10922 Views)
So I believe I have microbubbles getting into the main tank. I was looking at the water in my skimmer section today and noticed that it had a decent amount of froth on the water's surface (nothing spectacular just some definite buildup of frothy sections). Then I got looking at the skimmer section and noticed a ton of microbubbles, no surprise yet. Then I took a look at my bubble traps. Bubbles were going down the hatch at an alarming rate. Then I looked at the bioball section thinking that surley that would quench the problem... no dice. So I have tons of microbubbles pouring into my return section. The picture below illustrates what that does to the water.
So that brings me to my set of questions, comments, and a list of possible causes:
1.) I do currently have the skimmer nearly 3inches deeper than it will eventually be. However, the outflow from the skimmer is pretty significant. I think that no matter what the bubbles from the skimmer are going to go as far down as the tank floor will allow. Also, the water flow rate from my actual pump will be higher, thus giving the bubbles even more likelihood of making it all the way down the bubble trap without being forced back up by the bouyancy force.
2.) I already have my skimmer output turned as far away from the overflow as possible.
3.) Do you guys think this is just a problem I'm having because:
- The plumbing is new?
- This isn't saltwater, it's unfiltered freshwater and I should expect a certain amount of murkiness?
- The skimmer is putting too many bubbles into the water and I need to raise my skimmer?
- The 1 inch gap between the baffles and under the raised baffles isn't enough distance and the flow is too fast through the bubble traps for them to be effective?
- The tank had dust and some sawdust in it before I started this full scale water test and I'd only been running the filter socks for about 30 mins before I took the above picture?
- Something entirely different that I haven't mentioned?