Nitrates and Bubbles How do I get rid of?

[mrlimpet]

HELLO,
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS TO ASK. CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW TO GET RID OF THE LITTLE BUBBLES I HAVE COMING INTO MY TANK VIA THE RETURN PUMPS. I HAVE TRIED TO MOVE THING AROUND IN MY SUMP BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. ALSO IF ANYONE KNOWS HOW TO GET RID OF NITRATES. I TESTED THEM TODAY AND THEY ARE ABOUT 20-40. I HAVE NOW DONE THREE WATER CHANGES IN LAST MONTH AND HALF, BUT THERE IS NO CHANGE. I HAVE USED CHEMICALS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO GET RID OF NITRATES, BUT THAT DOESNT DO ANYTHING EITHER. SHORT OF BUILDING A REFUGE, IS THERE ANY WAY TO SOLVE THIS. EVERY OTHER LEVEL IN MY TANK IS NORMAL. PLEASE HELP WITH ANY COMMENTS.
THANKS, THE HELP IS APPRECIATED.
DON W.
aka MRLIMPET
TANK IS 135GAL

 

[joec21]

WHAT!?? I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

 

[ebsochin]

If your issues with the bubbles are the same that I had, I can give you a suggestion. First I need to find out how you have your skimmer/filter set up.
If you have a sump and your skimmer is in the sump then that is most likely your problem as far as the micro bubbles. (This was my problem). Depending on your type of skimmer, the oxygenated water is flowing into the sump and thru your return lines, causing lots of micro bubbles.
Basically the return line from the skimmer needs to be below the water level of the sump. In addition, if you can get a a small piece of "cheese cloth" or batting (the stuff that is inside pillows or quilts), usually you can get this at walmart or any craft store, then take the piece of cloth or batting and wrap it around the exit of the return line from the skimmer. Put a rubber band around it to hold it in place and that should help the micro bubbles. HTH.
As far as the nitrates, water changes help, cut down on the amount of food you might be feeding. Remember only enough food for all the inhabitants to eat within 3-5min. HTH.
One last thing, what type of subsrate are you using. If it is CC then this will be the majority of your Nitrate problem. Lots of vaccuming needed.

 

[birdy]

As far as the bubbles, one quick way to figure out if it is the skimmer or not, turn it off, if the bubbles are gone then it is your skimmer and you will need to figure out a way to reduce the bubbles.
If it is not the skimmer then I would ask you how many gph is your pump, how big is your sump and how big is your tank. Most of the microbubble problems I have had, have been too much flow through the sump and cutting back the flow on the pump or getting a smaller pump usually fixes the problem.
Other reason, could be air getting sucked into your plumbing somehow, look for saltcreep around the fittings in your plumbing.

 

[jjlittle]

the best way to eliminate the bubbles is to put a baffle wall meaning put your return pump on one side of the sump and put a divider about one inch off the bottom the bubble will not go under the wall if you make sure the returns / skimmer splash is aimed away from the wall.If you can aim the splash away from teh wall you would need 2 walls one 1 inch off bottom and the other going to the bottom but only going as high as water level.
As for Nitrates I would if your not allready reduce feeding fish only every other day. Keep up with the water changes you may never get them to zero but you should have them below 20. You may need to do a very large water change to make difference for a small water changes will make very little diffrence in Nitrate levels.