Bubble trap not stopping them?

[almostclueless]

Hey everybody,
I have just set up my first tank, and am having a problem with microbubbles. (note: im still testing it with fresh water). When I look in my sump, there are millions of microbubbles in the pump chamber, which must be the problem. The thing is, that I can see all the bubbles traveling through the bubble trap I have set up in the sump. The trap was done as it normally is, with 1 raised piece, then one piece on the ground of the sump, then 1 more raised piece (if that makes sence) How should I go about trying to control this problem? Thanks, and let me know if I wasnt clear in the explanation.

 

[al mc]

Originally Posted by almostclueless
http:///forum/post/2548780
Hey everybody,
I have just set up my first tank, and am having a problem with microbubbles. (note: im still testing it with fresh water). When I look in my sump, there are millions of microbubbles in the pump chamber, which must be the problem. The thing is, that I can see all the bubbles traveling through the bubble trap I have set up in the sump. The trap was done as it normally is, with 1 raised piece, then one piece on the ground of the sump, then 1 more raised piece (if that makes sence) How should I go about trying to control this problem? Thanks, and let me know if I wasnt clear in the explanation.
If you have tremendous water flow this may happen. Is the return water just shooting in from the end of the pipe? If so, you can try putting a 90 degree elbow on it with straight PVC attached off the end that you drill a series of holes in. Cap the end of the pipe and the water will now come out more evenly throughout the chamber instead of just crashing down in one spot.
Another fix is to put some filter material in the baffles of the bubble trap. You will have to change it out every couple days, but it will eliminate the bubbles and take debris out of the water as well.

 

[almostclueless]

ok, Ill try both of those options, thanks.
The water going into the sump is just falling in from the end of the pipe, about 4 inches underwater. The water is coming down with a ton of air. I guess there is a lot of flow in the sump, in fact, all the flow for my main tank runs through my sump. (main tank has ~50x turnover).
EDIT: when I turn down the pump, and even when hardly any flow is going through, I still have the problem. These bubbles seems almost like they dont float.

 

[wattsupdoc]

50X turnover through the sump!!!!GEEZ LOUISE!!! 50X ?

Post up a pic of this sump.

 

[almostclueless]

ok, Ill get a pic when I have a chance.
note: its not a fuge (just to point that out)
for now, my cheap painting will have to work.

I guess the reason I have so much flow, is that I wanted to have all the flow in the tank just through the return pump. (cuts down on in tank clutter)

 

[wattsupdoc]

Originally Posted by almostclueless
http:///forum/post/2551610
ok, Ill get a pic when I have a chance.
note: its not a fuge (just to point that out)
for now, my cheap painting will have to work.

I guess the reason I have so much flow, is that I wanted to have all the flow in the tank just through the return pump. (cuts down on in tank clutter)
Which IMO, is not a good thing to do.

The baffles are too close to each other.

Why not a photo of the sump?

Thats what I wanted to see.