Help - Air bubbles in return.

[TanksDad13]

Running a COR-20 into a UV sterilizer and getting a ton of air in my DT. Looking into the bottom of the UV, which is installed horizontally, I can see the bubbles. They are created by the return pump, not from a skimmer, etc. being sucked into their return. I have re plumbed the part from the pump into the UV ensuring proper fitment and that the glue is completely around both fitting and pipe. The unions are all hand tight plus a quarter turn and all have o-rings. I'm at a loss.

 

[Nanook]

I'm at a loss, but wondering if they are coming from the water that's being fed.

 

[TanksDad13]

I'm at a loss, but wondering if they are coming from the water that's being fed.

I thought that, I can close a ball valve that causes some back pressure on the pump and the bubbles stop. I don't want to do that though. One, it's a DC pump. Two I want the flow. Looking at the water coming across the sump, there don't appear to be any bubbles past the fuge.

 

[Nanook]

Yeah, I saw that section looked calm. Have you tried applying silicone grease to all the valves? That helps sometimes if an o-ring isn't perfectly aligned. Plus that pump being sideways might be torquing it enough to let some air inside.

 

[clevername]

Yeah only help i can offer is just obvious. Somewhere there is getting air into the return.
Nothing but checking all seams (silicone around everything). Watch for bubbles in your sump getting sucked up by the return (split into micro bubbles).

Nothing but some tedious work

 

[TanksDad13]

Yeah only help i can offer is just obvious. Somewhere there is getting air into the return.
Nothing but checking all seams (silicone around everything). Watch for bubbles in your sump getting sucked up by the return (split into micro bubbles).

Nothing but some tedious work

Yea, that's on the agenda this week. Ugh.


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[Lance A. Lot]

Check all threaded fittings. Use blue demon thread tape if you have to re tape any threaded fittings. Is the pump cavatating some how? Silicon grease on the o rings of the unions. How did you get all the air out of the uv sterilizer to begin with? Could the return pump be grabbing residual air from pockets in the internal fins of the uv? Are there any pinholes in you the joints of your fittings? They could venturi air into the system.
Matt Grant and I have been dealing with mystery air bubbles in a sea dragon system at work for weeks now... these are just some of the things we have looked at in our system.

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[Mr D smack]

Help - Air bubbles in return.

Have you tried positioning the pump intake farther away from the side? I'm also having a hard time seeing if the pump discharge is reduced, as it also looks like the UV intake is somewhat reduced. I'm going to suggest to run 1.25" from the pump discharge to the UV intake if its not already



I had a calcium reactor that did this, yes totally different equipment, but the fix was using a bigger pump pressure rated

 

[TanksDad13]

The fix -

I re-worked the IV and stood it up. There was a pocket or air that I didn't notice until this morning. The flow had to be grabbing a hand full of air and pushing it into the DT. Since I re-worked it, no bubbles. Plus, I have a LOT more flow. Thanks everyone for the advice!

 

[clevername]

i still learn this stupid lesson all the time in the hobby. "Just do it right the first time".

glad you fixed it and positioned correctly. Plus now it will be super easy for maintenance in the future.