Looking for Some Help with a Problem

[layer3switchguy]

Folks,

I'm pulling my hair out over this! Below is the issue I'm facing with my new tank, and I simply can not seem to resolve it. Would anyone be willing to chime in with some ideas, or possibly if you live near Mt Laurel stop by and look at my tank?

Here is the issue:

Since I brought my new 120g tank on-line, I've been dealing with an odd problem not encountered in my previous 54g tank. I seem to have a fair amount of fine particles floating around in the tank...

The tank has been up and running for about a month now...

At first I thought my Tunze's might be kicking up some sand, so I shut them down to see what happens, but the problem persists. In addition, I get fine bubbles rising to the top of the tank, almost like my water is very slightly carbonated. The bubbles mostly rise off the sand bed, but it does occur from the rocks occasionally too. In addition, I see a fine "slick" of this particulate at the top of the water. If I stir it it will break up, but not dissipate. I don't think it's microbubbles, but really have no idea... I have tried large water changes to see if that helps, but it doesn't. With the powerheads on, it is fairly noticeable. I have shut down just about everything (skimmer, carbon, etc) thinking something was pumping air into the tank, but doing any of those things doesn't alleviate the problem. Any ideas what's going on? Is this some sort of precipitate? I'm dosing Kalk...

All the fish and inverts are doing great, so that isn't a factor, but this issue is making me nuts!

Any ideas on what to look for would be greatly appreciated

My water parameters are as such:

CA - 490
MG - 1470
Alk - 9.9 dkh

Salt is Tropic Marin Pro Reef....

All tests were done using Salifert.

I'm grateful for any ideas on what this is and how to correct it!

Cheers,
L3

 

[pgordemer]

What type of Skimmer - most microbubbles that make it to the display usually come from the skimmer. Does the Sump have bubble traps?

 

[reefsandrotts]

What kind of substrate are you using?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Folks,

Thanks for the prompt replies! My skimmer is an AquaC Evo240, the substrate is CaribSea. I should mention, even with the skimmer off, I still have this problem... My sump does have bubble traps...

Thanks!
L3

 

[mikem]

Did you try putting floss between the bubble traps? Maybe it's the return pump.

 

[layer3switchguy]

Hi, didn't try floss, but I do have a sponge between one of the two traps (the last one).

 

[mikem]

Is the spounge fine enough to catch the microbubbles?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Not sure about the sponge being fine enough... I can certainly try some filter floss to see if that helps... I really don't think it's microbubbles, but certainly I could be wrong...

Thanks!
L3

 

[mikem]

Also, did you try turning off your return pump for awhile?

 

[Brian]

You can also try slowing down the flow from your pump, this will give the microbubbles a little time to get to the surface. Is your plumbing PVC or hose?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Ok, so I have tried shutting off the return pump, and that does not seem to eliminate the problem. I also have a ball valve on the pump, and have played around with slowing the flow down, but that really doesn't seem to fix the problem. I should note, my sump is in the basement with the tank on the 1st floor. I use a combination of PVC and flex tubing to get the water back into the tank. The pump is a Coralife 760P.

Thanks!
L3

 

[stcreef]

So with all pumps off, even after 10-15 minutes, you still see bubbles rising in the tank? How old is the tank? How deep is the sand? Whats the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? Might just be nitrogen gas.

 

[layer3switchguy]

So with all pumps off, even after 10-15 minutes, you still see bubbles rising in the tank? How old is the tank? How deep is the sand? Whats the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? Might just be nitrogen gas.

Hi, the tank is about 2.5 months old now, with a 1/4 deep sandbed. Yes, even with everything off, I still get bubbles coming up from the sandbed. It literally looks like my water is slightly carbonated. These bubbles do not appear noticeable when the Tunze's kick on, but the fine particulate (or whatever it is) always is noticeable...

Stupid tank seems to be haunted!

 

[AqOb]

If you leave your return pump off for a substantial amount of time with just your ph's for flow does the problem persist? Could be a pin hole leak in your return plumbing then. Do you see microbubbles in the last chamber of your sump?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Hi,

No microbubbles that i can see in the last chamber of the sump. I will shut down the return pump this morning and leave it off for the next 4 hours or so to see what happens. I will keep the powerheads on...

Thanks!

 

[AqOb]

How did you make out?

 

[JRWOHLER]

Do you have a surface skimmer. I had that problem until I installed one on my fresh water tank. In fact I had it on my nano also until I got it tuned the right way with the surface skimmer.

 

[layer3switchguy]

How did you make out?

Ok, so the return pump has been off for about 3 hours now, but the powerheads are still running. I still have the fine particles floating around the tank. I also do see some air bubbles hiting the surface o the tank, but think thats the powerheads causing them. Even with the PH's off, this is still noticeable...

Help!

 

[reefsandrotts]

was the substrate the dry or alive?
If dry did you thoroughly rinse it with water before adding it to the tank?
How long has this been up and running?

 

[layer3switchguy]

was the substrate the dry or alive?
If dry did you thoroughly rinse it with water before adding it to the tank?
How long has this been up and running?

Hi, it was live sand. I did not rinse it prior to use, as the bag said it was not necessary. I beleive it was carib Sand... Tank has been up and running about 2 months now.

I may remove all livestock, drain the tank and start over to see if that helps, but prefer not to get that drastic yet!