micro bubbles

jesusq · 10/25/2013, 02:12 PM

Hello,

I'm setting up my new tank which is a 120Gal with a 30Gal sump. CUrrently I have 1" pvc pipes coming down from the tank to the sump. There is currently 5 90 degrees elbows trying to slow the flow of water (too much that's causing water level on the tank to raise a bit but not terribly) Yet, there's still a lot of micro bubbles coming into the sump. I'm going to be deploying a refugium on the sump and would like to minimize the amount of bubbles in the sump.

Also at the end, of the pvc, I have a final 90 degree elbow adapted to a 2" t adapter, one is going up past the water level by 5" and the second is going into the water 2" below the water level with another 90 degree elbow making the water exit parallel to the water level. Kind of difficult to explain. I will take a picture when I get home.

I don't want to use filter sock since I will be having a refugium on top and a refugium on the bottom and would like the micro organism to flow down, Also last time I used micro sock, there was a lot of maintenance and a nitrite war.

What can I do to minimize the amount of bubbles in the tank?

thegrun · 10/25/2013, 03:07 PM

How much water (GPH) are you running. If it is 600 gph or less I would add a gate valve near the bottom of what would be your primary drain line and slow the flow down with the valve until water backed up the drain almost to the top to eliminate the waterfall of water dropping down from the tank to the sump. The secondary (emergency) drain would have little or no flow through it and what flow it did have will cling the pipe walls and not create bubbles. Unfortunately since a 1" drain line will only accommodate about 600 gph, if you have more flow than that do not add a valve or you risk a flood if one line gets clogged.

KeepNitReel · 10/26/2013, 09:32 AM

I use a custom made bubble trap that sits on the frame of the drain section of the sump. Does a excellent job of eliminating bubbles.

10/25/2013, 02:12 PM	#1
jesusq Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 36	micro bubbles Hello, I'm setting up my new tank which is a 120Gal with a 30Gal sump. CUrrently I have 1" pvc pipes coming down from the tank to the sump. There is currently 5 90 degrees elbows trying to slow the flow of water (too much that's causing water level on the tank to raise a bit but not terribly) Yet, there's still a lot of micro bubbles coming into the sump. I'm going to be deploying a refugium on the sump and would like to minimize the amount of bubbles in the sump. Also at the end, of the pvc, I have a final 90 degree elbow adapted to a 2" t adapter, one is going up past the water level by 5" and the second is going into the water 2" below the water level with another 90 degree elbow making the water exit parallel to the water level. Kind of difficult to explain. I will take a picture when I get home. I don't want to use filter sock since I will be having a refugium on top and a refugium on the bottom and would like the micro organism to flow down, Also last time I used micro sock, there was a lot of maintenance and a nitrite war. What can I do to minimize the amount of bubbles in the tank?

10/25/2013, 03:07 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	How much water (GPH) are you running. If it is 600 gph or less I would add a gate valve near the bottom of what would be your primary drain line and slow the flow down with the valve until water backed up the drain almost to the top to eliminate the waterfall of water dropping down from the tank to the sump. The secondary (emergency) drain would have little or no flow through it and what flow it did have will cling the pipe walls and not create bubbles. Unfortunately since a 1" drain line will only accommodate about 600 gph, if you have more flow than that do not add a valve or you risk a flood if one line gets clogged.

10/26/2013, 09:32 AM	#3
KeepNitReel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Henrico, Virginia Posts: 490	I use a custom made bubble trap that sits on the frame of the drain section of the sump. Does a excellent job of eliminating bubbles.