Bubbles in BRS dosing effluent lines

Volcmreefer · 03/02/2018, 04:54 PM

Hello Reefers! I am setting up right now to start dosing Aquaforest 1,2,3 and I was noticing while priming the lines that I am getting bubbles in them (all 3 effluent lines). I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle. Is there something that I am missing? Not sure why/how air is getting in the lines. Any ideas? Do I have some bad dosers? Thanks in advance and Reef On!

-Jon

Phixman · 03/02/2018, 07:17 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by 'I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle.'

This is what I would recommend-
Make sure the tubing is properly hooked up to the dosing pumps

Use glasses of water as your reservoirs, make sure the 'in line' is fully submerged in the solution inside the glass of water.

Run the dosing pumps for a few minutes and see if the bubbles go away.

Volcmreefer · 03/02/2018, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phixman

I'm not sure what you mean by 'I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle.'

BRS bulkheads are white fittings that attach to the lid. Both sides of the fitting are "push" fittings for 1/4' soft tubing. I have one going in from the doser (influent line) and the other attached to the bottom of the fitting that is going into the container itself.

I will try reconnecting the lines and running the pump again. Maybe that's it. I would think that it would be air-tight though...

bertoni · 03/03/2018, 03:27 PM

I think that the air bubbles would go away over time unless the air is entering at the open end of the tubing. I'm assuming that the tubing drips the solution into the tank. Either way, the pumps should be fine.

Volcmreefer · 03/03/2018, 07:25 PM

Thanks. I was just a little concerned about dosing the right ml’s due to the bubbles in the line. Have a reefkeeper and run it a certain time based on dosage. I guess I just will have to adjust as I see fit to get the correct ml’s per day. I might just take the bulkheads out of the lid and run the tubing straight into the container to prevent any bubbles.

bertoni · 03/03/2018, 08:45 PM

If the bubbles are entering from the supplement container itself, they might be an issue. I don't what your setup is like, but that'd be unusual for most equipment.

Volcmreefer · 03/05/2018, 11:38 AM

Thanks Jonathan. Anyone else have this issue? Maybe the dosers have to run for a while before the bubbles disappear? Is there a certain way that you need to "prime" them? Thanks again RC. You guys/gals are great.

bertoni · 03/05/2018, 07:59 PM

I haven't heard of this sort of problem, but I'm not sure how much that actually means. I think the pump would flush the lines during the first dose, dependingo on the length of the line and the size of the dose. Have you watched what happens when the pump runs?

Steveb · 03/06/2018, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phixman

I'm not sure what you mean by 'I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle.'

This

and this

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRS

Tip: By drilling a hole in the removable top on the jugs and purchasing a few 1/4" tank adapter bulkheads and 1/4" clear acrylic tubing will let you connect standard dosing pump tubing directly to the jugs.

Steveb · 03/06/2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volcmreefer

Thanks Jonathan. Anyone else have this issue? Maybe the dosers have to run for a while before the bubbles disappear? Is there a certain way that you need to "prime" them? Thanks again RC. You guys/gals are great.

I'm not using BRS dosers but when my I had my reservoirs about 42" below the dosing pumps I had issues with bubbles getting in the line between dosing container and pump.

Now that they are at same level only issue I have is bubbles getting in the output side... its been frustrating..

Volcmreefer · 03/06/2018, 11:32 AM

Exactly Steve. Using regular RO lines instead of the rigid line above though. I think that I am going to try running the stuff tubing that I got with the dosers on the inlet side and see if that makes a difference. Containers are only about 12 inches below the dosers, so that shouldn’t be the issue. We shall see..

Phixman · 03/06/2018, 11:40 AM

Just something you might want to keep in mind, I read somewhere where a guy put his reservoirs above his DOS pumps and it created a siphon and dosed like 1 gallon full of Alk or something.

Volcmreefer · 03/06/2018, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phixman

Just something you might want to keep in mind, I read somewhere where a guy put his reservoirs above his DOS pumps and it created a siphon and dosed like 1 gallon full of Alk or something.

Wow! Thanks for the tip. Yeah, containers are below the dosers right now and will stay that way. Just find it odd that people use those bulkheads and they allow air in the lines. That is the only location that I can think of where air is introduced. Dosing containers are full

Vinny Kreyling · 03/06/2018, 12:05 PM

Installing 1 now. I will run the input through the top of the container with a fit snug to hold the hose but not air tight using the stiff hose.
Output also stiff hose to the sump.
No connections just straight tubing all the way.

Volcmreefer · 03/06/2018, 12:20 PM

Yeah, looks like I am going to have to run straight tubing. Too bad I already drilled holes for the bulkheads. Does anyone know if Aquaforest Component 1,2,3 has to be sealed when dosing? Going with the stiff tubing all the way, I think.

Steveb · 03/06/2018, 01:18 PM

This is mine... hadn’t considered siphoning but i guess that could happen if the rollers weren’t tight.

Its kind of ugly but gets the job done. Originally i was using 1 gal containers hence the long length of rigid tubing...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mohammed · 03/06/2018, 01:42 PM

Hi,

Had similar issues with a Jeboa doser. Swapped the airlines for medical grade silicone tubing and problem was resolved. Just ensure the rigid pipes are fitted all the way into the pushfit bulkhead. On the rigid to silicone join my dosing container has small irrigation nipples fitted onto the ro pipes and normal airline sucked in air at this point. Once i swapped to silicone the join is more snug.

Volcmreefer · 03/06/2018, 04:25 PM

Thanks Mohammed! Where did you pick up the silicone tubing? Reef shop online?

Steveb · 03/06/2018, 04:38 PM

Usplastics.com is one source.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Mohammed · 03/08/2018, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volcmreefer

Thanks Mohammed! Where did you pick up the silicone tubing? Reef shop online?

https://************.com/2018/02/16/...irline-tubing/

I got mine from a medical supply place in my country. But i see cobalt aqautics are doing coloured ones. Hope the link works. Reef Builders did a piece on it hope a quick Google search should yield results if link doesn't work.

dubmaneh · 03/10/2018, 06:46 AM

Hopefully you got this figured out but if not, how old are your dosers?

I had the same problem with BRS dosers losing their prime after a few years. After driving myself crazy checking all the connection points, it turned out the internal tubing was old and losing the seal. It looses its elasticity over time and needs to be replaced every so often (I think they recommend annually).

Volcmreefer · 03/10/2018, 03:10 PM

Still have bubbles but they aren’t exiting the effluent lines. I am thinking about switching my tubing to the rigid type to see if it helps. Thanks for the follow up!

03/02/2018, 04:54 PM	#1
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Bubbles in BRS dosing effluent lines Hello Reefers! I am setting up right now to start dosing Aquaforest 1,2,3 and I was noticing while priming the lines that I am getting bubbles in them (all 3 effluent lines). I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle. Is there something that I am missing? Not sure why/how air is getting in the lines. Any ideas? Do I have some bad dosers? Thanks in advance and Reef On! -Jon

03/02/2018, 07:17 PM	#2
Phixman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 176	I'm not sure what you mean by 'I am using the BRS bulkheads that attach to the container lids and basic clear 1/4' tubing in the bottle.' This is what I would recommend- Make sure the tubing is properly hooked up to the dosing pumps Use glasses of water as your reservoirs, make sure the 'in line' is fully submerged in the solution inside the glass of water. Run the dosing pumps for a few minutes and see if the bubbles go away. Last edited by Phixman; 03/02/2018 at 07:43 PM.

03/03/2018, 03:27 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I think that the air bubbles would go away over time unless the air is entering at the open end of the tubing. I'm assuming that the tubing drips the solution into the tank. Either way, the pumps should be fine. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/03/2018, 08:45 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the bubbles are entering from the supplement container itself, they might be an issue. I don't what your setup is like, but that'd be unusual for most equipment. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/05/2018, 07:59 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I haven't heard of this sort of problem, but I'm not sure how much that actually means. I think the pump would flush the lines during the first dose, dependingo on the length of the line and the size of the dose. Have you watched what happens when the pump runs? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/03/2018, 07:25 PM	#5
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Thanks. I was just a little concerned about dosing the right ml’s due to the bubbles in the line. Have a reefkeeper and run it a certain time based on dosage. I guess I just will have to adjust as I see fit to get the correct ml’s per day. I might just take the bulkheads out of the lid and run the tubing straight into the container to prevent any bubbles.

03/05/2018, 11:38 AM	#7
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Thanks Jonathan. Anyone else have this issue? Maybe the dosers have to run for a while before the bubbles disappear? Is there a certain way that you need to "prime" them? Thanks again RC. You guys/gals are great.

03/06/2018, 11:32 AM	#11
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Exactly Steve. Using regular RO lines instead of the rigid line above though. I think that I am going to try running the stuff tubing that I got with the dosers on the inlet side and see if that makes a difference. Containers are only about 12 inches below the dosers, so that shouldn’t be the issue. We shall see..

03/06/2018, 11:40 AM	#12
Phixman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Lynnwood, WA Posts: 176	Just something you might want to keep in mind, I read somewhere where a guy put his reservoirs above his DOS pumps and it created a siphon and dosed like 1 gallon full of Alk or something.

03/06/2018, 12:05 PM	#14
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Installing 1 now. I will run the input through the top of the container with a fit snug to hold the hose but not air tight using the stiff hose. Output also stiff hose to the sump. No connections just straight tubing all the way. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

03/06/2018, 12:20 PM	#15
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Yeah, looks like I am going to have to run straight tubing. Too bad I already drilled holes for the bulkheads. Does anyone know if Aquaforest Component 1,2,3 has to be sealed when dosing? Going with the stiff tubing all the way, I think.

03/06/2018, 01:18 PM	#16
Steveb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,090	Bubbles in BRS dosing effluent lines This is mine... hadn’t considered siphoning but i guess that could happen if the rollers weren’t tight. Its kind of ugly but gets the job done. Originally i was using 1 gal containers hence the long length of rigid tubing... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Steve My Tanks 50x30 ABS Tub & a 48x24 frag tank at the moment Steve's Reef 265 Build In Progress

03/06/2018, 01:42 PM	#17
Mohammed Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 104	Hi, Had similar issues with a Jeboa doser. Swapped the airlines for medical grade silicone tubing and problem was resolved. Just ensure the rigid pipes are fitted all the way into the pushfit bulkhead. On the rigid to silicone join my dosing container has small irrigation nipples fitted onto the ro pipes and normal airline sucked in air at this point. Once i swapped to silicone the join is more snug.

03/06/2018, 04:25 PM	#18
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Thanks Mohammed! Where did you pick up the silicone tubing? Reef shop online?

03/06/2018, 04:38 PM	#19
Steveb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,090	Usplastics.com is one source. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Steve My Tanks 50x30 ABS Tub & a 48x24 frag tank at the moment Steve's Reef 265 Build In Progress

03/10/2018, 06:46 AM	#21
dubmaneh Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 271	Hopefully you got this figured out but if not, how old are your dosers? I had the same problem with BRS dosers losing their prime after a few years. After driving myself crazy checking all the connection points, it turned out the internal tubing was old and losing the seal. It looses its elasticity over time and needs to be replaced every so often (I think they recommend annually).

03/10/2018, 03:10 PM	#22
Volcmreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, FL Posts: 346	Still have bubbles but they aren’t exiting the effluent lines. I am thinking about switching my tubing to the rigid type to see if it helps. Thanks for the follow up!