Microbubbles Everywhere!

msb256

msb256

Member
Before baffles...

After baffles...

Overflow box drains to portion on the left where I was going to put skimmer, then baffles, then return pump sits in section on the right. I've added so much water to cover that pump that I think I'm in trouble if the power cuts off.
But, I still have a tank full of microbubbles and it's quite unsightly. Any suggestions??? My pump is similar (as in, basically the same, same model number, same gph, but they dropped a previous brand name and they now go with just lifegard) as the 2200 listed here. http://www.lifegardaquatics.com/products/product.php?id=10
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Yep. Just unplugged pump to sort of test a power outage. The return pump started acting as a siphon and putting water from the tank back into the tank. I have 5 gallon buckets on stand by but I might have been in trouble.
Beginning to want to give up on the sump and go HOB skimmer and HOB filter for water movement. Seems like I'm in over my head.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok....gonna take a stab at this....I remember a similar thread somewhere on this board, and it wasn't properly trouble shot IMHO.......
Ok.....From looking at the first picture you have up top is the drain from the tank submerged or is it allowing the water to splash into the sump.......

My next question is directed towards the baffles.....What is the spacing between the baffles.....
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Another question I have is the water coming over the last baffle is it allowing the water to drop into the return pump section......
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere#post_3478581
Ok....gonna take a stab at this....I remember a similar thread somewhere on this board, and it wasn't properly trouble shot IMHO.......
Ok.....From looking at the first picture you have up top is the drain from the tank submerged or is it allowing the water to splash into the sump.......

My next question is directed towards the baffles.....What is the spacing between the baffles.....
Thanks for giving it a chance Shawn!
The drain is submerged once I get the siphon going and it fills up. Should I trying filling up that part of the sump first and then start the siphon?
The space between the baffles is 2 inches. 8 inches in each section, 2 inches between each baffles, for a total of 20 inches long.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok.....You still haven't said if the water is dropping over the last baffle or gliding over with no drop into the last chamber......Also what is your spacing between your baffles......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Here's another trouble shooting tip.....Take a flash light and get down and shine the flash light into the first chamber where the water enters the sump......Are there micro bubbles at this point......
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/391977/microbubbles-everywhere#post_3478606
Ok.....You still haven't said if the water is dropping over the last baffle or gliding over with no drop into the last chamber......Also what is your spacing between your baffles......
Spacing between baffles is 2 inches. And it's dropping over the last baffle. The last chamber is not so full that it just glides over the top.
I'll try the flashlight thing but my hunch tells me yes, there were microbubbles forming in the first chamber from the get go.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I would have done an under over under configuration instead of an over under over, because of the drop over the last baffle.
Do the flashlight trick and see if you can find the problem. Listen to acrylic, you are in good hands.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The "under, over, under" design isn't used because it would allow that very problem that we are seeing. The bubbles need to rise to the surface to "pop", so therefore by forcing the bubbles under the last baffle is immediately causing bubbles to be picked up by the return pump. That's why that design or method isn't widely used.
With that said the first comment is that, the baffle spacing is a bit wide IMHO....1" would have been a better fit. What is the height the middle baffle is off the bottom of the sump as well? What are. Your first and third baffle heights? Again my first check would be where the water enters the sump. Theoretically that line shouldn't be submerged super deep into the water. Having it to deep will cause an issue with a siphon. I think I remember you mentioning something about a siphon. The line to deep will cause your overflow to surge; meaning the overflow box might possibly be "flushing"????
Check the area where the water enters the sump with the flash light and watch the bubbles make their way across the sump to the return area, let us know!!!!
 
sweatervest13

sweatervest13

Active Member
Quote:
Beginning to want to give up on the sump and go HOB skimmer and HOB filter for water movement. Seems like I'm in over my head.
Stick with it!! Once you get it dialed it you will love it. HOB's can be a big pain and very unsightly. Shawn has some great experience and ideas, listen to him and you should be good.
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Thanks Shawn. I'll check it out when I get home today.
The first and last baffle are 7 inches high. I would estimate the second baffle to be about 1.5 inches off the bottom. I went with 2 inches between the baffles because I saw people saying 1.5 inches was ideal and I was like, well, I'll exaggerate it to make sure it works... maybe shouldn't have done that.
I'll do the flashlight test tonight and see what I can figure out from that.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
2" might be extreme, but IMO you wasted a bit of space. 1" would have been plenty on that size sump. I think we're going to find the issue in the first chamber and if we can eliminate them at the start, you should be golden!!!!!
Heads up though, it can be trying, but once we solve the bubble issue we'll get you on track with setting the correct water level to prevent any floods in the event of a power outage!!!!
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Thanks Shawn! I do hope we can work this out. I took back a 250W heater, thought about getting two 200W, and bought three 100W because I could fit those in the sump and keep them out of the DT. Hope it works.
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Haven't done the flashlight test yet, but what if I put a HOB filter without carbon on the end of the drain... would that work like a filter sock?
 
msb256

msb256

Member
Ok, yes there are bubbles in the far left section of the sump where the water drains in. The first baffle is pointless right now because the water is so high that it just goes over it. The water goes under the second baffle and pours over the top of the third into the pump section. I had to poor more water in the pump section because it was pumping the water out so fast the the drain couldn't keep up with it. But, I did that because it would pump the water out so fast that the pump would start to show and not have enough water. Now, if the power goes out, we'll have a mess.
 
msb256

msb256

Member
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.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Ok.....Sorry was out trying to fabricate some brackets I've been working on for a couple days.......
Is the drain line from the overflow box submerged under water or is it dropping down into the far left section.....Another question I have is you stated the return pump is pumping water faster than the overflow can drain it......Is there any way to throttle the return pump back......
 
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