DAS Ex-1 problem

[shag26272]

My bubbles in the skimmer do not seem right, It is micro bubbles mixed with larger bubbles. All I have it in is saltwater , no rock until tomorrow. I dont see how this would affect the bubble size though. How do I correct this?

[luke33]

Got pix? Whats your sg, does your pump seem to be working properly, nothing is pinching your venturi hose right? Are you running your skimmer internal or external?

[shag26272]

its running externally, everything appears to be working properly, the venturi hose and valve are working properly also. SG 1.026. Skimmer has been running about a week on just the salt water.
These pics are with the air valve all the way open
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/tereebarkburner/DSCN0736.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/tereebarkburner/DSCN0737.jpg

[luke33]

You definately have a problem, it looks like your pump is pulling in air and your nw isn't chopping it up at all. It looks like its running in FW.

What happens when you close your venturi valve just a bit? Do the air bubbles get much smaller.

Have you taken the pump off and inspected the impeller?

[shag26272]

what do you think about too much flow trying to push through the skimmer? when i close it some there are more micro bubbles but no matter what i cant get rid of the large ones, im about to pull the pump now

[luke33]

What pump are you feeding it with?

[sirreal63]

If you can...show us a pic of the pump and how it is connected to the body. Something is drastically wrong. Is the venturi on the pump inlet?

[luke33]

^^^like sirreal said, if the venturi is on the output instead of the input your going to see large bubbles.

[shag26272]

I just took the pump apart and it looks good, the venturi is on the bottom side of the pump

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/tereebarkburner/DSCN0738.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/tereebarkburner/DSCN0739.jpg

[luke33]

What gph is the feed pump your using for it and is it very close to your overflow? The skimmer seems to be set up correctly.

[shag26272]

its teed off of an oceanrunner 2500 625 gph , there is a valve on the return and on the skimmer input. the return pump is exactly on the opposite side of the sump from the return pipe, there are no bubbles in the clear feed tubing

[luke33]

Not sure how much is flowing to the skimmer but you should probably only have 200-300gph going through it. I'm not sure whats going on but something is definately wrong. Have you asked the guys in the das club?

[shag26272]

no response from the DAS thread, it cant be the flow Ive tried anywhere from alot to barely any.

[sirreal63]

The only thing I can see happening here is if the Eheim isn't spinning up to speed. Even with a paddle wheel impeller it would be chopping the bubbles finer. However if it wasn't spinning at the correct rpm's it could possibly move large bubbles of air into the skimmer.

Does the pump get hot while it is running? At this point I would run the pump in water (not attached to the skimmer) and make sure it is putting out a large volume of water. This is really weird.

[luke33]

Dang man, this one is tough. All i can think of is something is wrong with the pump or venturi. Have you taken off the venturi and looked to see if there is plastic partially covering it from the manufacturer. I've seen that before. Other than that or somethiing in the input or output pipes is blocked. I'm stumped. Its tough not seeing it in person.

[shag26272]

i blew through the venturi and its clear

[shag26272]

Im thinking maybe Im pushing too much through it, maybe a gate valve to raise the water level. I will take it out and try it in a deeper bucket of vinegar when I get a chance, its the only thing I can think of

[sirreal63]

The throughput from the feed will not prevent the recirc pump from making bubbles, they work independent of each other.

[JRaquatics]

I would suggest to take the pump off and place it inside your sump or aquarium and see if you get a froth of bubbles. Did you take your impeller out and inspect it? Make sure the magnet has no dimples, cracks or ware marks. Can you take a pic of the pump taken apart? Like Luke said their is something very wrong, it looks as if your running it in fresh water.

[shag26272]

It looks great taken apart, I will take pics later, someone local suggested his Orca did the same thing due to the production oils on it. Later tonight I will put it in a bucket of vinegar/water. I will know for sure if something is wrong then.

[JRaquatics]

This is what my skimmer looked like when I ran it with fresh water.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/rvision/vinegarrince.jpg

And this when I hooked it up to the display.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/rvision/breakingin.jpg

IMO something else is wrong with the pump besides manufacturing oils being present.

[shag26272]

very well may be, Ill post later tonight I dont know what else to try

[painkiller1009]

Wow it does look like its being ran in freshwater. I would for sure try to put the pump in the tank to see if it will make smaller bubbles.
Even when I ran my EX-2 in freshwater and vinegar it had bunches of micro bubbles.

[shag26272]

its in vineger and I have micro bubbles I dont get it

[shag26272]

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b350/tereebarkburner/DSCN0742.jpg

[painkiller1009]

Can we see a pic of the bubbles in the vineger?

[painkiller1009]

You read my mind, lol.
Lookin good in there.
Weird.

[USC-fan]

You sure you have enough salt in your water?

It really looks like you are running it in fresh water.

[shag26272]

its a brand new refractometer, I put about half a bucket of Instant Ocean in it, Ill check it with someone elses tomorrow

[USC-fan]

where do you have the air valve set?

What is your SG of the tank now?

[shag26272]

1.026 not sure where the air valve is at Im about to leave for the Hornets game Ill let it run and check it when I get back

[luke33]

I wonder if your refractometer is calibrated way wrong. If your tank is below .01 then it will look like what you have going on. It looks fine in the vinegar. Yes oils will make it look a bit different for a day but after that it should look pretty normal. Or if you just dumped in the salt it may not be disolved yet.

[shag26272]

I dumped it in about 5 days ago

[shag26272]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12533254#post12533254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luke33
I wonder if your refractometer is calibrated way wrong. If your tank is below .01 then it will look like what you have going on. It looks fine in the vinegar. Yes oils will make it look a bit different for a day but after that it should look pretty normal. Or if you just dumped in the salt it may not be disolved yet.

just mixed up a half gallon of water and 1/4 cup of IO and the refractometer was right, I took it out of the vinegar and its back running on the tank and it doesnt look like its fixed. Im about to go pick up my rock, we'll see if that changes anything. Im also going to email Petorama to see what they say.