Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > DIY

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-09-2013, 02:57 AM
darb darb is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 131
darb is on a distinguished road
Default Bubbles Out of Return Line

I finally got my first sump going and have noticed that from time to time I get bubbles out of my return line.

It is a 90 Aqueon RR with the Aqueon return kit being fed by a mag 95 through 3/4' flex pvc with plenty of water over the pump.

Any suggestions?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-09-2013, 03:18 AM
BlueTang<3's Avatar
BlueTang<3 BlueTang<3 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Stony Plain, Alberta
Posts: 1,641
BlueTang<3 is on a distinguished road
Default

What kind of bubbles are they like micro bubbles ? Are you running a skimmer? It could be bubbles from too much flow through the sump or I have seen a poorly glued fitting with the water running past it wasn't leaking but would pull in air. That I see the mag is at 950 gph it could be too much turnover through the sump they recommend usually 3 to 5 times. The thought behind this is the water is flowing too fast for bubbles too settle out and can become turbulent. Do you have a ball valve on the return ?
__________________
360 gallon sps reef, 180 gal sump, bubble king supermarine 300, 4xmp40Wes, 2 x 6215 tunze waveboxes, 4 ghl mitras



360 Reef Tank

Last edited by BlueTang<3; 01-09-2013 at 03:21 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-09-2013, 03:33 AM
darb darb is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 131
darb is on a distinguished road
Default

No skimmer, they are larger bubbles and come out of the return line nozzles from time to time, kind of like air is building up and getting pushed out.

I may have done a poor glue job, but in the terms of plenty of glue plus the requisite priming and twisting of the fitting to set it. If I was drawing air in it would possibly make a hissing or whistling noise or perhaps drip with the pump off; I will try that.

That's 950 at zero head, I am going up 4 feet and through a 90 and ball valve, so whatever that works out to be; I am guessing 6 or 700. I will crack the ball valve and see if a reduced flow solves the problem.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-09-2013, 04:46 AM
The Grizz's Avatar
The Grizz The Grizz is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: 15 min NE of Red Deer
Posts: 5,470
The Grizz will become famous soon enough
Default

Sounds like you have air being drawn in at a joint or your water level above you return pump is to low and drawing in air from there.
__________________
Feed the bear goodies, make a new friend, don't feed the bear...............

8' - 165gal Reef
DIY LED's Build
2012 Nano Contest Winner
Febuary 2013 POTM Winner
300 gal + 60 gal Complete DIY Build
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-09-2013, 04:55 AM
Mike-fish Mike-fish is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Ardrossan,Alberta
Posts: 460
Mike-fish is on a distinguished road
Default

you pump chamber is probably low if not check the aiming of you return lines. often if their aimed high its possible for air bubbles to be introduce to the water column
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-09-2013, 09:43 AM
gregzz4's Avatar
gregzz4 gregzz4 is offline
On Hiatus
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Burnaby, B.C.
Posts: 4,890
gregzz4 will become famous soon enough
Default

Are you still getting bubbles ?

I had this happening until all air was purged from my returns ( 3 nozzles total on one line )
Since I've installed a check valve it has stopped as the return no longer drains all the way back to the sump
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bubbles, line, return, sump

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 02:41 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.