I give up on these %%$#@#$% microbubbles!!!!

[zt444a]

Would some Spa Flex help the problem? I don't know if the turns are causing some bubbles with the high flow rate. How could they if there is no air getting in...

 

[stlouisguy]

Sorry, my mistake, intake is 2" Its the correct line size per pump manufacturer. Its actually the same line George had on it with his hammerhead.

Will it hurt the pump to throttle down the return a bit?

EDIT- sorry im at work and cant check. If throttling it down does the trick Im for that as I really dont want to redo the lines if I can help it

 

[MayoBoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543692#post8543692 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zt444a
Would some Spa Flex help the problem? I don't know if the turns are causing some bubbles with the high flow rate. How could they if there is no air getting in...

The vacuum created by the impeller liberates air from the water just like when you boil water.

 

[MayoBoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543710#post8543710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
Sorry, my mistake, intake is 2" Its the correct line size per pump manufacturer. Its actually the same line George had on it with his hammerhead.

Will it hurt the pump to throttle down the return a bit?

No, on a pressure pump, a little backpressure usually makes them run a bit quieter.

Since it is a 2" line, it may be the number of bends that's restricting the flow so spa flex may indeed help things along. Try throttling it down first and see if that takes care of it. If not, we'd have to look someplace else.

 

[Letmegrow]

Filter socks on the tank drains not the intake pump !

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8543776#post8543776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Letmegrow
Filter socks on the tank drains not the intake pump !

Steve, the drains are 4 feet away behind 4 baffles, cant imagine thats the issue

 

[maxxII]

Clark,
How much water are you running through your sump per hour? (total system volume)? How many gallons is your sump compared to total system volume.

If you are running alot of water through your sump in a short period of time, you will get microbubbles from where the drains dump into your sump. Try putting a filter sock on the drains. see what happens.

Nick

 

[stlouisguy]

Not sure of water volumn, but sump is 4' x 4' and im running about 4500-5000 gph with head loss maybe a bit less. Sump can easily handle the water volumn Im pushing through

 

[maxxII]

Its not so much what the sump can handle, its the velocity/volume of water running through a given space in a given period of time. I suspect that might very well be the source of your micro-bubbles.

My toilet can handle the water volume pushed through it too....but thats not how I want my tank to function.

Try turning off your pumps, let the tank sit for a few minutes w/o water flow to allow bubbles to float to the surface. Then place filter socks on your drains to the sump. Then start everything up again and see what happens. What have you got to lose?

Nick

 

[stlouisguy]

I will try it tonight!! Now to find microsocks...............

 

[maxxII]

microsocks?

Nick

 

[stlouisguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8544826#post8544826 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maxxII
microsocks?

Nick

ROFL

Microbubbles + Filter socks = Microsocks.

Sheesh, thought everyone knew that

 

[Letmegrow]

Micron socks

The word of the day is Micron socks.

 

[Fade]

I have some Clark. I went through the same thing I had to turn my pump back alot to get them to stop.

 

[sirreal63]

If you put a filter sock on the pump inlet and it got worse that should tell you that your inlet is restricted and cavitating...throttle the pump down or increase the inlet size. Restricting the outlet side would work but will also cut back on the flow. It is trying to put out more water than it can take in.

 

[Letmegrow]

Yes remember that a pump pushes water more than so it pulls the water.

- My points before
Check for cavitation.
Get some socks on the drains.

 

[trottman]

if them filter socks dont work in the tank, they are mighty good at keeping your feet nice and toasty on those cold winter nights.

 

[zt444a]

Clark,

Any updates on the microbubbles? Gotten rid of them pesky critters yet?

 

[griss]

Not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere that having bends in the pipe before the pump can cause the impeller to cavitate, thus causing microbubbles.

 

[MayoBoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8558366#post8558366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by griss
Not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere that having bends in the pipe before the pump can cause the impeller to cavitate, thus causing microbubbles.

Only if it slows down the flow enough to starve the pump. If that's the case, going up 1 or 2 pipe sizes or re-plumbing with flex should take care of the problem.