microBUBBLES!

[cpreefguy]

Ok, I got water in my tank, the return and the overflow seem to be in sync, but I am getting tons of microbubbles, and every 3 seconds or so the drain hose will have a "surge" of water and bubbles. Here are a few pics of the drain. Any help is much appreciated!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3511.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3510.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/wantedwrx/DSCN3509.jpg

[Texreefer]

are you getting microbubbles in the tank from your return? i cant tell from pic but looks like there is no baffle system in your sump to help with that. if your drain hose is under water in the sump you may have some back pressure on the line which will cause it to back up untill it has enough force to push out causing all the bubles. another thought is you may be trying to push too much water through the system.. looks like 1" drain line. how big is system and what size pump are you using

[hammondegge]

try reducing the air supply to the stand pipe.

[cpreefguy]

Im just getting the microbubbles in the sump. Its a 1" drain line, the return is a mag7 and its a lifereef 700gph overflow
Thanks for the suggestions, ill go try them

[villjr]

You can cut back on the mag7 if you have a ball valve on it. as for the surge try putting bit more arc in the line so the water will travel smoother and not back up. I had the same problem w/ my drain hose and after messing w/ the hose I eliminated the surge problem.

[Texreefer]

if your just getting bubbles in the sump and there are no critters or refuguim and the system is balanced ,then i would not worry about it, however the above suggestions should do the trick,

[cpreefguy]

Ok,
the sump will have a fuge and skimmer (hopefully soon)
Ill put a new smoother hose and see if that helps

[villjr]

Your hose should be okay, just put more arc in it. Like a crescent moon shape.

[jc]

I noticed over time that the surge sound from my overflow seemed to slow down. Could it be a break in period? I use a Durso pipe overflow. I hear the flush maybe once every 30 mins.

[cpreefguy]

I bought the overflow used....
I finally threw a towel over it because it was driving me crazy!

[villjr]

Not really sure if it's the overflow. Maybe someone who has more experience with overflows. My tank is drilled so i my surge problem may not have been the same as yours. I'm sure someone will be able to help you sean.

[cpreefguy]

Im going to Home Depot tomorrow so I can replumb the drain hose, I think that is it

[LoneStar]

I finally threw a towel over it because it was driving me crazy!


Thats what I just do!

[GaryP]

Try putting a sock filter on your drain line. That will trap the bubbles and has the added benefit of adding additional filtration and nutrient export.

[cpreefguy]

like a tube sock ?
:lol

[GaryP]

Yea. Exactly. They make them that have an acrylic hanger that hangs on the side of the sump. The drain hose just goes inside the filter. Water will pass through it but bubbles won't.

[matt]

You can make a second durso for the end of the drain hose; take a 1.25" tee, glue a 1.25" slip street elbow in the odd side of the tee facing sideways, put a cap on the elbow and drill a small hole in the cap. Then attach your drain hose to one end of the tee. You can use a 1.25" X 1" slip X thread bushing, and a 1" hose barb to attach the hose. Set it up so the other side of the tee is just submerged in your sump, with the odd side of the tee facing sideways, and the elbow pointing up out of the water. Alot of the air in your drain will escape out the hole in the cap and allow your drain to fall freely in the sump.

If you don't have any baffles, you can still put a tall thin bucket with some live rock rubble under the drain so that the drain water fills the bucket and spills over the top into your sump. That will also cut down on the bubbles.

I'm doing all this stuff on my new corner tank and I still have some bubbles but they're finally calming down as the sand settles and a biofilm is forming on the plumbing. My sump is only holding about 15-20 gallons and my return pump is a pan world 50pxx, about 1000 gph. The sump water is moving really fast.