Please help

[sloowscoob]

So I just swapped everything in my 80 gallon tank to a new SCA 120. I added a Trigger 34 sump and I’m running a herbie overflow. For some reason I can’t get the large bubbles to stop coming out of my main siphon. I’ve got a Ecotech M2 return pump running on 20%, so roughly 400 gph. I have also adjusted my gate valve to being the water in the overflow to just below the emergency. Any suggestions or is this the new normal??

 

[blaxsun]

I set my overflow to be right at the lip of the emergency overflow (not sure if this will make much of a difference though).

 

[sloowscoob]

I set my overflow to be right at the lip of the emergency overflow (not sure if this will make much of a difference though).

Yea, I have min right on the lip currently. I've tried more flow from the return pump and opening the gate valve to less flow and restricting the gate valve. Either way it doesn't seem to help. I tried attaching a video of how loud it is but it doesn't seem to be working.

 

[sloowscoob]

I screen shot from the videos of my water level in the overflow and the bubbles from the main siphon.

 

[PeterC99]

I have my Ecotech M2 set at 55% on my 90g. Are you sure your 20% setting is high enough?

 

[sloowscoob]

I have my Ecotech M2 set at 55% on my 90g. Are you sure your 20% setting is high enough?

I can definitely bump it up. I'm completely open to suggestions at this point. I get good flow at 20% out of the returns but I can try bumping it up. I had it lower to get more contact time through the sump and skimmer.

 

[blaxsun]

I have my Ecotech M2 set at 55% on my 90g. Are you sure your 20% setting is high enough?

I'm also wondering the same thing. On my Reefer 750XXL I'm running my Sicce SDC 9.0 @45% on a total 200-gallon system, but this is also minus several 45° and 90° elbows and 5' vertical height @2500Gph. You're running @20% for probably similar twists, turns and height @2000Gp on a total 168-gallon system. I think if you adjust the pump to between 40-55% and readjust your gate valve you'll probably find your bubbles disappear.

 

[sloowscoob]

I'm also wondering the same thing. On my Reefer 750XXL I'm running my Sicce SDC 9.0 @45% on a total 200-gallon system, but this is also minus several 45° and 90° elbows and 5' vertical height @2500Gph. You're running @20% for probably similar twists, turns and height @2000Gp on a total 168-gallon system. I think if you adjust the pump to between 40-55% and readjust your gate valve you'll probably find your bubbles disappear.

Ok, great! I will try this as soon as I get off work today. I will report back if it changes! Thanks for the ideas guys!

 

[nereefpat]

In the picture and video of the overflow box, I'm only seeing the emergency/trickle pipe. How far below the water line is the siphon/main drain? Does the siphon have elbows so it faces downward? The siphon should have no bubbles after startup.

 

[sloowscoob]

In the picture and video of the overflow box, I'm only seeing the emergency/trickle pipe. How far below the water line is the siphon/main drain? Does the siphon have elbows so it faces downward? The siphon should have no bubbles after startup.

Sorry, the main siphon is much farther down the overflow box. I would say its about a 6" pipe. I just added 2 elbows creating a U shape to go over over the pipe top to prevent a vinturi effect. Yes, the U shape faces down. This did not change the bubbles at all.

 

[nereefpat]

Sorry, the main siphon is much farther down the overflow box. I would say its about a 6" pipe. I just added 2 elbows creating a U shape to go over over the pipe top to prevent a vinturi effect. Yes, the U shape faces down. This did not change the bubbles at all.

The siphon is 6" under the overflow water level?

Are the bubbles coming from the water falling over the weir (overflow teeth)? How far is the water dropping when it goes over the weir?

 

[sloowscoob]

The siphon is 6" under the overflow water level?

Are the bubbles coming from the water falling over the weir (overflow teeth)? How far is the water dropping when it goes over the weir?

No 6” from the bottom, it’s way down there. The water only falls about a half inch from the weir. The top is completely silent. All noise comes from the water going into the sump. It sounds like boiling water honestly

 

[nereefpat]

So there's no water going down the emergency, and there's no bubbles going down the siphon?

Does the siphon pipe terminate about an inch under water in the sump?

 

[sloowscoob]

So there's no water going down the emergency, and there's no bubbles going down the siphon?

Does the siphon pipe terminate about an inch under water in the sump?

Yes there are no bubbles in the overflow going down either pipe. The only bubbles are where the pipe exits in the sump which is about 1 1/2” below the water line

 

[nereefpat]

I'm not sure what is going on here. I wish I could see and mess with it in person.

I don't see where the bubbles are coming from, unless the air isn't purging from the siphon line due to the horizontal run and/or the sideways gate valve and/or the termination being too far under the water line.

I would keep messing with the gate valve. Like close it all the way, until all water is running down the emergency, then crack it open.