Red Sea Reefer spitting out bubbles in down pipe

[JohnPH]

Hi, I have a new Red Sea Reefer 350 and it seems to be constantly spitting out bubbles from the down pipe into the sump making this horrendous fizzing/squirting noise that's driving me nuts. I'm guessing that somehow air is getting into the system but I can't work out where.

Can anyone suggest a solution to fix this?

Thanks

 

[piranhaman00]

The pump drawing in air? Check water levels

 

[JohnPH]

No that's fine. The air is coming out of the downpipe into the sump which suggests that air is being drawn in somewhere between it leaving the main tank and draining into the sump but I can't work out how or where!

 

[splitting_lanes]

Hi, I have a new Red Sea Reefer 350 and it seems to be constantly spitting out bubbles from the down pipe into the sump making this horrendous fizzing/squirting noise that's driving me nuts. I'm guessing that somehow air is getting into the system but I can't work out where.

Can anyone suggest a solution to fix this?

Thanks

Have you adjusted your flow knob? Does turning it clockwise reduce the noise?

 

[Krully]

You need to adjust the valve. It’s a pain to do at first, close it (turn to the right) and start opening it slowly (a few millimètres each time) and wait a few minutes to see how it goes.

 

[JohnPH]

I've been trying various things including the flow knob. Weirdly it's quiet ATM but then it just seem to randomly start up again for no apparent reason

 

[AZMSGT]

Adjust your flow valve. Bubbles would mean you need to close it some. It can come down to micro adjustments to get it right.

 

[JohnPH]

OK thanks all - I thought I had some kind of weird air leak somewhere but maybe it's just a quirk of the tank. Currently the water level in the overflow box is pretty much up to the level of the emergency drain but at least it seems quiet now

 

[monti mike]

I had the same problem and you can fix it! I’m assuming it’s loud and making a gurgling noise? Or maybe sounds like a broken toilet running constantly? You have to find the right balance of water going down the two pipes. I would turn the knob all the way to the right. Then start to slowly turn it to the left and give it some time to adjust. As you turn it left keep an eye on the water level in the overflow box. You want the water level to be just right and it’s silent. Here’s a picture of my tanks sweet spot. You can see the water level is right at the exposed pipe.

 

[JohnPH]

Thanks Monti - that water level is pretty much where mine is now & initially I presumed this was too high but it seems to have done the trick

 

[Phil D.]

The sweet spot is where the water is about an inch 11/2 above the drain pipe. Otherwise you get a vortex and the "sucking, fizzing" sound.

 

[JohnPH]

Thanks Phil - do you mean you have yours set so the water is actually going down the emergency drain? ATM mine is fractionally below but is now quiet. The noise wasn't at the surface level but was the noise of the bubbles being squirted out of the bottom of the drain pipe into the sump - was driving me nuits but fingers crossed it seems fixed now

 

[AZMSGT]

If it’s quite leave it. You’re done.

 

[JohnPH]

Thanks all good now