Sump issue

[sigshane]

Well, I got home, and just popped that black nozzle thingy off, and now the water is just being deposited across the surface of the water in the DT. It does a good job of keeping the surface turbulent, but not too much. I can see fewer bubbles in there, too.

Now though, my water is very hazy - in fact, in that photo up there in post #8, I can honestly say that most of that opacity is due to something in the water making it very cloudy. I can barely see three inches into the tank, and the water in the sump is also not clear. I have checked salinity, it is good.

So here we go again!

Shane

 

[rdnelson]

I am pretty much a beginner too so don't take what I say as absolute fact. When I was starting my cycle I read somewhere that it is not uncommon for the water to cloud up during the cycle process. I didn't experience that but maybe you are. Hope someone with more experience will chime in.

 

[90galguy]

The tank looked like mine did when I first added my sand. Is it possible that you have too much movement in your water combined with very find sand? Just a thought.

 

[jennm]

Is it hazy from bubbles or from particulate? (or from a bacterial bloom...)

If you shut the system off for 5 minutes and stop all circulation, does it clear? If so then it's bubbles and they all rise and burst when there's no turbulence.

If it doesn't, then it's either particulate or something else. Again when it's off, take a close look and see. If particles start dropping to the bottom with no flow, then it's particulate.

Based on the photo you provided, I have a hard time thinking it's air bubbles.

What kind of sand did you use (Steve above is on to something there)... if it was dry sand did you rinse it first? How long has the tank been up and running and how long has it been cloudy?

Jenn

 

[sigshane]

Okay, I am sure it is bubbles - I can see them flowing through my sump - even right past the air trap!

One thing I noticed is a large amount of air bubbles coming from the drain tube, from the overflow. I noticed a small hole in the top of that Durso standpipe, and thought that was to vent the air off the drain. But it constantly froths on the sump surface, with a 'belch' every minute or so. With the surface of the sump water so...lathery</em>...s'no wonder I have bubbles traversing through my tank. Question: should the drain hose actually go into</em> the sump, or just sit just above it, with the water spilling into the sump?

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When I turn the system off, the bubbles do start to dissipate, and the water is still a little hazy. I used live sand about eight months ago, and I washed it prior to use, although when I agitate the bottom (usually to stir the horseshoe out of hiding for visiting kids), some powder does come off the bottom, but it usually clears up within 15 minutes or so.

I took the spray nozzles off, and replaced them with an elbow and a short length of straight pipe so that the return water is deposited below the water surface in the DT. Haven't noticed much change yet, but I have been fiddling with the Durso a little bit, raising and lowering it and observing the effects.

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Right now, the frothing due to the air coming down the drain hose is puzzling me. That little air hole in the top there, what is that for?

Shane

 

[sigshane]

<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">What about the air bubbles in the sump?</span>

<span style="color: DarkSlateBlue">The vent hole in the end-cap prevents a full siphon from forming by letting a controlled amount of air enter the standpipe. This air travels down the drain plumbing and into the sump. This can be anything from a mist of fine air bubbles to a rolling boil of bubbles. If left unchecked the air bubbles can make it back to your return pump, get chopped to micro bubbles and sent to the display area distracting the viewer. The air bubbles in the sump can be dealt with in many ways such as using a baffle system, filter sock, refugium, etc.</span>

I think this is my problem...but how to fix it?

Edit: If my drain hose were arranged so that it was as close to a vertical drop as possible, would that allow for more of the air to be vented upward, instead of forced downward by 'gulps' of water that form in the hose bends?

 

[sigshane]

Okay, I would like to thank everyone for their attention, and inputs to my problem solution.

I have made many modifications to my setup, which is probably par for the course when setting up a new system for the first time.

I changed the way water enters the sump, flows through the sump, and is returned to the aquarium. All of my changes have resulted in a clearer aquarium and a more efficient sump system.

Without most of the constructive suggestions here, on this forum, I would still be where I was, which is not very happy with my aquarium. I hope to NEVER be there again. I feel confident that the good people in this group will always help to keep myself and everyone else from there as much as they can.

Thanks to you all, and happy reefing!

Shane

Edit: P.S. Admin, this thread can now be closed.