New dosing container getting air in lines

Bustyraker · Feb 12, 2017

A week ago my girlfriend came home to my tank filled with bubbles and the inside of my stand was flooded with 5 gallons of water. My skimmer overflowed while I was at work and ran over the side of the sump and filled the bottom of the stand with water. She cleaned it up before I got home and I figured everything was fine. A few days afterwards I noticed that the acrylic tube that pulls the liquid up from inside of my dosing container was snapped off. Which most likely happened when we were frantically trying to remove water from the stand. I ordered a new container (same brand) and installed it a few days ago. Ever since the lines have large air pockets in them and the pump loses its prime and all of liquid drops back down into the container. I never had this problem with the previous container. I think the problem is where the flexible tubing goes on to the container at the top. Which is where the air bubbles start. I cut the end off of the tubing so that it wasn't stretched out from the old container and still have the issue. I've even put super glue on it. Any ideas?

Bustyraker · Feb 12, 2017

On a side note, there is usually about 5 inches of fluid in the line and then 3 inches of air. It seems to be pretty consistent and the air moves up the line into the doser. Not sure if this helps. I know that my doser ran dry for a few days before I noticed the broken tube. But I don't think the problem is with the doser since the air bubbles start at the container.

BlueCursor · Feb 12, 2017

You may have a small crack in the nipple or under it, on your container. The other possibility is the dosing head has developed a leak in the soft rubber tube is runs against to pump the fluid. A new container will tell you which when you test it out.

Bustyraker · Feb 12, 2017

BlueCursor said:
You may have a small crack in the nipple or under it, on your container. The other possibility is the dosing head has developed a leak in the soft rubber tube is runs against to pump the fluid. A new container will tell you which when you test it out.

The problem is with the new container. It's been set up for days now.

BlueCursor · Feb 12, 2017

Sorry. Rinse it out, including the tube. Hopefully you can get your hand down to the inlet and put a finger over it. Suck on the nipple (I'm sorry, but you just can't make this stuff up). If it is leaking air in the nipple or tube you will know. If it isn't, it has to be your connection to the nipple. Recheck your tube where it connects to the dosing head to make sure you didn't knock that loose.

BlueCursor · Feb 12, 2017

Another thought. Does the nipple screw onto the container? Try to see if it needs to be tightened.

Bustyraker · Feb 12, 2017

Everything is tight. The container that I'm using is the same as a bubble magus container. I read on some reviews that air leaks in through the threads where the nut goes down on the nipple and some teflon tape usually fixes it. I put teflon tape on mine and no luck.

Bustyraker · Feb 12, 2017

BlueCursor said:
Sorry. Rinse it out, including the tube. Hopefully you can get your hand down to the inlet and put a finger over it. Suck on the nipple (I'm sorry, but you just can't make this stuff up). If it is leaking air in the nipple or tube you will know. If it isn't, it has to be your connection to the nipple. Recheck your tube where it connects to the dosing head to make sure you didn't knock that loose.

I sucked on the nipple. It was not nearly as exciting as you made it out to be. No leaks, and I'm no novice sucker. I even blew in it for good measure.