plumbing

[da2145r]

hi everyone i plumbed my tank with soft tubing the problem is i think the pump is to strong because it keeps sending air bubbles into my tank its a deep blue 850 gph pump and for the drain I'm using a hob overflow box which is 800gph what should i do to stop the air bubbles? should i slow down the pump and how? or should i get another overflow box? by the way the water level in my sump is at minimum please help me the bubbles are very annoying.!

 

[yesjenks]

Dial down your pump.

 

[da2145r]

how?

 

[xclusive252]

you can reduce the plumbing to slow down the pump but if you pump says 850gph you also have to factor in the distance from the pump to the tank. I would try to add water to the sump since you did say it was at its lowest point and see if that helps out first then go from there

 

[da2145r]

Ok ill try but how do I slow down the pump im using vinyl tubing for my return

 

[da2145r]

can i use a ball valve with vynl tubing?

 

[KathyC]

can i use a ball valve with vynl tubing?

No, you can't. You'd have to switch your plumbing to PVC. The ball valve would be after the pump (never before) and the pump should be attached to the piping between 2 Unions (so you can change it/replace it without having to tear your plumbing apart.)


There are reasons why we use PVC piping to run from the return pump back to the tank, one of those reason is light (= algae inside the pipes), and it is a tighter (because it is glued) fit which minimizes air bubbles.


Are the bubbles tiny?


Aren't you the same fellow who posted earlier that the pump was running too slowly?

 

[JimmyR1rider]

PVC is what you want but I've used ball valves with vinyl tuning as well. Threaded ball vale with hose barbs on each end to the vinyl. That way you can gate it back. Make sure you get it as far onto the barb as possible and hose clamp it as well.

 

[duromega]

probably those bubbles are coming from your skimmer

 

[da2145r]

Yes the bubbles are tiny and if I get the threaded ball valve with hose barb I have to cut the tubing right to put it in between?

 

[edd]

is the water level in the sump dropping below the pump? if it is raise the level, if it still drops after raising it you need to gate it back.
if the sump level isn't dropping below pump then i would think its your skimmer.
two little fishes makes a barbed 1/2" ball valve, i don't know what size your tubing is or if they make a bigger valve. i use the 1/2" for reactors.

 

[da2145r]

Thanks and to bring up the water level I just gotta keep pouring water into sump right

 

[edd]

yes slowly, cause if the pump is too strong you will over flow DT.

 

[JimmyR1rider]

Yes you cut the tubing to install the ball valve.

 

[da2145r]

Where should I cut in the middle of the tube or closer to the pump?

 

[edd]

i would cut it close to pump, so valve is in the sump.
also when you use barbed fittings you are reducing id of tubing.

 

[da2145r]

Id of tubing?

 

[edd]

inside diameter. being that the barb slides into the tubing it has a smaller id, restricting the flow. but your looking to restrict it anyway. so just for future reference.

 

[da2145r]

Oh ok

 

[da2145r]

Thank you everyone for ur help I added some water into sump and its working great!

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