Pump Cavitation

[Thunderkat]

I am setting up my new tank and have run across one final problem, cavitation. My pump is cavitating so much it makes my main tank water milky white. My water temperature is 84 degrees, I know lowering the tempterature could help the pump but it would hurt my livestock. I have the pump going to 4 discharges, if I close off 3 of them I don't get cavitation but that kind of ruins the entire setup and the manufacturer says not to lower discharge to less than 1.5" (with only one open it is at 0.75"). I have 2 discharges that are 1/2 inch and two that are 3/4 inch.

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the cavitation in my pump (dolphin amp master 3200)?

[GaryP]

Hey, you're a submariner. Just call up the guys at GE Electric Boat. They figured that problem out for subs. Of course it may cost you a few billion for the solution. :)

Seriously though, that's a problem a lot of folks have had with bigger pumps. I think the solution has been to pinch back on the flow from the pump or eventually downsize the pump. Bt pinching back the flow, you increase the pressure on the pump head, causing the bubbles to collapse. Of course, back pressure is not necessarily good, in the long run, for the pump.

[Thunderkat]

I thought about my sub days but I can't take my apartment any deeper and like I said temperature has to be the same. Most of the big changes are to the pumps themselves to prevent cavitation. That is terrible though to have to change out pumps when mine is new.