First post - Pump question!!

[cpages2]

So I just picked up my second 90Gallon tank. This one came with an inline motor from Sump to drilled tank.

I hooked everything up, checked for leaks and filled water. I then brought the motor down below sump (to prime it) and turned it on. All my hosing is clear so I could see water flowing in with no air, but all the air leaving the motor is ful of millions of micro-bubbles. In seconds you couldnt see through tank it had so much air-bubbles.

Here is the pump:

http://www.lgpc.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=1103


I pulled everything apart and checked all fittings and tightened everything and there doesnt seem to be any leaks. A friend of mine said there may be some air inside and leave it running. Left it on for 5 minutes and the same issue just continues micro-bubbles.

I shined a light into the hose coming into motor and the water is steady with no air, but leaving the motor I cant see anything by bubbles.

Has anyone ever had this problem or have any ideas???

- Mike

 

[drummereef]

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Somewhere in the return plumbing there has to be air being sucked into the system. I'm assuming you are using flexible tubing for your plumbing, not PVC? I would guess there are some clamps that aren't quite sealed allowing air to be introduced into the plumbing. Just a guess....

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Welcome to reef central cpages2,
If everything is tight..... 5 minutes isn't long enough to tell if the bubbles are coming from the pump or from what is in the tank. let it run longer and see what you get.

 

[cpages2]

im nervious to keep in running because I was told that many micro-bubbles will be bad for the tank and livestock.

 

[WaterKeeper]

My guess too. Let things run for a couple of hours and see how things are then. A little bit of air in the pump goes a long way.

 

[cpages2]

so filling my running tank with micro-bubbles wont harm fish, inverts, or rock?

 

[WaterKeeper]

You just filled it and you have fish and inverts in the tank? The bubbles will not hurt them but the ammonia that is often seen in a new tank will. I hope you have plenty of ASW ready as it may take many water changes to keep things in check.

 

[cpages2]

I recently moved from one house to another. I picked up this 90G tank to move everything into.

I brought my sand, water, rock, livestock, bio-balls, skimmer, etc... from old tank. Only thing that was new (essentialy) was the glass on tank and sump box.

 

[chris4869]

A starved pump is known to cause miro bubbles. Make sure the input side of the pump is not restricted. Restriction on that end caused either by a partially closed ball valve, bend in the pvc pipe, extra long pipe, or clogged foam, etc. will create micro bubbles on the output side. How is your pump connected?