Help - Bubbles in Drain Line

crussett · #1 10-21-2010, 05:02 AM

Hello,

I'm setting up my first reef tank and I've run into a bit of a snag. I bought everything used from a fellow Canreefer. I have finally managed to get everything plumbed and hooked up, but I have a problem with the drain line. There seems to be air trapped in the line which is essentially blowing bubbles in the sump. I have a 72 Gallon Oceanic bow with a built in overflow which I have connected some vinyl hose to drain into the sump. I have read tons of forums with lots of suggestions, but at this point I'm just confused. I think the solution is something easy, but i just can't figure it out.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thx,

Chad

Bloodasp · #2 10-21-2010, 05:10 AM

Problem with Durso standpipes. It dampens the noise in the tank but noise and bubbles in the sump don't go away. Used to have that setup, changed it to herbie style not too long ago.

ElGuappo · #3 10-21-2010, 05:23 AM

is this a bowfront tank? anyway i just bought a tank with the same overflow... i took the durso out and replaced with a herbie... only downside is that my emerg drain is only 3/4".. basically i turned the dursos return into my emerg drain and used the dursos drain as my primary drain.. (1")

i ran my return over the top of the tank... i have a full canopy so you cant see it... if you decide to go this way i can help... it shouldnt be that hard to do even with the water in the tank... so long as its easy to get your hands in the overflow...

edit : well i guess i cant help as you are in bc.. i looked at the second posts city..

lapdog2020 · #4 10-21-2010, 02:28 PM

Since i have a bubble trap in my sump i would suggest Bio spung for your problem! just put it in the bottom of your sump where your water is comming down. It's grat stuff.

Rbacchiega · #5 10-21-2010, 05:04 PM

look online for build threads about a "reverse" durso down into the sump area...that should help...or break the water with a filter sock.

ScubaSteve · #6 10-21-2010, 05:11 PM

I'd say filter sock the bugger or use a pvc 'T' at the end where it goes into the sump. Have the hose cpme ito the sump at an angle and have the branch of the T out of the water and have the run of the T submerged in the sump. This should help the bubbles separate and let the drain asperate the air pockets. Understand what I mean? If not I can try drawing it up.

For zero bubbles there is a full siphon overflow but they are really hard to keep runnning and running smoothly.

tony_3a · #7 10-21-2010, 06:06 PM

what i did is i made it so about half a inch of the drain line is above water so the air bubbles escape right away, then the bottom half inch is in the water to make sure its still quiet, that reduced my bubbles by 80 percent.

ScubaSteve · #8 10-21-2010, 06:14 PM

That's the same idea as the 'T', except the T stops the water rushing into the surface from dragging more bubbles down.

crussett · #9 10-21-2010, 07:18 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions. It sounds like the reverse durso is the same as the "T" suggestion, just with a cap and a hole drilled. I think I might try this suggestion because when I received the tank I had a problem with a couple of parts in the overflow so I bought a whole new AGA Megaflow overflow kit to rob parts from. I essentially have a whole extra set of durso pipes and fittings. The parts to build the reverse durso shouldn't cost much more than 10 bucks from Home Depot. I think the toughest part is going to be getting the stiff vinyl hose bent enough to attach to the reverse durso pipe.

Thanks!

Chad

ScubaSteve · #10 10-21-2010, 07:22 PM

Oh, by the way, the T suggestion is for the sump end of the drain. No need to modify the standpipe unless you really want too.