microbubble help

[adamatic]

Anybody have any suggestions for tracing the source of microbubbles coming from the return pump?

Does it absolutely mean there's an air leak?

[ryguy]

how long has your tank been up for? Do you have baffles between the return pump and the sump intake? a new skimmer?

[adamatic]

Originally Posted by ryguy

how long has your tank been up for? Do you have baffles between the return pump and the sump intake? a new skimmer?

The answers are, respectively: 1 month - there are baffles but there's a waterfall effect off the initial intake (it's a converted wet/dry) - and there's a new skimmer...all of these could be adding to the bubbles???

[ryguy]

New skimmer tend to have a break-in period where they will produce microbubbles for a couple of weeks. You could also check to see how many bubbles are being created as water enters the sump. You may need to implement a some type of homemade diffuser to help control the bubbles on the intake side. How many over-under sets baffles do you have?

New systems tend to have microbubble issues. If all else fails, give it a while and it should settle down a bit on its own too.