Micro bubbles from return, sucking air from somewhere?

[Mr Bojangles]

ok, here is what I noticed, I have a mag9 return, it sucks water from 1 inch pvc that goes into 3/4 pvc so it doesnt cavitate. Then its goes from a 3/4 pvc T'ee to two 1/2 pvc pipes that goes into a plastic tube, then to a hang on back return nozzle from line lock. Now one side spits out micro bubbles and the other side dose not. I am thinking that it is sucking air from some where in the PVC but I cant find it. Am I missing something?

[onano]

I have a Mag 9 mounted externally and while mine is not split like yours I do get a lot of microbubbles in my return. I think my pump is cavitating. I can restrict the outflow by adjusting a t-valve in the return. When I do this the pump quiets down and I get fewer bubbles but I lose a ton of flow. I am curious as to your staggered piping. Do you have any pics.

[mc-cro]

it sounds like its sucking air on the one side.
can you close off the one side and make all the flow come
out the other? if no air bubbles, remake your fittings,
if you still have bubbles, look further down the line

[Mr Bojangles]

well here you can see my plumbing, I redid the pipes by wrapping tape around them and regluing and I still get bubbles. Yes if I shut one side off I get no bubbles.

http://www.reefers.org/album/images/3583_361897.JPG http://www.reefers.org/album/images/3583_361896.JPG http://www.reefers.org/album/images/3583_352695.JPG

[barjam]

onano: I would bet you have a pin hole leak after the pump. When you increase velocity it draws in air. Is this new plumbing? Sometimes salt creep will kinda plug the hole.

In my case I dabbed silicon around all the joints and tightened up my clamps a tad and the problem went away.

Mr Bojangles: Wouldn't that setup double the head pressure on the pump? Not that it really pertains to the question though.

Can you shutdown either side to turn off the bubbles on the other?

[zeusfc]

simple! if the bubbles stop when you shut one side, then the leak is in the side you've shut off!

[wiley0717]

I would say at the hose barbs. While your pump is running shut the one side off (so water stays in the tube) and let it sit for the day, if you have a pin hole water will eventually leak from there. You are running about exactly the same piping I had on my tank and that's where mine leaked from. Mine was leaking at the the barb and I was able to press in some Plumbers grease (pure silicone grease) to plug the pin hole

[Icefire]

Locline draw air when not submerged