Microbubbles

[nyfireman3097]

Out of no where my tank is FILLED with micro bubbles and there driving me crazy any ideas ?

[GTR]

Leak on the suction side of the pump maybe. Hard to say from here, either I need my glasses or maybe just better light.

BTW... short trip. J/K

SteveU

[scottw]

Nick.

You need to shut down any and all tanks, you have the worst luck, you are 10times worse then I am, and if not for bad luck I would have no luck..

So... Step away from the tanks ..

[nyfireman3097]

LMAO thanx scott I appreciate the boost of confidence

[scottw]

hahaha all in good fun my friend, but you do have some Poop Luck as they say.

[o2manyfish]

Nick,

Okay you need to just apply Zeo-logic to this issue.

Double the flow through your Zeo Reactor -
Stir your Zeo Rocks twice as often
Triple your dosing schedule
Add 4 hours to your lighting schedule.

Just grow those Micro Bubbles up into big bubbles - And then just net them out of the tank


Dave B

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Out of no where my tank is FILLED with micro bubbles and there driving me crazy any ideas ?

These are the kinds of mechanical issues that drive me nuts ...

Happily, the troubleshooting shouldn't be too bad ...
... unless the Reef Gods have decided to punish you ... :destroy:


There's a "venturi effect" going on somewhere. This is most likely a "plumbing integrity" issue ...

... have fun ...

2 Tunze 6100's on multi controller
1 6060 Tunze
1/2 HP Pacific Coast Chiller
Mag 24 Return on 2 3/4 Seaswirls
ASM G6 Good up to a 1200g tank
MRC 2 Chamber Calcium Reactor

multi controller
The most unlikely tangent ... in theory the Tunze Multi-Controller could be sending out unwanted commands causing some bizzare cavitation in the Tunzes. I doubt it ... but no harm checking/reconfirming.

2 Tunze 6100's and 1 6060 Tunze
Depending upon positioning of the Tunzes and a fluctuation in the water level in their vicinity, this could be the source. If it is, restabilizing the water level and/or repositioning the Tunzes should solve the problem.

1/2 HP Pacific Coast Chiller and Mag 24 Return on 2 3/4 Seaswirls
Plumbing in general ...

Depending upon the pump and the plumbing used to drive the chiller and the returns, this could be the source. If you've used PVC, and it (the PVC) has been exposed to significant temperature fluctuations, then micro-cracks could have developed, leading to a venturi effect.

If the sections and/or connections of the PVC are exposed to prolonged vibration, they could also have developed micro-cracks. Also, if any of the plumbing has received an impact, or some other semi-violent trauma, such an event could also have caused a micro-crack. Also, "normal wear" can degrade both PVC, PVE, and vinyl plumbing componets ... but this usually takes a "significant" amount of time. One of the store systems that I maintain was plumbed with PVC and flex-PVC. After about 10 years all kinds of irritating little leaks and degradation began to emerge ... but this is WAY beyond your systems timeframe, yes?

Absent physical impact or "normal" degradation over time, I've found that joints/connections are where things are most likely to begin breaking down in plumbing systems. These areas are always worth a periodic look. Small regions of "salt creep" are often a good indication that something is amiss.

MRC 2 Chamber Calcium Reactor
Calcium reactors can also be a "prime suspect". Not only can you have the associated plumbing "issues", but there are potential media issues. Did you change CR media lately? Has there been a significant pH shift correlated to the presence of the micro-bubbles? A close inspection of the reactor should determine if it is a source of the problem.

ASM G6
I really like the ASM G-series skimmers, but mine have been known to be a micro-bubble source. Check the connections betwen the pump and the skimmer body. Also check the region where water is returned from the skimmer body to the sump. I've experienced micro-bubble problems with both of these areas. Have you replaced the sponge that surrounds the return pipe where water flows back into the sump? Sometimes it takes a few days for new sponges to effectively trap the bubbles contained within the water that is returned from the skimmer.


If I had to bet money on the source, I'd place it on either the plumbing or the skimmer.

But who knows ...

In any event ... Good Luck!


HTH

[nyfireman3097]

Well I have a jetstream now (which is off line)and the tunzes i have 4 6100's also now As for the ASM i have NO bubbles coming from it at all I have a gate valve on it for that. the return I shut off totally I have just the mag 18 through the seaswirls now the mag 24 is off and gonna be for a back up if the mag 18 burns out just so you know

[Orion76]

Nick my brutha, you are forgetting these again: . . , . , . . , . , . . , .

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Well I have a jetstream now (which is off line)and the tunzes i have 4 6100's also now As for the ASM i have NO bubbles coming from it at all I have a gate valve on it for that. the return I shut off totally I have just the mag 18 through the seaswirls now the mag 24 is off and gonna be for a back up if the mag 18 burns out just so you know

Cool ... so the skimmer is not an issue. Excellent.

If there's no obvious visible sign of "leakage" anywhere in the plumbing, then shutting down each return/circulation pump one at a time for a few hours each should help to identify which line is involved.

JMO ... HTH

[mesocosm]

Greetings All !

Nick my brutha, you are forgetting these again: . . , . , . . , . , . . , .

Not so fast ... there's something "transcendental" to Nick's posts. It took me a while to tap into the true Zen-like, hyper-dimensional, "stream of consciousness" attributes of the lack of punctuation in Nick's posts.

But something more ominous has occurred to me ... it could be like the "entering the code" plot tangent in Lost. If Nick starts applying punctuation properly, it could cause the death of all reef tanks everywhere ... or alter the the climate of reefs throughout the world ...

... Are we really willing to risk that? ... ...


JMO

[nyfireman3097]

lmao Thats is correct Meso But I was told not to let others in on it lol And yes Orion I think for now on This point on NO MORE punctuations in my post I promise I will try my best to make my posts longer then Mesos posts are and with no brakes at all Just for you Orion lol

[Spur2]

I have the same problem with my tank. I haven't get a chance to figured out yet.

I run my sump in the Garage, return pump is external 3000Gph. I have 11/2" PVC run from the pump up about 5feets to the elbow, through the wall and another elbow return into the tank. I also have a split (Tee) for my chiller about 18" from the pump. Please let me know should i run the chiller separate or it is ok with the split.

[Orion76]

lmao Thats is correct Meso But I was told not to let others in on it lol And yes Orion I think for now on This point on NO MORE punctuations in my post I promise I will try my best to make my posts longer then Mesos posts are and with no brakes at all Just for you Orion lol

OK I give up... I'll just take motion sickness tablets before reading Zeovit.com from now on :p

[Orion76]

Nick and Rookie, when you guys say "micro bubbles", do you mean lots of little bubbles in the water column or do you mean your return pump blowing "smoke" into your tank?