Reeflo Hammerhead/Barracuda pump having issues with microbubbles

[Deiby Garcia]

Hello,
Please help me with this issue. I have a 265 gallon marineland tank and a Eshopps R300 sump. The drain coming into the sump is two 1 1/4". Then a 1 1/2" going to the pump and 1" returning to the tank. The problem I'm having is getting microbubbles into the display tank. The pump is already restricted to 40-50%. Before I got this pump I was using my friends Super dart/Snapper and I was not getting microbubbles. My friend thinks that sump is too small but it's rated for up to 300 gallons. He also thinks the pump is too powerful but I've read other users having no problems being too powerful. I don't know what else to do. I've put an elbow on the return side so it sucks lower. The water in drain side of the sump is like 5 to 6" above so with elbow is like 8" from surface. I can't add more water since it's already 1" from overflowing when you shut the power. I don't want to risk spilling water when I'm not home. I need all the help I can get. Suggestions are more than welcome.

 

[Montiman]

I believe the pump is to large. I am not sure if you are using the hammerhead or barracuda impeller but if you are using the hammer head switch to the barracuda. The main reason I believe the pump is oversized is marineland tanks come sock with 2 1in drain bulkheads unless you have gone DIY and drilled out the bottom glass this is your drain size not 1 and 1/4. A 1in drain can usually only handle around 600 GPH max so you should have a max of around 1200GPH from your return pump a 6000GPH hammer head is total overkill and will lead to problems.

Since you aren’t seeing air sucked into the inlet you may be getting a small Venturi leak. You can get a wet rag and tightly wrap it around all your return plumbing joints. If the air stops then you found the problem joint and can fix it.

Regardless please get a different pump. Total overkill for 2 1in drains. Not to mention reeflo pumps leak a lot.

 

[Deiby Garcia]

Thank you. The tank came with 1 1/4" not 2". Maybe newer models come with 2" now. I don't know. This is a 2013 model. I am using the barracuda one already. The hammerhead was too much power. I'll take your advice and check all my joints and tight a little more. Hopefully this fixes the problem momentary until I get another pump.

 

[dansreef]

I run a reeflow hammerhead pump on my 180g DT with a 100g rubbermaid sump in the basement. I need the power of the pump to push water up the 15' to the tank. Even with this and running four 1 1/2" durso like drains... I still need to valve back the flow from the pump....

Not knowing where your sump is located to your tank... and your plumbing set up.... I would guess your pump is too powerful as Monitman suggests above.

 

[Montiman]

Thank you. The tank came with 1 1/4" not 2". Maybe newer models come with 2" now. I don't know. This is a 2013 model. I am using the barracuda one already. The hammerhead was too much power. I'll take your advice and check all my joints and tight a little more. Hopefully this fixes the problem momentary until I get another pump.

I believe you may be measuring the outside diameter vs the inside diameter of the pipe. Inside diameter of standard marineland tanks is 1in and will only allow around 600gph. Every single manufactured non custom sump I have ever heard of also has a 1in drains so I am very confident you have 1in drains.