Drain Bubble woes!!!

Phatboy · Nov 15, 2010

OK so heres my setup. 125 with corner overflow. 1" durso standpipe going through bottom glass. 6 inches below the glass 90 to the right horizontal 12 inches then 90 down into sump, 2 inches to water line. No matter what I do I am getting a rediculous amount of bubbles from this drain line. Right now I have made a bubble catcher out of an upside down overflow box with a bulkhead through the bottom(now top) and air holes for the air to escape. The problem with this is I have made a skimmer and the bubble catcher fills up with foam, comes out the holes, and mad salt creep ensues.
I have tried nearly every pvc formation I can think of to stop the bubbles from happening to no avail. What would you do?

Will it help if I get rid of the 90s and use flexible tubing?

customcolor · Nov 15, 2010

if the pvc is new you will get micro bubbles for about a month till the pipes slime up

Phatboy · Nov 15, 2010

Its not micro bubbles, pipes are slimed up allready. Its like holy **** this is a bubble blasting machine. Im running 900 gph through the durso, and it is flowing fine and quiet up top, but I think the water crashing into the 2 90* fittings is causing some serious cavitation. Im going to try flexible hose next of a larger diameter than the durso so that possibly the bubbles will subside inside the pipe and it will be a nice constant stream into the water in the sump. I dont know if this will work or not.

Harry_Y · Nov 15, 2010

Slow down your flow.

If you need water movement use power heads.

I have a 180 and I have my flow dialed way back.
No micro bubbles, and it gives more dwell time in the sump for heating etc.

milkman · Nov 15, 2010

Do you have a vent hole in the top of your durso? I drilled a hole in the cap and ran 3/8" guest water line in to reach below the water inlet of the durso. Makes it drain without the airlock that may be part of your bubble problem.

I agree with slowing down your flow. I only turnover my display about 5x to allow the skimmer to do it's job. Use power heads to boost the flow in the display for the inhabitants to about 40x.