Another Micro bubble problem!!!

Okay I have an new Octopus brand nw-150 model(in sump model). I cant get rid of the micro bubbles that thing puts out. Any advice I have tried sponges over the riser tube. Does anyone if the gate valve mod kit they sell work?
 
Originally Posted by sign guy
looks like your pump might be creating the bubbles when is the last time you cleaned it?
Earlyer today, this is the first time I actually ran the skimmer in the sump and the bubbles only happen when I turn it on.
 

sign guy

Active Member
Originally Posted by speeddemonlsr
would a gate valve setup like this help with the bubbles?
I dont know this skimmer that well so its hard to say
 

peckhead

Active Member
can you show me a picture of the out put of the skimmer? like where the water exits the skimmer?
i used to have a wet dry similar to yours and there was a hole going back into the bio balls. is tehre a hole in yours? in the middle wall of the wet dry? if not, maybe you can drill one and let the water exiting the skimmer, go back thru the bio balls....
does this make sense? like sign guy its hard to help since i dont know the skimmer but if u can get some better pictures of the middle of the wet dry, and the out take of the skimmer where the water exits.
 

angelman

Member
Shot in the dark here as can't really make it out from the photos.
Just about in every instance, skimmer bubbles are caused by the oxygen enriched water being delivered to the sump and then immediately picked up by the pump and dumped in your tank.
Try all you can to prevent this skimmer returned water from just dumping in your sump. Place a pad/sponge to break the water's return. Give some distance if possible between the skimmer return and the tank pump intake. Note, skimmers are not the only one to do this. If I don't place a pad below the return for my UV into the sump, I will get bubbles also.
Hope this helps.
 
Originally Posted by sign guy
is the blue prefilter over the pumps intake?
no its next to the intake surrounding it on the right side of the pump.
 
Originally Posted by peckhead
can you show me a picture of the out put of the skimmer? like where the water exits the skimmer?
i used to have a wet dry similar to yours and there was a hole going back into the bio balls. is tehre a hole in yours? in the middle wall of the wet dry? if not, maybe you can drill one and let the water exiting the skimmer, go back thru the bio balls....
does this make sense? like sign guy its hard to help since i dont know the skimmer but if u can get some better pictures of the middle of the wet dry, and the out take of the skimmer where the water exits.

That sounds like a good idea, but if I mess with the riser tube and put two 45 elbow together and make a sideways ~ would that affect the back pressue (output) of the skimmer?
 

angelman

Member
Originally Posted by speeddemonlsr
That sounds like a good idea, but if I mess with the riser tube and put two 45 elbow together and make a sideways ~ would that affect the back pressue (output) of the skimmer?

Depends. May affect it.
Interesting thing is that gate valve photo you post does the same.
The gate valve is used to put more or less back pressure on the skimmer.
I would give it a shot and see what happens.
I would look to mimick that set up by buying your parts at Home Depot and giving it a shot. HD sells those gate valves and all the PVC you will need.
If you simply elect to just elbow it without the gate valve and if for some reason it puts more back pressure on the skimmer, creating a rise in the chamber, you can offset that by valving the water flow before it gets to the skimmer.
You can also offset the back pressure by raising the elbow higher.
Higher elbow, less back pressure.
My ETSS returns into the bio balls chamber as has already been suggested by drilling a hole through the wet dry.
 
Originally Posted by AngelMan
My ETSS returns into the bio balls chamber as has already been suggested by drilling a hole through the wet dry.
Did that help with your micro bubbles?
 

angelman

Member
Absolutely.
Only way I could do it to avoid them.
Water then has to pass through the sponge for the wet dry and the bubbles are trapped.
 
Originally Posted by AngelMan
Absolutely.
Only way I could do it to avoid them.
Water then has to pass through the sponge for the wet dry and the bubbles are trapped.
Well I guess ill build one out of a 30 gallon tank.
 
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