[kgeorge]

Well it's blowing micros out in the fuge so I know it's before the loc-line gates. They are put in with thick thread tape by the way. Anyway, so it has to be either at the pump, which I helped by changing and it's outside the sump as well. You can kind of see it in the picture behind it. I guess the next thing is maybe try putting a filter sock on the break up some of the big bubbles on the drain pipes and probably pullin the sump out and adding another set of baffles. Any other things to check before I do that?

[charlie]

Aside from waiting a couple of days, like I said before, I don't know as there is anything else you can do. The filter sock is OK, but you know that you will end up cleaning it way to often, as it will become a detritus trap.
Another baffle may end up being your best bet.

This is just a freshwater test, isn't it?

[kgeorge]

Yes, it is a freshwater test only.... I'm gettin huge bubbles coming out of the drains to the sump. any ideas to help that?

[charlie]

What does the plumbing look like in your overflow. Boy, this is getting tougher by the minute!!! It sounds like something isn't keeping up with something, if you know what I mean. Is it possible your drains are to large for the amount of water going in?

[kgeorge]

it's a durso standpipe. The plumbing is 1.5'' spaflex hose from both to the sump. I was scared with the size pump that it wouldn't handle it but it looks like I was too scared and maybe made it too big. That was another idea I had about being wrong but how do I know...... Mayb put reducer bushings on the on the outlets in the sump to try testin it????

[charlie]

What size pump are you using? If I was going to reduce it, I would put the bushings right outside the tank. Maybe you should just look into upsizing your return pump.

[kgeorge]

Lol....... I'm using a Mag 36

[kgeorge]

Guys i'm stuck..... I can't get the micro bubble problem fixed. They are in the sump. I've tried several different vents on the drains and sizes. It just keeps bubblein. Help me!

[Samper]

Kyle have you tried to regulate your pump with a ball valve. You may just be pulling too much through it.

[kgeorge]

yes, I have one after it. I try it slower and there's not as much but there's still some with it pumpin very little... I need to figure out how to get it to "flow" into the sump instead of "white-water rafting" into it......

[charlie]

Have you tried submerging your returns?

[kgeorge]

Yep... didn't help... Do you think it will help with smaller pipes.... I'm using two 1.5" drains to the sump? I'm just throwin bones here guys i'm super frustrated.........

[Samper]

Kyle go back over all your junctions in the plumbing with glue. It may not be leaking but sucking air from somewhere especially in the return line. That's what my refugium drain is doing at the moment.

[kgeorge]

I will give it a try. My fuge drain does the same thing and i'm using a durso on it. It's just gonna be part of it I think.... I've got to slow the bubbles down coming in tho. Do you think of makin the drop not so straight down would help. I'm using spaflex on it and it comes out and goes straight down into the sump. Maybe coming straight over with a T and then down into the sump. Would make a difference on the bubbles leaving and going out the vent?

[Samper]

It's possible that will help. Also what do you have on the output of your skimmer? My euro reef has one of those sponges around the outlet and I didn't want to use it but needed to. The reason is that my return was pulling water so fast through the sump that when the water splashed down from the skimmer the bubbles were immediately being pulled towards the pump. Even though I have baffles they were still making it to the return without the sponge.

[kgeorge]

My skimmer is ok... The output has and makes no bubbles so it will be ok.... But in general the same problem just with the drains. I'm gonna try the T tomorrow night and see if it gives me any luck. I don't count on it tho.

[Reefland]

You are always going to get a ton of bubbles coming from the overflow into the sump with the durso pipes. If your certain the bubbles are making their way through your baffling and getting returned then another (or 2) baffle is the best option. If it isn't coming from the sump then I would try the return pump submerged and if that don't work go over your plumbing as you are probably drawing in air somewhere.

[kgeorge]

I will go over it again. But i'm sure it's the drains/sump because I got down over the sump with it being dark and using a flashlight (u can see the bubbles better) that the micros are going through the sump and into the return pump. There is no bubbles going into the durso at the overflows. It stays submerged. I think I need slow the drains down. The are 1" 1\2 each. Chuck suggested that I vent each pipe individually right outside the bulkhead and then with a T and dropping down into the sump. He has his vented like 4 or 5 times. I am also gonna try to make the restrict the flow some to see if that will help the bubbles vent before they go into the sump...

[kgeorge]

I'm also tempted to get rid of the dang mag 36 and go smaller... I'm sick of messin with this!!!!!

[Reefland]

Bubbles are generated in the durso, the durso pulls air in so we know that's where they come from. If they are making it to the return section on your sump, you need more baffles to dtop them (although that is a lot of flow through that sump). Secondly, I think the Mag pumps are much better submerged pumps than external, so that would be my next step.