Microbubbles Everywhere!

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSB256 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere#post_3478775
Here's a picture... Blue line just above water line to help show where it's at. Blue arrow to show where water is pouring over the last baffle.

Looking at this pic I'm going to assume the pump is pushing more than you need back to the tank.....Is there anyway to throttle the pump back a bit......I'm not suggesting you add more water by any means, but what I'm after is slowing the return pump down a tad, which in return will raise the water level in itself in the return pump section..........I am trying to slow the return pump down enough to where the water level is about 2" under the last baffle........
Do you have a ball valve that you can plumb inline on the output line going back to the tank.........
Yes the empty filter cartridge would work or act as a filter sock, but theoretically not the way you really want to go about solving the micro bubble issue, and there's a good possibility that depending how bad the micro bubbles are that they could possibly make it through the sock as well.....

 

[msb256]

Thanks for checking it out for me Shawn. Unfortunately, I don't think I have a means of slowing down the pump. It did have this big foam ting that went over the intake. I could put the back on and see it will slow it down any?

But once the foam part gets saturated, it might be back to green flag racing for the pump.

 

[msb256]

Oh and yes, the drain line is completely submerged... quite a bit.

 

[msb256]

Those baffles are kind of wide. But, I think I can fit the the three 100W heaters in there easily and that'll be a good place for circulation so maybe it will serve a purpose after all.

 

[msb256]

I put the foam cover back on the intake of the pump and it did indeed seem to slow it down and raise the water level. Now it's just about 2 inches from the top. Still microbubbles though. Wondering if it's just this pump and now way to really fix it.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSB256 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere/20#post_3478794
I put the foam cover back on the intake of the pump and it did indeed seem to slow it down and raise the water level. Now it's just about 2 inches from the top. Still microbubbles though. Wondering if it's just this pump and now way to really fix it.
I'm going to say it's not the pump......I'm saying the micro bubbles need to be eliminated at it's source; it's source being that first chamber.....Did you try the filter cartridge on the drain line.........
Quote:
Originally Posted by MSB256 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere/20#post_3478785
Oh and yes, the drain line is completely submerged... quite a bit.
Ok.....The drain line is submerged quite a bit......Does that cause the water level in the overflow box to surge or fluctuate.......Do you have any type of stand pipes or sponges inside your overflow box......

 

[msb256]

Hey Shawn. I haven't tried the filter as a filter sock on the drain line but that's next.
As far as the overflow box, here's a picture of it. The part inside the tank is your run of the mill clear box with the teeth at the top.

 

[acrylic51]

At this stage I would try the filter cartridge....Your obviously introducing air somewhere in the drain line......Curious have you tried raising the drain line just a tad above the water line or just under the water line in the first section......

 

[msb256]

I've messed around with different parts of it. I've tried to adjust the overflow box and position it in the tank differently. I took the foam cover for the pump and put it on the end of the drain line to sort of act as a filter sock - it should slow water more than those thin filters. Still no success. I'm beginning to think this 594 gph pump is too powerful. It requires me to have a lot of water in the sump to keep it sumberged and get the water line up in the pump section. I tried the over flow test by unplugging the pump and we would have had wet floors.
I'm thinking I find a less powerful pump with brand new parts and see if that helps. I just don't see the microbubbles in the pump section but they are somehow in the tank.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MSB256 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere/20#post_3478803
I just don't see the microbubbles in the pump section but they are somehow in the tank.
This tells me that it's not your drain line and it's not getting sucked into your pump then it's at the top of the return plumbing or somewhere along your return plumbing that has a small air leak. If water is slowly dripping out of your return line then yes, some air is also getting sucked into it. I had microbubbles in my tank until I figured out it was actually a PVC union that I didn't tighten down enough.
Is there any salt creep forming along your return plumbing line? Is there any wetness when you touch the return line from the top down? Are any parts not completely connected... but loosely put on? Have you used hose clamps to try to seal off that vinyl tubing?
I would just put a ball valve on the pump that you have now and adjust what you have - and check the entire plumbing line for leaks/wetness/saltcreep.

 

[acrylic51]

I would agree with Seth if you can completely; confidently verify that with using the flashlight you see NO micro bubbles in the 3rd section........Do you have any specs on the pump or an actual part number.....It might be possible the pump is more than the overflow can handle.

 

[msb256]

Here's the pump: It's the 2200 model. I may have an older model because use to have another brand name before the lifegard part.
http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/products/product.php?id=10




mp Model



Maximum Flow
GPH



Minimum Flow
GPH *



Max Flow
at 1'



Max Flow
at 2'



Max Flow
at 3'



Max Flow
at 4'



Max Flow
at 5'



Max Flow
at 6'



Max Flow
at 7'



Max Flow
at 8'



Max Flow
at 9'



Max Flow
at 10'



Shut Off
Feet





200



53



35



30




































1.64'





400



106



55



71



15



































2.13'







800



220



140



189



154



109



36



























4.37'







1200



296



175



270



241



210



175



125



20



















6.10'





2200



594



404



563



528



493



455

s="prod_maxflowbrat5">
410


361



308



258



188



96



10.66'

 

[acrylic51]

Have you verified micro bubbles making their way to the return pump.....I also notice your using vinyl tubing for your return line, so I'm going to assume your using the metal worm clamps to keep the lines tight to the pump......

 

[snakeblitz33]

Yeah, what I'm thinking is that somewhere in the return plumbing there is a small leak that is putting bubbles in the display tank... like what was happening to my tank when I didn't tighten down the union after cleaning up my return pump.