Mightyjet cavitation

[MONTANTK]

Currently running an IM20. I upgraded the pump to a mightyjet (desktop) but I find myself having to run it on the lowest or second lowest setting due to cavitation. Even then when the water level gets too low it still is producing micro bubbles. Has anyone else ran into this issue?

 

[lynaea75]

I’m not sure what you mean by cavitation, do you mean the water in the return chamber getting too low or that it’s ‘blowing bubbles’ from the return being near the surface?
I checked out your build thread, I have the exact same tank model with mighty jet pump. I had issues when I tried to use the wave feature of the pump, it was draining the return chamber no matter how low I turned it, even with no floss/sock in the filter chamber.
I finally gave upon that and got one of these random flow generators and put the pump on steady flow
(of course it’s out of stock at the moment but there are lots of people who 3D print them on Etsy) with this on I was able to turn the flow up higher than 1.1 without issues. Yay
if it’s just blowing bubbles from/at the return maybe a fitting is loose or it’s aimed to high? Hth

 

[MONTANTK]

I’m not sure what you mean by cavitation, do you mean the water in the return chamber getting too low or that it’s ‘blowing bubbles’ from the return being near the surface?
I checked out your build thread, I have the exact same tank model with mighty jet pump. I had issues when I tried to use the wave feature of the pump, it was draining the return chamber no matter how low I turned it, even with no floss/sock in the filter chamber.
I finally gave upon that and got one of these random flow generators and put the pump on steady flow
(of course it’s out of stock at the moment but there are lots of people who 3D print them on Etsy) with this on I was able to turn the flow up higher than 1.1 without issues. Yay
if it’s just blowing bubbles from/at the return maybe a fitting is loose or it’s aimed to high? Hth

Hmmm this is helpful, I’ll check the fittings and aim the return nozzle down. I have been running it on steady flow. Once the return is halfway down it starts blowing bubbles like crazy but not sucking air which is why I assumed it was due to cavitation.

Cavitation is essentially when the pressure into the pump is too low (caused by a low reservoir in this case) and which causes the impeller to go out of whack. I think of it similar to when your tires slip when driving through snow.

 

[ramesis]

Hmmm this is helpful, I’ll check the fittings and aim the return nozzle down. I have been running it on steady flow. Once the return is halfway down it starts blowing bubbles like crazy but not sucking air which is why I assumed it was due to cavitation.

Cavitation is essentially when the pressure into the pump is too low (caused by a low reservoir in this case) and which causes the impeller to go out of whack. I think of it similar to when your tires slip when driving through snow.

Hi!

Were you able to solve this? I am having the same issue and I also thought it was cavitation. I have tried changing nozzles adjusting the plastic coupler and I still get micro bubbles in the tank. It sucks because I love the might jet.

Ramesis

 

[MONTANTK]

Hi!

Were you able to solve this? I am having the same issue and I also thought it was cavitation. I have tried changing nozzles adjusting the plastic coupler and I still get micro bubbles in the tank. It sucks because I love the might jet.

Ramesis

Yes, I was able to solve it by putting the pump at the lowest setting and having the third chamber filled almost to the top of the divider between the second chamber

 

[ramesis]

Yes, I was able to solve it by putting the pump at the lowest setting and having the third chamber filled almost to the top of the divider between the second chamber

Magic!! I just did it and no more bubbles. So it is definitively cavitation then. A little disappointing but glad that there is a solution. Thank you so much for getting back to me.

Ramesis