plumbing and microbubbles

Titus07 · 11/12/2009, 01:02 PM

Do you guys ever find that plumbing just gets old, leaks develop and microbubbles start to appear?

builderguy · 11/12/2009, 06:46 PM

I've started having quite a few and I can't figure out why....frustrating.

Fish Ace · 11/13/2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titus07

Do you guys ever find that plumbing just gets old, leaks develop and microbubbles start to appear?

I think problems happen when people don't do their research and plan it out and then get in a rush.

ChadTheSpike · 11/13/2009, 07:58 AM

Yes I have found that...
I have personally found at least two causes for it, the larger the pump the more likely for there to be problems. The problem is more likely to be on the suction side of the pump.
1) initially the plumbing was not as 'tight' as it could be which causes leaks to develop over itme, best fix is regluing the fittings, or perhaps coating them with glue... although I think this would be a temporary fix that would eventually degrade to cause the same problem again. Also, some pumps use o-rings or seals that degrade, and that is what is causing the bubbles.
2) if using soft, reinforced tubing, I have found that pumps tend to have a high enough input suction that they can separate the layers of tubing which significantly reduces the input area and causes pump cavitation i.e. micro bubbles.

Rothaquatix · 11/13/2009, 11:15 PM

just had the same prob ended up re-plumbing my whole aquarium which didnt solve the prob talked to a guy at my LFS and he suggested that even the smallest piece of whatever when stuck to the impeller can cause micro bubs....I opened it up and to my supprise and relief there was a large hunk of chaeto in there..must of made it outta the fuge and through the bubble trap I now have strainers over the return holes in my sump..good luck I hate micro bubbles

200mfromocean · 01/01/2010, 09:35 AM

I am having issues myself and beleive it is something to do with plumbing I have a pressure rated panworld 790GPH pump valved down slightly going to single 3/4 supply. Every 3 or 4 seconds a spat of bubbles rolls through.

11/12/2009, 01:02 PM	#1
Titus07 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 288	plumbing and microbubbles Do you guys ever find that plumbing just gets old, leaks develop and microbubbles start to appear?

11/13/2009, 07:58 AM	#4
ChadTheSpike Reef Engineer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,526 Blog Entries: 1	Yes I have found that... I have personally found at least two causes for it, the larger the pump the more likely for there to be problems. The problem is more likely to be on the suction side of the pump. 1) initially the plumbing was not as 'tight' as it could be which causes leaks to develop over itme, best fix is regluing the fittings, or perhaps coating them with glue... although I think this would be a temporary fix that would eventually degrade to cause the same problem again. Also, some pumps use o-rings or seals that degrade, and that is what is causing the bubbles. 2) if using soft, reinforced tubing, I have found that pumps tend to have a high enough input suction that they can separate the layers of tubing which significantly reduces the input area and causes pump cavitation i.e. micro bubbles. __________________ ~Chad "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." Current Tank Info: 195 gallons of fun

01/01/2010, 09:35 AM	#6
200mfromocean Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Carrollton, TX Posts: 355	I am having issues myself and beleive it is something to do with plumbing I have a pressure rated panworld 790GPH pump valved down slightly going to single 3/4 supply. Every 3 or 4 seconds a spat of bubbles rolls through. __________________ 120 G in wall mixed reef, 35 G 4' long prop, 35G sump/fuge, 19G RODI resevoir. Sink & few gadgets. Current Tank Info: 120G Mixed reef, started 10/15/2009

11/12/2009, 06:46 PM	#2
builderguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Natomas, CA Posts: 1,470	I've started having quite a few and I can't figure out why....frustrating.

11/13/2009, 11:15 PM	#5
Rothaquatix Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: West los angeles ca Posts: 136	just had the same prob ended up re-plumbing my whole aquarium which didnt solve the prob talked to a guy at my LFS and he suggested that even the smallest piece of whatever when stuck to the impeller can cause micro bubs....I opened it up and to my supprise and relief there was a large hunk of chaeto in there..must of made it outta the fuge and through the bubble trap I now have strainers over the return holes in my sump..good luck I hate micro bubbles