Micro Bubble HELL

[deluxe_noob]

I am not sure if im just being to impatient or what but for the life of me i cannot seem to slow down the influx of millions of micro bubbles. Not sure if my pipes aren't good and slimed up yet or if there is a major flaw in my design. I thought i might be getting air from my pipes but the other day i shut my system down and reapplied solvent to every connection there is. Some advice would be great. Heres a pic of the sump

Thanks
Dan

 

[Im Lon 2]

Can you post a few more pic's?
full shot of the sump, close up of the Pump side of the sump, and how you have the water coming into the display.

 

[deluxe_noob]

sure here you go

and sorry im horrible at taking pics and my camera is below par at best

 

[Im Lon 2]

Does the Return line set below the water level? by the Picture it look like it sits on the water line?

 

[deluxe_noob]

actually yes it is below the water line. I have wondered about that and what difference it makes.

 

[Im Lon 2]

It should be below the water line for less splashing.. Do you have a hole drilled for a siphon brake. If so where is that at?

 

[deluxe_noob]

yea i drilled 2 holes about 2' apart on the underside of the return. to be clear my return does only sit maybe 1/2' under the water level.

 

[Im Lon 2]

Put your fingers over the holes and see if the bubbles keep coming? You might be sucking air through those cosing the micro bubbles.

 

[fazgood]

Can you see bubbles in the sump too or are they mainly in the tank?

Faz

 

[Im Lon 2]

by the pic's I't looks pretty clear of bubbles, but they may be hard to see..

 

[deluxe_noob]

I tried the finger over the hole...no affect

Faz yea there are bubbles EVERYWHERE. I can see medium sized bubbles being pulled down from my overflow(HOB) and yes then once the water hits the sump i can follow their progress to the return. I have some pads in baffles that i thought would help but the bubbles pass right through them what type of "bubble trapping" pads can you guys suggest if there are any....off to work cya guys later


Thanks
Dan

 

[Im Lon 2]

You are pushing way to much water through the Sump.. Try backing the pump down and see if the bubbles go away.

 

[Schplitter]

Your sump is set up to keep the bubbles going back to the tank. I would flip the baffles the other way. Over Under Over Under.

 

[fazgood]

Schplitter >>> Your sump is set up to keep the bubbles going back to the tank. I would flip the baffles the other way. Over Under Over Under.
>>> No doubt


Im Lon 2 >>> You are pushing way to much water through the Sump.. Try backing the pump down and see if the bubbles go away.
>>> No doubt too - Suggest putting in a Tee on the output of the pump and returning some of the flow back to the sump. Put a ball valve in to be able to control the flow to the tank. That is assuming that the cause is cavitation. Cavitation is typically caused by pressure indiferences so restricting the input to the pump will only make it worse.

You might also try to reduce the bubbles returning to the sump with a drip plate or flat piece of material for the water to hit when it drops back into the sump. THe idea is to let the water get as flat as possible so the bubbles have less distance to travel before the get to the surface and pop.

Just a thought. What size tank and pump?

Faz

 

[Im Lon 2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12351609#post12351609 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Schplitter
Your sump is set up to keep the bubbles going back to the tank. I would flip the baffles the other way. Over Under Over Under.

good point!

 

[fazgood]

An easy way to test this would be to just clamp a couple of pieces of plastic to the existing baffles that are in there. There is no doubt that will help. YOu then can determine if you are getting additional cavitation or bubbles from the pump. For a temp fix, see if you can find a piece of coroplast (the stuff some signs are made out of, like corrugated cardboard but plastic).

Faz

 

[chadfarmer]

what pump?
what size sump?
where are the bubbles ? maintank?

 

[Angler02]

I would have to agree with the ball valve, is this a new problem on an established tank or a new tank all together?

 

[breutus]

Also you probably have your walls in the sump to close together, its forceing the water through to fast if you move them further apart it will slow the flow and give the bubbles time to escape while in the sump

 

[deluxe_noob]

WOW i come home from work and you guys have made a bunch of great points and i appreciate everyones input really.
1st the tank is a 55g sump is a 10g, pump is a mag 7( which at this point i am feeling might be a little much). Tank has been running about 3 1/2 months. There is a ball valve on the return line i actually didn't realize i had it wide open till i looked at the pics. I know a 10g sump is pretty damn small but i don't think i can fit anything larger in there.
Well so many options i don't know where to start. I have alot of extra acrylic pieces so i think i might just run to the store in the morning and pick up another tank and try the over under over under. One question is will having a fuge inside affect the sump as it would be running from the 2 outside baffles instead of the interior ones or do i need to but in another set of baffles to house the fuge inside the other baffles.
I did put a flat piece of plastic in there now and when i get up in the morning i will see how much of a reduction there is.

Thanks a bunch
Dan