micro bubbles from return sump

[solRNY]

hi,

i have a proclear75 sump with built in skimmer, water get skimmed, water then tricke down through the bio-balls, then through a polishing block and then back up to tank, i notice that there were alot of micro bubbles being returned, is there anyway to eleminate those?

thanks,

 

[plantman1028]

bubbles

If your tank is cycled then the first thing i would do is slowly (1/4 at a time)remove the bioballs.they will start produciong nitrates at an incredible rate.as far as the bubbles go you could try putting a prefilter on your return pump.hope this helps

 

[solRNY]

my tank has been cycled, i thought bio-ball were good that benficial stuff grows on it, that was the only reason why i got the wet/dry tricke filter.

i have a big polishing block before the return, it helps a little but does not elminate all the bubbles. i am thinking of putting together a refugium, return the water there and then to the tank.

 

[Apone]

You should only remove the bio-balls if you have a bio active sand bed with live rock. If you have these two "filters" in your tank, then the bio-balls become obsolete because unlike the sand and LR, the bio-balls produce lots of nitrate due to the fact that they do not allow for growth of anerobic bacterica, which break down nitrate into nitrogen gas (this is called the denitrification process).

I currently have bio-balls in my sump, because I dont have LR or a sand bed yet. When I put these into my tank, I may remove the bio-balls at that point however.