My return pump keeps putting in these micro bubbles and I can’t figure out how, the pump is fully submerged in the return chamber and is hard plumbed in. All my plumbing has glue on it and I turned off my skimmer and every other rice of equipment and it kept making the bubbles. I’m very close to giving up this has pushed me over the edge and I just can’t figure it out.
Help please I can’t figure out what’s wrong
- EMERGENCY
- Thread starter BaileysTank
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Not sure if it’s just me but your video won’t load , would you be able to take some pictures of it ?
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Picture of the sump ?
Water flowing over or through bubble traps can limit the amount of bubbles or if the return pump is sucking air .
Water flowing over or through bubble traps can limit the amount of bubbles or if the return pump is sucking air .
The main culprit for microbubbles is usually the protein skimmer, followed by water level in the sump. A powerful pump can suck from the surface of the sump if the level is too low. Check those issues and maybe post photos of the sump and plumbing etc.
Not an emergency though, this is pretty minor.
Not an emergency though, this is pretty minor.
Video wouldn’t load for me either, is the overflow pipe creating bubbles where it falls into the sump water? Do you have bubble traps in the sump?
I know you say not an emergency but I’ve tried everything I’ve turned off all equipment so the protein skimmer is not the problem the pump is covered in multiple inches of water so that can’t be it
I do have bubble traps and will be giving a better video
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Where the water spills over the baffle ahead of the return pump . There can be bubbles below the surface of the water . If the intake for the pump is close to the baffle it can suck in bubbles from the water going over the baffle .
Sometimes as easy as turning the pump intake away from that baffle or the return chamber is too small for the pump
Is pump sucking in air or showing a tornado effect from the surface ?
As others requested- Pics under white lighting of the pump in the sump will be helpful. Assure all openings at the pump are not restricted with snails or similar and that no debris in the area of impeller
As others requested- Pics under white lighting of the pump in the sump will be helpful. Assure all openings at the pump are not restricted with snails or similar and that no debris in the area of impeller
It almost looks as if the bubbles are coming out of my pump
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Posted more pics in reply’s
Got all the pics
I do have bubble traps
Looks as if level of water in your sump is too low and your pump is creating vortex and sucking air. It is DC, controllable pump, try to decrease flow and see what happens, or raise water level in sump.
Your overflow could be also not coping with pump output.
Your overflow could be also not coping with pump output.
I have a similar Eflux pump and at high speed it needs a few inches of water over it so as not to suck air with a whirlpool effect. Do you have the control to slow it down and see if the bubbles stop? Also, stupid question, but I have no clue what that line drianing down into your return chamber is... It's right in front of your pump intake and might be the air source as there are bubles in that corner of your photo. Hard to tell... Good luck my friend.
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