please help me fix microbubble (pics)

[zemuron114]

Ok so, i just finished plumbing my holding system and i have micro bubbles.. badly.
I glued most of it except the intake to the pump (sometimes i move the sump... so i really can't) and a few pieces that i'm not sure that i want to keep at that spot or not.
All of my 5 55 gallon tanks are getting bubbles, and it is filling up the tanks with them...
Here are some pics of the set up

The pump is outside that hole and feeds the 5 tanks. It is overpowered, so i turn each ball valve on the 55 outlets so the drain can keep up.

However, there is still a lot of bubbles. If i open the ball valve all the way, there is a stream of bubbles, so i know it is coming from somewhere. Its really driving me crazy... please help!!!!

 

[HotHotHot]

That looks like a sequence 1000 series. I have the 3200.

I found that I had to redo all of my threaded connections with teflon *paste*. I put the teflon tape on and then coated it with the paste. That did the trick for me.

HTH
Ed

 

[zemuron114]

yeah, its a 4300. Very powerful..

I think i found out what is going on. My intake is about 7 inches from the surface of the water in the sump and the pump is actually drawing in air from the surface!!! it is then pushing the air into the tanks. I also have a feed back to my sump right after the pump to relieve some back pressure in the pipe.. so this feed is bringing the bubbles right back into the sump and continuing the cycle!!! Im going to add about 40-50 gallons to the sump make the water about 3" higher. If this doesn't do the trick then i will have to reseal everything

Thanks, i'll ry your method next!

 

[mg426]

Mabe you could turn the intake down with a couple of elbows

 

[zemuron114]

that may work as well.. Im afraid that it will be in the intake line... which would be the worst because i cannot glue those pipes... Maybe duct tape???

I jus finally got this done.. and now i have bubbles...

thanks! anyone else have imput?

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

You need to seal all the pipes. If the pipes on the intake are not sealed, they will usually not leak, but suck in small amounts of air which then goes into the pumps and into all your tanks. If you need to move the plumbing, incorporate unions into your setup... but you do have to prime and glue everything.