problem with micro bubbles in my DT

mkart · 01/27/2011, 08:56 PM

I just started my tank a week ago and was running the sump on a 560gph pond pump until my new main pump came in. Today I connected the new pump, a Blueline 100 HD, and I have tons of micro bubbles in the return from the refugium. I did not have bubbles prior to installing the new pump. I do not have any water leaks that I can find where it would be sucking air.

I have a 180 gallon refugium with three sections and currently only a 58 gallon display. The pump and sump are so big because I want to add a 210 gallon tank on my first floor later this year. I ran a pvc pipe out one side of the sump, through the pump and back to the other side with 2 T adapters so I could run one line to a carbon reactor and another to the 58 gallon. The rest goes right back through to the inlet side of the refugium. I can't seem to get rid of the bubbles, regaurdless of how I set the valves. Any ideas???

Thanks,
Matt

zero26 · 02/02/2011, 09:15 AM

Still having the problem?

chimmike · 02/02/2011, 09:19 AM

so you've dialed back the flow from the pump back to the display tank, right?

somehow air is getting in, that and the pipes are just getting slimed up.

IMM3DOORSDOWN · 02/02/2011, 09:22 AM

your sucking in air somewhere.unplug your pump maybe you have some trapped air inside the pump.
you posted that everything else was fine until you added the pump.so if nothing else changed, or loosened your problem is in the pump.

also hows the water before the pump if theres micro bubbles before pump then the pump isnt the problem.

reefsforme · 02/02/2011, 09:34 AM

The pump is too strong. When this happens, the flow of water is so high, it can't reach the pump fast enough, and thus airpockets enter the pump. Try lowering the flow rate. If that doesn't help, consider putting bioballs either through the return or enter shaft, to minimize air flow.

mkart · 02/02/2011, 01:37 PM

I used a threaded ball valve on the inlet to the pump and it was sucking air through the teflon tape and into the pump. I just used 108 silicone to seal the joints and no more bubbles. It was not leaking water while the pump was running but I turned it off for a few hours a small drip formed ahowing me I had a leak. Thanks for all the advice!

MAtt

chimmike · 02/02/2011, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkart

I used a threaded ball valve on the inlet to the pump and it was sucking air through the teflon tape and into the pump. I just used 108 silicone to seal the joints and no more bubbles. It was not leaking water while the pump was running but I turned it off for a few hours a small drip formed ahowing me I had a leak. Thanks for all the advice!

MAtt

there should be a ball valve on the outlet side of the pump. You don't want to restrict what the pump takes in, you want to restrict the output.

stingythingy45 · 02/02/2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimmike

there should be a ball valve on the outlet side of the pump. You don't want to restrict what the pump takes in, you want to restrict the output.

+1

Good advice chimmike,

Never restrict the inlet side of the pump.
You have cavitation going on and air is most likely being sucked in through the seals of the ball valve.They're made for out wood pressure not pressure caused by a vacuum.

01/27/2011, 08:56 PM	#1
mkart Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,313	problem with micro bubbles in my DT I just started my tank a week ago and was running the sump on a 560gph pond pump until my new main pump came in. Today I connected the new pump, a Blueline 100 HD, and I have tons of micro bubbles in the return from the refugium. I did not have bubbles prior to installing the new pump. I do not have any water leaks that I can find where it would be sucking air. I have a 180 gallon refugium with three sections and currently only a 58 gallon display. The pump and sump are so big because I want to add a 210 gallon tank on my first floor later this year. I ran a pvc pipe out one side of the sump, through the pump and back to the other side with 2 T adapters so I could run one line to a carbon reactor and another to the 58 gallon. The rest goes right back through to the inlet side of the refugium. I can't seem to get rid of the bubbles, regaurdless of how I set the valves. Any ideas??? Thanks, Matt

02/02/2011, 09:15 AM	#2
zero26 MoneyPit Maestro Join Date: May 2009 Location: Washington MO Posts: 1,866	Still having the problem? __________________ 90 DT, 50 gal basement sump. Current Tank Info: LPS, SPS

02/02/2011, 09:19 AM	#3
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	so you've dialed back the flow from the pump back to the display tank, right? somehow air is getting in, that and the pipes are just getting slimed up. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

02/02/2011, 09:22 AM	#4
IMM3DOORSDOWN Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ct Posts: 1,092	your sucking in air somewhere.unplug your pump maybe you have some trapped air inside the pump. you posted that everything else was fine until you added the pump.so if nothing else changed, or loosened your problem is in the pump. also hows the water before the pump if theres micro bubbles before pump then the pump isnt the problem. __________________ rules? rules were ment to be broken Current Tank Info: PAST EXPERIANCE::180 gal fish only,120 gal reef,65 gal MAN TANK lionfish and eel,54 gal corner dwarf angel tank. CURRENT. WORKING ON 90 gal MIXED REEF, 29 gal sump & refuge.20 gal long qt tank.120 gal uv steralizer.29 gal fowlr and annemonies

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Problem with micro bubbles in the reef aquarium	mirlush	Reef Discussion	38	08/26/2016 11:41 AM
Micro bubbles galore!	Drewbaby	Reef Discussion	6	04/06/2010 10:33 AM
particles in water column - not micro bubbles!	advanwoerden	Reef Discussion	2	02/24/2010 09:03 PM
micro bubbles in the dt are driving me nuts	rpc07	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	02/24/2010 06:12 PM
180 plumbing problem w/ micro bubbles	cpandrewschmidt	Large Reef Tanks	4	09/07/2007 12:07 PM

02/02/2011, 09:34 AM	#5
reefsforme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 71	The pump is too strong. When this happens, the flow of water is so high, it can't reach the pump fast enough, and thus airpockets enter the pump. Try lowering the flow rate. If that doesn't help, consider putting bioballs either through the return or enter shaft, to minimize air flow.

02/02/2011, 01:37 PM	#6
mkart Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 1,313	I used a threaded ball valve on the inlet to the pump and it was sucking air through the teflon tape and into the pump. I just used 108 silicone to seal the joints and no more bubbles. It was not leaking water while the pump was running but I turned it off for a few hours a small drip formed ahowing me I had a leak. Thanks for all the advice! MAtt