partitions in sump

DukeDog · 06-24-2001, 06:58 PM

Well it didnt work like I hoped

I think I might even have more bubbles than before. When I place my first partition in the sump the pump runs dry. I guess I have to play around with different heights for the partitions. I have a over, under ,and over. Any suggestions are needed!!!
Thanks guys
Jeff

Mikeman · 06-24-2001, 07:58 PM

what do you do when you partition a sump?

DukeDog · 06-24-2001, 08:09 PM

Divide into sections so that the water has time to disapate the air bubbles. Also give you some place to put calupra and such.
Jeff

Steve · 06-25-2001, 10:48 AM

You could try a sponge if you have a reef safe one. They will help eliminate the bubbles.

DukeDog · 06-25-2001, 09:16 PM

Do you think that the water rushing thru the sump could be the cause? It flows pretty fast through it. Its 30" long and 14" wide. The pump is a Iwaski wmd 40rlxt. Any thoughts to this? I do have a sponge in ther last partition where the pump draws from. The bubbles are micro size.
Thanks

Jeff

Steve · 06-25-2001, 11:03 PM

I have had the same problem with my sump. I gave up on the sponge and concentrating on where the water enters the pump. As you said, the bubbles were so small and then they get sucked in the pump and chopped into a million smaller bubbles. I decided to target where the water comes into the sump instead of out. This seems to have worked. What do you have where the water enters the sump?

DukeDog · 06-26-2001, 05:48 PM

The water enters through 2 1" pvc pipes that go to about 2" from the bottom of the sump. I will try to take some pics of this tomorrow if it would help.
Jeff

DukeDog · 07-02-2001, 10:46 PM

Well I'm stilll looking for the right combination of partion height and location in my sump. Is it supposed to be this hard

Jeff

Bojinx · 07-02-2001, 11:17 PM

DukeDog...

Can you describe your sump setup for us. Exact measurements and all. One thing that you do not want is to have any waterfall effects going on at your return pump. The water level on the 'return' side of the sump should not be below the level of your last 'down' partition. As long as I keep my water level higher than that, I never have a bubble problem... HTH

DukeDog · 07-03-2001, 08:29 PM

The sump dimensions are 30L x 14.5W x 16H. The 1st partion is 9" tall the second partion is about 2" off the bottom and the third is I think 6" tall. The first and third are not water tight and the water escapes around the sides and bottom. Could be the problem? I will try to post a pic. I did raise the third partion off the bottom due to the pump draining that section to quickly. This is a temporary fix to that problem. The sponges are to help with air bubbles and will be removed when I get this under control.
Jeff

Bojinx · 07-03-2001, 10:11 PM

From you photo, I want to say that you need about 10-15 more gallons of water in your system... maybe more. That is why it seems as though the return is draining the last partition of you sump too quickly. That is why lifting the last baffle provided a temporary fix.

More water will fix the draining problem, and should take care of the bubbles too as your pump(s) will no longer be sucking water and air. Re-seat the third baffle to the bottom of your sump and get that water up to the top of you're third baffle.

HTH

DukeDog · 07-03-2001, 10:32 PM

ok I'll give it a go

. I'll let you know tomorrow how it works.
Jeff

Bojinx · 07-04-2001, 12:06 AM

Keep us posted...

DukeDog · 07-07-2001, 11:12 AM

Well Ive added more water to the sump . Still micro bubbles. What about another partion? Do you think it would help or make it worse? Do I need a longer sump?
Jeff

Bojinx · 07-07-2001, 01:27 PM

Does the final sump chamber stay FULL after the water addition? Are there bubbles in the final chamber, or just bubbles in the water being returned to the main tank?

Three baffles shold be plenty and sump length should not matter.

DukeDog · 07-07-2001, 09:29 PM

There are bubbles in the third chamber. I was thinking the water didnt have time to disapate the bubbles before being sucked up the return pump. I have put some LR in the sump to try to help . I dont know if it will but its worth a try.
Jeff

06-24-2001, 06:58 PM	#1
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	partitions in sump Well it didnt work like I hoped I think I might even have more bubbles than before. When I place my first partition in the sump the pump runs dry. I guess I have to play around with different heights for the partitions. I have a over, under ,and over. Any suggestions are needed!!! Thanks guys Jeff

07-02-2001, 11:17 PM	#9
Bojinx Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Galena, Maryland Posts: 913	DukeDog... Can you describe your sump setup for us. Exact measurements and all. One thing that you do not want is to have any waterfall effects going on at your return pump. The water level on the 'return' side of the sump should not be below the level of your last 'down' partition. As long as I keep my water level higher than that, I never have a bubble problem... HTH __________________ jImMy "Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose" "...Never thought to question 'Why'?" "Everything's so Blurry and Everyone's so fake" pAz LeNcHaNtIn... oh how i wish...

07-03-2001, 08:29 PM	#10
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	The sump dimensions are 30L x 14.5W x 16H. The 1st partion is 9" tall the second partion is about 2" off the bottom and the third is I think 6" tall. The first and third are not water tight and the water escapes around the sides and bottom. Could be the problem? I will try to post a pic. I did raise the third partion off the bottom due to the pump draining that section to quickly. This is a temporary fix to that problem. The sponges are to help with air bubbles and will be removed when I get this under control. Jeff Last edited by DukeDog; 07-03-2001 at 08:31 PM.

07-03-2001, 10:11 PM	#11
Bojinx Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Galena, Maryland Posts: 913	From you photo, I want to say that you need about 10-15 more gallons of water in your system... maybe more. That is why it seems as though the return is draining the last partition of you sump too quickly. That is why lifting the last baffle provided a temporary fix. More water will fix the draining problem, and should take care of the bubbles too as your pump(s) will no longer be sucking water and air. Re-seat the third baffle to the bottom of your sump and get that water up to the top of you're third baffle. HTH __________________ jImMy "Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose" "...Never thought to question 'Why'?" "Everything's so Blurry and Everyone's so fake" pAz LeNcHaNtIn... oh how i wish...

07-04-2001, 12:06 AM	#13
Bojinx Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Galena, Maryland Posts: 913	Keep us posted... __________________ jImMy "Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose" "...Never thought to question 'Why'?" "Everything's so Blurry and Everyone's so fake" pAz LeNcHaNtIn... oh how i wish...

06-24-2001, 07:58 PM	#2
Mikeman Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Watertown,SD,USA Posts: 1,502	what do you do when you partition a sump?

06-24-2001, 08:09 PM	#3
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	Divide into sections so that the water has time to disapate the air bubbles. Also give you some place to put calupra and such. Jeff

06-25-2001, 10:48 AM	#4
Steve Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: DeForest, WI, USA Posts: 259	You could try a sponge if you have a reef safe one. They will help eliminate the bubbles.

06-25-2001, 09:16 PM	#5
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	Do you think that the water rushing thru the sump could be the cause? It flows pretty fast through it. Its 30" long and 14" wide. The pump is a Iwaski wmd 40rlxt. Any thoughts to this? I do have a sponge in ther last partition where the pump draws from. The bubbles are micro size. Thanks Jeff

06-25-2001, 11:03 PM	#6
Steve Council Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: DeForest, WI, USA Posts: 259	I have had the same problem with my sump. I gave up on the sponge and concentrating on where the water enters the pump. As you said, the bubbles were so small and then they get sucked in the pump and chopped into a million smaller bubbles. I decided to target where the water comes into the sump instead of out. This seems to have worked. What do you have where the water enters the sump?

06-26-2001, 05:48 PM	#7
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	The water enters through 2 1" pvc pipes that go to about 2" from the bottom of the sump. I will try to take some pics of this tomorrow if it would help. Jeff

07-02-2001, 10:46 PM	#8
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	Well I'm stilll looking for the right combination of partion height and location in my sump. Is it supposed to be this hard Jeff

07-03-2001, 10:32 PM	#12
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	ok I'll give it a go . I'll let you know tomorrow how it works. Jeff

07-07-2001, 11:12 AM	#14
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	Well Ive added more water to the sump . Still micro bubbles. What about another partion? Do you think it would help or make it worse? Do I need a longer sump? Jeff

07-07-2001, 01:27 PM	#15
Bojinx Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Galena, Maryland Posts: 913	Does the final sump chamber stay FULL after the water addition? Are there bubbles in the final chamber, or just bubbles in the water being returned to the main tank? Three baffles shold be plenty and sump length should not matter. __________________ jImMy "Watching fate as it flows down the path we have chose" "...Never thought to question 'Why'?" "Everything's so Blurry and Everyone's so fake" pAz LeNcHaNtIn... oh how i wish...

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07-07-2001, 09:29 PM	#16
DukeDog Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: SWFL Posts: 165	There are bubbles in the third chamber. I was thinking the water didnt have time to disapate the bubbles before being sucked up the return pump. I have put some LR in the sump to try to help . I dont know if it will but its worth a try. Jeff

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