Skimmer and microbubbles

May 20, 2014

Carlos Cunha wrote

Hello. I have a 72 gallon bowfront tank with a 20 gallon sump. I purchased a Super Reef Octopus 1000LSS protein skimmer and have been running it for about 2 months. I have an enormous amount of microbubbles filling my sump and display tank and have been driving myself crazy trying to determine where they are coming from. Finally, by process of elimination I discovered it was the protein skimmer and on close inspection with a flashlight, I noted that the water output pipe of the skimmer is sucking a large stream of microbubbles from the bubble column and discharging them into my sump. This should not be happening. I do have a bubble trap, but there are just so many bubbles that the bubbles still make it into my return compartment and get pumped into my display tank. My skimmer is in its own compartment and is sitting in 6 inches of water as recommended for this model. The skimmer itself is working great....but this microbubble problem is just intolerable. Do you have any suggestions/recommendations. Thank you.

2 Answers

May 21, 2014

Carlos agent wrote

You have a skimmer that is too big for your system. That skimmer is rated for 180 gal tank with light load or a 100 gal tank with heavy load. This means just the tank and not the tank and the sump.

With that said, are you using any type of chemical such as additives, red slime remover, algaecides, water conditioner or dechlorinators? How old is the skimmer and the tank?

You may have lower the skimmer so it raises the water level inside the skimmer. This will allow you to collect and minimize the micro bubbles coming from below.

Jul 16, 2014

System wrote

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