Anyone know if ball valves can cause microbubbles?

[JFDII]

I'm battling microbubbles and have siliconed all joints, turned the skimmer off to make sure that's not it, have baffles installed in my sump, have a filter sock over the return discharge to the sump, and installed filter floss in between the baffles to intercept any bubbles coming through. I'm running out of ideas, hence the question about the ball valve that I installed in the line so I can isolate the pump if I ever need to. There is one on the inlet side of the pump and one on the discharge side. Can the ball valves be the source of the microbubbles?

 

[Bebo77]

i have never heard of that....

are you checking each possobility one at a time?

 

[JFDII]

Yes -- I've been working my way through...

Yes -- I've been working my way through...

possible causes.

 

[HartfordWhalers]

slow down return flow

 

[JFDII]

It's 600 +/- gph now.

It's 600 +/- gph now.

I changed pumps to a Poseiden PS3 that's rated at 800 gph at 3' of head. Before I had a Blueline that was rated at 1100 gph and didn't have microbubble trouble. By the way, the Poseiden is really quiet BUT very hot -- it's heated my water by 2 to 4 degrees.

 

[EricM]

maybe a minor bit of cavitation is causing it? Is the pump inlet restricted in any way?

 

[JFDII]

Unless it's the filter floss I added upstream..

Unless it's the filter floss I added upstream..

of the pump in the sump (anyone else think Dr. Seuss needs to get involved?). The bubbles are the same as before the floss so I don't think it is causing the problem. There are no other obstructions that I can see.

 

[chucksta1]

Don't forget that microbubbles can be introduced on the "vaccuum" side of a pump at a junction. If it's not tight, water won't leak out, air will leak in..

Been there ...done that...

 

[fittdog8848]

the ball valves can be leaking the same way. I had one that was producing air bubbles (not steady) and I noticed that the valve handle was loose. I replaced the ball valve and have not had any problems.