How to reduce microbubbles for HOT skimmer

[dantimdad]

I have finished (or so I thought) building frankenskimmer. It is comprised of the body to an amiracle CC skimmer extended with 3"pvc sitting on a toilet flange and standing next to my 46 bowfront. It is being fed by the pump to a Coralife super skimmer needle wheel. There is no collection cup per se. The top is the condensing chamber to a D&D marine skimmer with a hose going down to a two liter bottle.

It is, to say the least, a hodge podge of parts from broken skimmers given to me for parts over the years.

The reaction chamber is 30" tall. The thing started skimming like mad within an hour of hooking it up. The problem is, even with the out flow going into a power filter, I am getting at ton of microbubbles.

Does anyone know how I can get rid of them or at least minimize them?

Also, does anyone have a link to a DIY venturi silencer?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[RBursek]

I am not a Pro on this, and can not really picture it but would a filter sock work for the water to go into and help with the micro bubbles?

 

[reefer54]

How is your power filter fed? what if you plumb the outflow to the overflow/feed to the power filter. i have a hob skimmer that the output is flowing to the inernal overflow i have in my tank. then it flows into a sump i have under my tank. no bubbles

 

[dantimdad]

The bowfront is not drilled. We set it up in haste after the disaster with the 50 reef. I pan on drilling it when the living room remodel is done and the tank goes in there from the dining room.

For now I think I will put a wrap of filter pad on the output like a sock and see if that helps it.

Thanks for the input,
Steven

 

[Troylee]

Silencers are simple just just get a piece of PVC and cap both ends and drill the right size hole to run the airline into it and have a 1/4" hole on the other side... Or run the run the airline into skimmer cup lid... As for the bubbles I would make a bubble plate or some baffles of some sort on the exit plumbing... Pics would help greatly..;)

 

[dantimdad]

I will take pics sometime today and post them.

I plan on making one out of PVC. Between that and the filter sock on the output, I should have a very useable skimmer.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[MrPhatstacks]

From my experience with all the HOB skimmers I've used the best way to get rid of micro bubbles is to buy a better skimmer. ie: Deltec MCE 300 or 600

 

[dantimdad]

well buying a new one isn't in the cards until we upgrade the tank after the remodel.

I will make do with this one. The venturi silencer worked wonders on the noise... going to get the filter material to make sort of a sock tomorrow. I plan on replacing it frequently.