Is this normal?

[spiked09]

I have a 55 MT and I JUST hooked up a 55 gal sump in my basement below my MT tonight.
I am using a u-tube overflow box with a 1" drain and 1" PVC pipe down to my sump (roughly 12'). The PVC coming into the sump is approx. 2" above the floor of the sump tank. There are no holes or anything in the PVC, it just goes straight into the sump tank.
When the water enters the sump there are tons of bubbles, mid size bubbles and every now and then it kind of burps and a couple very large bubble race to the surface causing a pretty good splash.
None of the bubbles seem to be getting past my baffles and into the return chamber, it's calm and clear. I am just curious if the bubbling is normal or if I have something out of wack. This is my 1st SW tank and sump setup.
PS The u-tube, HOB overflow and durso tube are all homemade.

 

[drewsta]

you could put a filter sock on the end thats what i did and it got rid of all the bubbles as well as giving my tank an extra filtration piece

 

[moby]

Is the end of the tube below the water line in the sump? If it is raise it up and try the following.
Try putting a fabric bag over the end of the tube. Most LFS sell them.
It will stop the splashing and filter out any big stuff before it enters the sump.
Moby

 

[moby]

He, he Drewsta! You beat me to it!!

Moby

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by spiked09
I have a 55 MT and I JUST hooked up a 55 gal sump in my basement below my MT tonight.
I am using a u-tube overflow box with a 1" drain and 1" PVC pipe down to my sump (roughly 12'). The PVC coming into the sump is approx. 2" above the floor of the sump tank. There are no holes or anything in the PVC, it just goes straight into the sump tank.
When the water enters the sump there are tons of bubbles, mid size bubbles and every now and then it kind of burps and a couple very large bubble race to the surface causing a pretty good splash.
None of the bubbles seem to be getting past my baffles and into the return chamber, it's calm and clear. I am just curious if the bubbling is normal or if I have something out of wack. This is my 1st SW tank and sump setup.
PS The u-tube, HOB overflow and durso tube are all homemade.
Do you have anti-siphon hole drilled on your return line? That's very important to do!! Also, have you tested with the power on and off? Good Luck! :happyfish

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
Do you have anti-siphon hole drilled on your return line? That's very important to do!! Also, have you tested with the power on and off? Good Luck! :happyfish

I am uncertain of exactly where to put the anti-siphon hole. I had a hole in my return tube but water just came shooting out of it.
Yes I have turned the power off a number of times. Everything works good. I have my u-tube connected to the venturi tube on my powerhead to make sure the siphon stays constant.

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by Drewsta
you could put a filter sock on the end thats what i did and it got rid of all the bubbles as well as giving my tank an extra filtration piece

Will this affect the output flow rate of my drain tube? I have some filter media bags here but I am sure they aren't what you are talking about.

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by moby
Is the end of the tube below the water line in the sump? If it is raise it up and try the following.
Try putting a fabric bag over the end of the tube. Most LFS sell them.
It will stop the splashing and filter out any big stuff before it enters the sump.
Moby
Yes it is 2-3" above the floor of my sump tank. Are you saying to raise it above the water line? If so the water it would be above the tank, my baffles are very close to the top of the tank. My water level in the 1st and 2 nd chamber is probably 2-3" below the top of the tank.

 

[moby]

Those baffles seem high to me. JMO, I would lower the baffle height about half the present level, then raise the pipe about 3 to 4 inches above the water line in the sump and add a "sock" to the pipe.
Mobuy

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by moby
Those baffles seem high to me. JMO, I would lower the baffle height about half the present level, then raise the pipe about 3 to 4 inches above the water line in the sump and add a "sock" to the pipe.
Mobuy
This is all new to me. I was told that when building a sump more is better. I have left enough room for my MT to siphon down in the event of a power outtage. I am curious as to why you think I should lower the baffle height?

 

[moby]

The drain pulls a small quantity of air into the pipe, when it gets to the bottom of the pipe it "burps", this is part of the problem you discribed earlier in your orignal post.
To position the end of the pipe above the water level you would have to lower the baffles which would lower the water level in the sump. Adding the "sock" over the end of the pipe minmizes the splashing and provides a pre-filter.
Moby

 

[moby]

Also you are actually slowing down your flow rate with the tube submerged in the sump.
Moby

 

[spiked09]

Originally Posted by moby
Also you are actually slowing down your flow rate with the tube submerged in the sump.
Moby

Good to know. I am going to make some adjustments this weekend. I think I can get the output tube out of the water without lowering my baffles.
Thanks for the help.