Do you really need a bubble trap anymore?

[rostato]

So, I am building a new sump as soon as my skimmer gets here (Octopus Extreme 160), and I have very limited space...10G tank.

I would really like to have a place to grow macro algaes, but with this skimmer in a 10G tank, it will take up about 3/8's of the whole sump. Add in a bubble trap, and it's over half the size of the sump.

With skimmers being as efficient as they are these days, is a bubble trap even needed in a sump anymore?

Insperation was slayers vertex 200 with no bubble trap in this thread...and yes I know there is no comparison of an octopus to a vertex!

 

[cdub]

I have an alpha cone and I still get some bubbles. Knowing Jamie I would assume he has something in place to prevent bubbles from entering his return pump. You have to consider that some bubbles are caused by you overflow outlet also. Maybe you could try 1 piece of glass as a bubble trap. It wouldn't take up as much room and still might do a decent job. Other option is to put a filter sponge over your return pump inlet, would just have to clean it frequently.

 

[smoothie]

His is drilled and draws water from the top of the sump. May get a few bubble still, but not many.

 

[rostato]

I wouldnt mind doing a single piece of glass. I will need something to seperate the skimmer section, return section, and the fuge section.

Maybe just two pieces of acrylic instead of the normal 3 pieces for a buble trap would work. I am just trying to squeeze every bit out of this 10G sump.

 

[smoothie]

Here's an idea for more sump and space

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[rostato]

That's impossible with this tank, but a good idea.

 

[jonboyb]

My overflow still produces a few bubbles on my setup so I retained a bubble wall. However, as long as flow is slow through your sump and your return pump is fairly deep underwater, it probably wouldn't pull the bubbles in anyways. They would surface before the pump could suck them up.

And my bubble trap is only 2 walls and works perfectly.

 

[rostato]

Cool, may go with 2 walls. I could probably squeeze that.

 

[smoothie]

A small filter sock would stop it too

 

[rostato]

I use a 4" filter sock on my overfow line.

 

[jonboyb]

I use a filter sock as well, but get a few excapees I use 200 and 300 micron mesh bags though, if you use those 100 micron felt bags I doubt anything could escape.

 

[rostato]

Ok, well when my skimmer gets here I will have a better idea of how much room I have.

 

[rostato]

dawgdude;424223 wrote: Yeah once the skimmer gets there see how it does, we might be able to drum up an idea of how to isolate the pump. you can use airline tubing and pressure fit the acrylic in place if you dont want to have to silicone them in.

Never thought of doing that...interesting!

 

[rostato]

I will probably just silicone it. Shouldnt be too hard...

 

[slayer]

thats just a temporary setup for now while the tank cycles.. im using a maxijet 1200 for the return right now...lol.

I have no livestock in the tank right now so i really dont care about bubbles. but yes im planning on using a bubble trap not only to trap bubbles but also to have a stable water level before the return pump so that my tunze osmolator would work better and have a good top off system. im going to have to use a 10 gallon tank for a sump also, so space is an issue for me..

 

[cdub]

Got an OM 4 way hooked up to that mj1200?

 

[rostato]

cdub;424291 wrote: Got an OM 4 way hooked up to that mj1200?

LOL!

Well, I 'll keep this one updated. My skimmer should be here friday, and I will be gone all weekend, but hopefully I can get some work done on it next week.