Skimmer outlet - Microbubbles

[Reef of Fillory]

Good morning,

I bought a used skimmer [Reef Octopus Classic 225INT] and the outlet draws out a stream of microbubbles from the body of the skimmer. This fills the skimmer compartment with microbubbles, which get into my return pump and get sent back into the skimmer pump.

I am not able to rearrange the sump, or add additional baffles. With that said, does anyone have any ideas for how to get rid of these bubbles?

I was reading that most foams won't stop these bubbles, and some people have had luck with filter socks [100micron] over the skimmer output. Does anyone else have experience using filter socks to stop the microbubbles?

Thanks

 

[zsuzsu]

The skimmer needs to break in, the bubbles will subside in a few days. Until then ,tune it so you have minimal bubble bleed in your tank. You will most likely have to retune a couple times per day until it's fully broke in...... zsu

 

[zsuzsu]

And btw, run it at the deepest water level you can.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

And btw, run it at the deepest water level you can.

I've got it set at 9" water depth which is what's recommended for this skimmer, the compartment that it's in is 12" deep

It doesn't really matter how much I adjust it, the outlet still draws the same amount of bubbles. Not using a stand under the Skinner puts it 3" deeper than recommended level, that won't mess anything up?

 

[zsuzsu]

does it have an air adjustment or bleed screw on the silencer? it should have some type of an air input control somewhere. or maybe a leak in the silencer leaving you no way to control it. you should be able to completely turn the air input off.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

does it have an air adjustment or bleed screw on the silencer? it should have some type of an air input control somewhere. or maybe a leak in the silencer leaving you no way to control it. you should be able to completely turn the air input off.

There's just the airline coming from the pump to the silencer, no adjustment valve anywhere. I put a filter sock on the output which has helped but hasn't gotten rid of them completely, used a 200 micron with zip ties, but have read that a few people have used 100 micron and that it has worked better. I also lowered the skimmer so it's now sitting in 12in of water. It doesn't seem to have had any negative effects on the skimmer that I can see.

 

[kinetic]

A bubble trap and a medium density sponge will get rid of bubbles. I bet you could squeeze in a small baffle? Could you just move that first baffle back into, what looks like, the fuge area? Then create a bubble trap.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

A bubble trap and a medium density sponge will get rid of bubbles. I bet you could squeeze in a small baffle? Could you just move that first baffle back into, what looks like, the fuge area? Then create a bubble trap.

Right now taking out/apart the sump isn't really an option

 

[theMeat]

Got a small pitcher or big cup and have the skimmer output go into that. At least then the bubbles would be directed to surface

 

[theMeat]

Also a good idea to have skimmer in first compartment to get first chance at dirty water, then fuge, then return pump.

 

[zsuzsu]

put some silicone air tubing over the air inlet , then use some kind of a screw clamp on the airline to constrict the air flow input. all the baffles in the world wont matter if you cant properly tune your skimmer. you need to control the air... period. good luck

 

[zsuzsu]

fwiw i use a nyos 160 in a 15 gal. sump, no baffles , no sponge ...nothing. oh ya and no micro bubbles. control your air input

 

[Reef of Fillory]

I took the skimmer off of the base and put a filter sock on the outlet, that's stopped the micro bubbles.

Question now is, recommended water level is 6-9" for my skimmer, but it's sitting in 12" of water. What negatives could come from operating in to high of a water level?

Would adding an air tube control valve affect the way the skimmer runs, or just decrease the amount of bubbles exiting the output?

The last picture is the outlet of my skimmer... Tons of bubbles being sucked out

 

[zsuzsu]

it matters how much air it uses., all skimmers have a sweet spot of air water mix, if you don't control the air you will never use the skimmer at its full potential. btw not a fan of filter socks they just trap dirt. if you don't remove and clean your sock every day or so, you will defeat the purpose of the skimmer., dude go get a 99 cent air valve and some air tubing and control your air..... please

 

[Reef of Fillory]

it matters how much air it uses., all skimmers have a sweet spot of air water mix, if you don't control the air you will never use the skimmer at its full potential. btw not a fan of filter socks they just trap dirt. if you don't remove and clean your sock every day or so, you will defeat the purpose of the skimmer., dude go get a 99 cent air valve and some air tubing and control your air..... please

I have tried at the three LFS in town and can't find an air valve. Going to try PetCo in a little bit. Any suggestions on water level?

I built an egg crate base for the skimmer, and can really adjust it by 3/4" increments

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Gonna have to order it online, PetSmart only has the right size for dosing line

 

[zsuzsu]

8.5-10. inches

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Has anyone found a valve to work with reef octopus skimmers? The air line is 5/16 ID

I can't find anything online

 

[Reef of Fillory]

I tried limiting the air to the silencer/venturi with some air valves and dosing tube, and it didn't make any difference with the bubble production in the skimmer. Here's a video of what the skimmer is doing, and the bubbles being pulled into the outlet from the skimmer body

 

[Reef of Fillory]

Does anyone know if the mesh filter socks stop bubbles just as well as the cloth ones? I'm assuming that a 100micron mesh should act the same as a 100micron cloth, but the cloth might catch the bubbles better?

Any experience(s)?