I have had my tank set up for about 5 weeks now. I just had a couple questions regarding my Refugium. I am seeing a lot of bubbles forming in it. Is that alright to have? I have added some pictures to help show what I am talking about.
i had tons of bubbles in my tank when it was cycling. they went away. hope the same happens to the fuge for you, but let some more experienced people give you a def answer.
Are you getting bubbles in your main tank from it? Looks like just bubbles in the water. Do you run a skimmer?
If you aren’t getting bubbles in the main tank from it, just bubbles in the water (not algae) and your running a skimmer, I wouldn’t worry about it.
I dont see a skimmer in the pics… I am guessing you dont have one and that the bubbles are just the crud that the skimmer would remove. Not really a big deal, as long as you arent getting a ton of bubbles in the display.
Excess protein/gunk in the water will cause bubbles. Looks like you are using filter socks as mechanical filtration, be sure to clean those often and on a regular basis. Nice planted sump/fuge
Could you take a picture father away? This will give a better idea of how the whole sump works (and cause we are nosy)
I’m having a little trouble understanding exactly how the water flows into this area… Is it possible to get a picture from the left side? As Al said a FTS(Full Tank Shot) may be helpfull as well.
If the pipe is going right into the water with out any exit points until the bottom of the pipe you might try using an open T right about the water line and a couple of lines cut into the pipe lower.
It doesn’t look horible though. Not too many more bubles then you would normally see in my opinion, from what I can see.
On photobucket I found this shot of the overflow…There does not seem to be an over abundance of bubbles in the display (From what I can see
water level looks like the issue to me and the socks not filtering them through. lower than first third of sock i would make it. give socks a good rinsing on a weekly schedule as well. you can even wash them with a table spoon of bleach monthly. but you seem to be just overflowing the socks alittle and not using them too filter too there potential.
I have raised the water level a bit. I see little specs in the top right corner where the water is flowing back in. I can not tell if they are small bubbles or if they are sand particles. I also do not have a skimmer running and this point. I plan to get one in the future. Here are some more pictures.
I have three damsels and about 15 pounds of live rock.
ok maybe you miss understood me. i meant to raise the filter sock tubes up some you may have to shorten tube that connects to tube sock holder you want filter socks up a inch or too more so all water filters through sock and displaces all bubbles and would trap them there
I think you have blue/green chromis (damsel family) which are better and less aggressive then the average damsel
Glenn I know what you are saying but in this case it appears that there is an acrylic baffle which once the water level rises a bit it overflows into the sock. It has to pass through the sock otherwise the level would continue to rise till it overflowed the top of the baffle. I think the sock flow looks fine but I would wash more frequently and a little bleach works to brighten them right up. I use to use the hose to wash out the major crud then soak in bleach and water; not a lot. Wash the sock well after the bleach till the smell is gone then air dry. I always kept extras in case I was feeling lazy.
Most likely protein or trapped air that is bubbling. The protein when air is forced down by gravity from the overflow creates a bubble. Since there is an abundance of protein the bubble lasts a while its not a bad thing isolated before the filter sock.
Also keep an eye out for protein buildup on the surface water this is a sure sign you are failing at the maintenance requirements. Since you are not running a skimmer (which is doable) wash the filter medium regularly, keep up on water changes and control waste. My first 55 gallon (FO) I ran for 2 years without a skimmer and it was fine. The fuge will eat some of the waste and don’t be afraid to trim the macro. A trimmed macro will grow faster as it is exposed to more light. This also completes the nutrient export; you put food in you pull macro and nutrients out.
the water in the socks is actually higher than the baffle it flows over, so yes socks are dirty and need to be cleaned more often but if the acylic sock holder could be raised i would by an inch or so to give more hight to socks. i see the water in socks is well above the hieght of overflowing baffle in return side of sump, i am not all that great at typing what i mean lOl
I have a question adding to this post. I am trying to raise the water level in my tank. Every time I try to do it, it seems to just raise the water level in my sump. Am I doing something wrong? Is there something different that I can do?
show us a picture of your overflow box on the tank. it should be adjusted up just a little and then this will raise water level in tank and lower water in sump need to see how it adjust. the grate on over flow should be able to raise some
Here
In the pic I included there should be some kind of adjustment screw to wind down that will raise the overflow and also increase the water level.
If there are no screws place a small spacer between the tank but below the overflow. The size of the spacer will determine the water height.
This comes back to a similar post. How would you go about trimming down the plant in the sump?
hacksaw…lol just cut it and find someone who needs some… you can use a any knive or siccors ect.
Most can be pulled apart