Debris/Bubbles in display tank

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BMac91

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Mar 14, 2011
433
107
61
Alabama
So, I recently got my sump setup and it seems like I have a never ending amount of tiny debris, almost like a very small haze. I never had the issue with my canister filters, but as soon as I started the sump I noticed it. I looked up micro bubbles and this doesn't look like micro bubbles, it almost looks like constant floating grains of sand, but I have no idea where they would have come from. The water returns are 30 inches above the sand, there is no way it is getting stirred up from the returns.

Tank is a 210 gallon double overflow tank.
Sump is 55 gallon K1 MB sump running around 1300GPH mechanical filtration is 2 filter socks. I was running it closer to 1450GPH but it wasn't a perpetual flow, seemed off balance, so I "tuned" it to how it is now and seems like it's perfect now.
The overflows are configured as follows:
Left overflow, durso standpipe and 1" return that is T'd at the very top of the overflow and returns to each side.
Right overflow, durso standpipe and emergency drain.

The debris seems to be focused on the middle of the tank, I have played with the positioning that side of the return to shoot water at the debris, away from the debris, etc and it seems constant. The sump has been running almost 24hrs, will it possibly just clear up after a few days?
 
descriptions + pictures would go along way. from your description, i would just wait a little longer.
 
Yeah, I have a short video but it denied my file type. Am getting it uploaded to a hosting site now.

Video finished.
 
looked like theyre microbubbles and debris in all shape and sizes. there's barely any current in your tank too. there are two things you can do: let it do its thing and eventually itll go into the overflow or add some current into the display tank to speed it up. you increase current in many ways, most common is to add powerhead or shoot return down to lift debris. 1430gph is a bit low for 210g, i ran my 240g at 3000gph and tank was spotless.
 
I think ~7x turnover is more than sufficient, and, I don't think that's what is causing the bubbles, IMO. OP, It's hard to tell from the video, but it could be caused at how your returns are aimed, AND/OR look at how your return pump may be taking in water from the sump chamber.

If the drains and the returns are unchanged from before, then you may want to look into the new variable which is down the sump set-up now.
 
So, I honestly don't want to change the flow in the tank. I am at the top of the amount that I wanted for the fish that are in it. It is stocked with Geos and tetras and will have more after the sump has settled in. The types of Geos I have aren't fond of heavy flow through the tank, so I am hesitant to go any higher as there is already a good amount of flow pumping through it.

So, I have been checking and checking all day, there are no bubbles in the return chamber, it is all larger surface agitation and is about 14" above the return.

The return is plumbed through 1" PVC, it goes from the pump, to a valve, through a union and straight up to the T'd off return at the top of the overflow. I did notice a VERY small drip on the return line, not sure if air could be getting sucked in there and that is causing it. Looks like this joint didn't fully join.
 
So, I hate to break this sucker apart and waste these pieces, could I turn pump off and glue the outer edge of the connection or should I redo the whole thing?
 
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