bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles

lee79 · 08/29/2008, 05:51 PM

i have been filling my tank with water for two days using my 50 gpd ro/di filter. when i finally got enough water to start the return pump, everything filled with bubbles! i am not happy. i have been designing and planning for months.

here is what i have: 100 gallon display with an overflow box built in, 1" return, 1.5" inch overflow. my return pump is a danner mag24. it connects to a 1" scwd in the display tank where it then conects to four nozzles (two on each outlet of the scwd). my sump has a bubble trap between the skimmer/overflow and return chamber, but there are still some getting through.

at first i thought the bubbles where from my asm skimmer, but i turned it off and still bubbles. the best i can tell, the bubbles are coming through my overflow pipe.

any help would be appreciated!

NaClH20reeffish · 08/29/2008, 06:14 PM

To Reef Central

If you don't have salt water in your tank, don't worry. It's more dense and you shouldn't have as many bubble with salt water...

lee79 · 08/29/2008, 07:08 PM

i am sorry, i added salt every thirty minutes or so. so i the water is already mixed with salt.

Rendos · 08/29/2008, 08:50 PM

That is an awefully strong return pump for a 100 gallon. What size is your sump?
You have about 20x turnover rate through your sump.

Are you using flexible tubing or PVC on your plumbing? You may be drawing air in through the plumbing.

How much space is between the baffles in your sump? If they are very close (like 1" apart) the velocity at which the water is traveling could be churning the water and causing the bubbles.

rbnice1 · 08/29/2008, 09:09 PM

I agree with Rendos. I have a mag9.5 on my 90 gallon and its about themost I would want for a return on this tank.

I also have 2 sets of bubble traps from where the water drains to the were the return pump is. I also have a bunch of rubble in between.

No bubbles here.

marioensf · 08/29/2008, 11:03 PM

Maybe the high pressure of the pump is pulling/pushing air from a union in one of the pipes or at the nozzles if they are high at water level the same speed of the water being returned is mixing with air

08/29/2008, 05:51 PM	#1
lee79 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: taylorsville, ms Posts: 3	bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles i have been filling my tank with water for two days using my 50 gpd ro/di filter. when i finally got enough water to start the return pump, everything filled with bubbles! i am not happy. i have been designing and planning for months. here is what i have: 100 gallon display with an overflow box built in, 1" return, 1.5" inch overflow. my return pump is a danner mag24. it connects to a 1" scwd in the display tank where it then conects to four nozzles (two on each outlet of the scwd). my sump has a bubble trap between the skimmer/overflow and return chamber, but there are still some getting through. at first i thought the bubbles where from my asm skimmer, but i turned it off and still bubbles. the best i can tell, the bubbles are coming through my overflow pipe. any help would be appreciated!

08/29/2008, 08:50 PM	#4
Rendos Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 5,380	That is an awefully strong return pump for a 100 gallon. What size is your sump? You have about 20x turnover rate through your sump. Are you using flexible tubing or PVC on your plumbing? You may be drawing air in through the plumbing. How much space is between the baffles in your sump? If they are very close (like 1" apart) the velocity at which the water is traveling could be churning the water and causing the bubbles. __________________ Richard Rendos - Founder WTMRAC It can't rain all the time. Current Tank Info: 92 gallon corner bowfront

08/29/2008, 06:14 PM	#2
NaClH20reeffish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 151	*To Reef Central* If you don't have salt water in your tank, don't worry. It's more dense and you shouldn't have as many bubble with salt water...

08/29/2008, 07:08 PM	#3
lee79 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: taylorsville, ms Posts: 3	i am sorry, i added salt every thirty minutes or so. so i the water is already mixed with salt.

08/29/2008, 09:09 PM	#5
rbnice1 Moved On Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cedar Hill Posts: 3,905	I agree with Rendos. I have a mag9.5 on my 90 gallon and its about themost I would want for a return on this tank. I also have 2 sets of bubble traps from where the water drains to the were the return pump is. I also have a bunch of rubble in between. No bubbles here.

08/29/2008, 11:03 PM	#6
marioensf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 2,502	Maybe the high pressure of the pump is pulling/pushing air from a union in one of the pipes or at the nozzles if they are high at water level the same speed of the water being returned is mixing with air