Air bubble in overflow u-tube.. DIY Fixes?

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by Aqualung, Sep 3, 2009.

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  1. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    I have an Eshopps overflow box rated at 300 gph. I cannot for the life of me stop airbubbles from building up in the u-tube. Everyday I have to eighter suck out the air, while tasting saltwater. Or I yank out the stand-pipe real quick, thus sucking out all the air bubbles, but they come back seconds later. For a while I had no air bubbles, now its nonstop. Is there something I can do. I'm not gonna consider an airlifter pump. I think my next tank, my fuge will be level with the tank.. no more siphons! this is annoying! I made my own standpipe with a 90 elbow to get rid of the noise and also made the stand pipe higher. This has not affected or changed the way air bubbles build up. I read you can line the overflow box with foam to prevent airbubbles, but don't want nitrate buildup.
     
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  3. iLLwiLL

    iLLwiLL Sailfin Tang

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    if you are using the sponge prefilter, either clean it every couple of days or remove it all together.

    ~Will.
     
  4. mattheuw1

    mattheuw1 Montipora Capricornis

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    What I do is place an airline tubing in the overflow to start the siphon. Leave it there and let the water come from it to the sump. BUT, if your power fails, it will break the siphon in the overflow. Best bet is to get a aqualifter and run the airline from that, so when the power returns the lifter will start the siphon. Or, connect the airline tubing to a venturi on a powerhead. It will constantly suck the bubbles.

    The problem is that the water is being sucked too slow. I have a 600gph overflow and have the same problem. Not one bubble in mine with the airline tubing running down to the sump. Aqualifter is the best way. The venturi method, I have never tried, sounds good, but you may get a lot of bubbles in your tank. I haven't heard much feedback from that method, but its worth a shot.
     
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  5. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    That sponge is history.. I saw a vid where someone used 1" tubing instead of the 1 1/4" clear hard siphon U-tube supplied by the manufacturer. I guess the smaller tube created more suction. IDK.
     
  6. pgreef

    pgreef Fire Goby

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    You need more power. Get a bigger pump and it sweeps the bubbles out and prevents them from building up.

    I had the same issue and it completely went away when I upgraded to an Eheim 1262 pump.

    if you don't have enough flow the bubbles get trapped. It gets worse when the tube has algae on the inside so be sure to clean it out with one of those flexible brushes that you can get at your LFS. With my bigger pump the bubbles don't get trapped even with algae in there.
     
  7. pgreef

    pgreef Fire Goby

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    Reducing the size of the tubing will also increase the flow in the tube. Pump is pumping the same amount. So if the tube is smaller the water has to flow faster through the tube. That will also work.
     
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  9. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    I just bought that pump lol!!! It's pumping about 300 gph with all the head. I will try a smaller u tube, also I made the stand pipe wider and taller.. will going back to the original size help also or did this help increase the flow.. I also notice when I take the stand pipe out completely there are no bubbles in the u tube. btw thanks guys!
     
  10. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    My concern with the bigger pump is the flow may be too much for such a small tank
     
  11. pgreef

    pgreef Fire Goby

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    You need to make sure the water level in your overflow is much lower than the water level in your tank. If they are close to the same you may have problems.
     
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  12. Aqualung

    Aqualung Stylophora

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    Ahh that helps too thanks! How many inches under the water level should it be?