BAD BUBBLE PROBLEMS (not the skimmer) w/pics

[mrinelfrlz]

Originally Posted by Apos
http:///forum/post/2455858
So you don't have any wave/alternation action then?
I'm still trying to figure out a cheap DIY solution for such a system. Though that 35$ splitter wavemaker gadget that does it automatically may just be the best bet.
all it is is a split nothing fancy
just continuous split water flow

 

[zsqure]

I have got the same bubble problem, I added MH lighting in December. My tank looks worse than yours, I didn't even think about shortening the MH lighting duration. My lights are 7 inches or so off the water. It is an outer orbit 2x250MH w 4 x 65 t-5 actinic. I am bummed, algae outbreak everywhere brown stringy stuff I vacuum it off of the live rock during waterchanges. Sorry about hijacking your thread. I thought I needed another powerhead to blow the bubbles off of everything. Oh crap!

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[steven1]

today i had the mh on for 2 hours that helped a lot but the bubbles still formed but not as bad. i am still trying to find out if i need to run the actinics less or if that even matters. i clean the bubbles off every time to keep track but they have been so bad that they have been building up in my filter system and causing micro bubbles. hang in there the answer is here somewhere

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by steven1
http:///forum/post/2456065
today i had the mh on for 2 hours that helped a lot but the bubbles still formed but not as bad. i am still trying to find out if i need to run the actinics less or if that even matters. i clean the bubbles off every time to keep track but they have been so bad that they have been building up in my filter system and causing micro bubbles. hang in there the answer is here somewhere
The first few pics look like you have a Fluval surface skimmer attachment.
Do you have a Fluval canister filter?
LFS keeps fluval valve assemblies in stock by the case. They suck air. (seems to be pretty common)
I eventually had to remove my surface skimmer attachment because it was too hard to keep tuned. It kept submerging and resurfacing, sucking air as it resurfaced. I would set water flow and in a few days it would freak out again. I replaced it with a HOB skimmer that included a surface skimmer. I still get bubbles if I bump the canister.
BTW, I run canisters. Just remember to clean them often.

 

[socal57che]

I see bubbles in your surface skimmer inlet tube. These will be sucked into the intake one by one. I ran a TEE off my original pickup tube and adjusted flow with the canister valve and the surface attachment and got these guys pretty well under control, but it only lasted a couple weeks and I was back to making adjustments. They also seem to be very particular about water level. Try keeping your water level consistant by topping off more often. Hope this helps you out.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by socal57che
http:///forum/post/2456265
I see bubbles in your surface skimmer inlet tube. These will be sucked into the intake one by one. I ran a TEE off my original pickup tube and adjusted flow with the canister valve and the surface attachment and got these guys pretty well under control, but it only lasted a couple weeks and I was back to making adjustments. They also seem to be very particular about water level. Try keeping your water level consistant by topping off more often. Hope this helps you out.
I was hoping that it was not just me that noticed that new lights had absolutely nothing to do with the micro bubbles. It is your flow equipment. You may (both of you) be able to see them better now, but it has nothing to do with your lights.

 

[socal57che]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
http:///forum/post/2456273
I was hoping that it was not just me that noticed that new lights had absolutely nothing to do with the micro bubbles. It is your flow equipment. You may (both of you) be able to see them better now, but it has nothing to do with your lights.
Agreed. You can't see the silver dollar on the sidewalk until the light hits it. Same thing here. The lights are magnifying the problem, not causing it.

 

[zsqure]

OK, so in 8 hrs or so I'll post my h2o parameters (when I get home from work). I have bubbles rising up from the SB. These were not occuring when I had the crappy CF lights. (or maybe they were---I can't remember

I'm soo confused.)