Micro Bubbles or Particles?

[texhorns98]

I already searched these terms and didn't really find what I was looking for. It seems as though my water is never really perfectly clear. I can't tell if what's floating around is micro BUBBLES or just little particles. It's not all that obvious, but I wanted to know if anyone out there has perfectly clear water.

One thing I'm concerned about it that I'm running a SCWD on my returns. I can't always tell when it switches, but I wonder if air is somehow getting into the SCWD?

 

[texhorns98]

I should add that on a few occasions I see some micro bubbles coming from the returns. I run an ATO, so I know it's not air getting into the pump.

 

[smoothie]

Is air building up when one side switches over or getting trapped in the line?

 

[llewella]

My water is not perfectly clear either. I asked about this before wondering if I should add a canister filter too and was told that my corals like the little particles so I dont stress over it anymore. Also I dont have an ATO and top off manually but I do notice that if I splash too much topping off that it makes micro bubbles come from the returns, maybe when your ATO switches on it splashes a little causing bubbles?

 

[texhorns98]

Don't know. I don't think so, but it's hard to tell because I don't know when it switches sides. I know my jawfish has been kicking up sand, but not constantly.

 

[smoothie]

Can you post a pic?

 

[texhorns98]

Smoothie;512645 wrote: Can you post a pic?

I can try after the daylights come on, but these things are really tiny! I may just be too picky in this case, I don't know.

 

[texhorns98]

No need to post a pic, I can see that most of what I have is coming from the darn returns! Arrrgh...how do you fix that? I have a double bubble trap in the sump and it's filled with carbon right now. My return pump is plenty submerged as well. Could it be in the SCWD?

 

[fish scales2]

Must be air coming in from somewhere. Did we do a siphon break on returns?

 

[chymos45]

Bypass the SCWD for a little while. If no more micro's, then put the SCWD back. If they return, you've found the culprit. If they don't, perhaps it was simply the bad connection on the SCWD barbs and you fixed it by removing and replacing.
FWIW, I run a SCWD and have never had any problems. If you listen very closely (maybe even turn off you skimmer and any other noise makers) you can hear it switch.

 

[texhorns98]

Chris, we didn't do siphon breaks since the returns are close enough to the top and we have double check valves. I'm not sure how I would bypass the SCWD at this point. One hose in, two hoses out. Remove that and you have one hose into where?

Looking at these things coming out of my returns now. Some of them rise straight up and some sink and get blown around a bit. I have a Tunze tucked in the corner right behind the return. Maybe that current is forcing bubbles down into the tank. One thing I did just notice is that part of the loc-line on the left return is sticking out of the water. Not the end of it, more like the middle. I would think that might let a little air in, but only at that point...not the whole return system.

And I now I don't think I'm just being picky. I can see these things from across the room!

 

[dartfrog]

Just turn off the pump and skimmer for 20-30 minutes and see if the water clears up...if its micro bubbles they should disappear in that time, if not the suspended particles should still be visable floating in the water. That might help narrow the problem down.

 

[fish scales2]

locline is the issue. Sink it below water level.

 

[chymos45]

texhorns98;512697 wrote: I'm not sure how I would bypass the SCWD at this point. One hose in, two hoses out. Remove that and you have one hose into where?

Turn off the pump and let the drainage equalize. Remove the SCWD from the input and one of the outputs. Connect the return to the standpipe (either directly or use a double barb to connect the 2 hoses you just removed from the SCWD). Be sure to protect the other return from siphoning water from the tank when you turn the pump back on.

BEFORE YOU BOTHER TRYING THIS, do as Chris suggested and make sure the loc-line is below the surface. I'm betting he's right and the loc-line is sucking small amounts of air.

 

[texhorns98]

Fish Scales2;512708 wrote: locline is the issue. Sink it below water level.

Negative, didn't solve the problem. I guess Chris CAN be wrong! Don't worry, I won't tell Julie. I'm going to shut off the return as suggested above and see what gives. Some of this I can tell is particulate and is likely because I haven't changed my filter sock in a few weeks!

 

[texhorns98]

OK, turned off the return pump for 30 minutes and everything is still there. ***? I'm going to change the filter sock and see what happens.

 

[raisedonnintendo]

ya my water is clear no bubbles most of the time. only time i get bubbles is if i let my tank run a little low.but i have to high tech gear n my tanks no skimers.uv filters, plumbing nada. just heater n power head. i change water every week. ghetto i know but it works

 

[rbredding]

that's got to be particles suspended in the water (if it were air bubbles, you would see them float up to the top after everything is off for a while)..


I've got the same issue, I'm working on a mod to my sump that will add two filter socks to pull those particles out of the water column.

I'll have to change the filters VERY often at the beginning and completely clean the sump out before starting the system back up, but I feel pretty certain that you're probably dealing with the same thing I am...


water CAN be perfectly clear (go to marine designs or pure reef and check out their water) but I'm not sure that "dirty" water isn't healthier for the corals (as someone else already pointed out)

 

[raisedonnintendo]

that's got to be particles suspended in the water (if it were air bubbles, you would see them float up to the top after everything is off for a while)..


I've got the same issue, I'm working on a mod to my sump that will add two filter socks to pull those particles out of the water column.

I'll have to change the filters VERY often at the beginning and completely clean the sump out before starting the system back up, but I feel pretty certain that you're probably dealing with the same thing I am...


Good point simplicity. Does it float? If not it's not air