HELP with wet dry system

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fishingaddict

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 25, 2006
1,092
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houston, texas
im having more trouble with my wet dry system. for some reason my return keeps shooting air into my tank.. its not continuous air shooting in, but sporatice. i donno where the air is coming from.. but ihear a sucking noise and then air shoots into the return spray bar i have set up. where could the problem lie.. its really annoying me. the water in the sump isnt low either.. the pipe from sump to the pump is fully submerge so i dont see how air is getting into the system.. possibly the check valve? how could that be.. can someone please help and explain to me whats wrong.

thanks
the deal i have, i think is a ball check valve, it looks like this one here
valve.jpg


this is how i have it set up.
tank filter.JPG
 
Are you using a check valve on the return line?From your pump to the tank?
If so it is probably acting like a venturi in a powerhead.I don't know why you would have this like that.Check valves are usually used for your overflow from the tank to your sump to make it easy to prime the overflow pipe.
Or is that just a ball type valve to adjust flow?
 
It's never simple is it?!

You've got the check valve the in case of power failure right?

Usually air sucking is before the pump.

A cheap stethoscope can help you find it, or a piece of 1" tubing used as one.

Block the return at the tank and see if it starts spraying out from any connections.

Did you use teflon tape on the check valve threads?

Keep us posted.

Dr Joe

.
 
i fixed the problem.. i was wrong the tube from my sump to pump wasnt quite submerged as much as i thought.. and it would barely catch some air and shoot it out..

i have a check valve on the return because the spray bar i created is lower than the overflow box.. and i tested it by switching off the pump.. and when i switch off the pump the water siphons infrom the spray bar and can overflow my sump.. so basically it back tracks through my return so i have check there to stop it.
 
Jumping too quick is still easier than cleaning up alot of water on the floor.

Glad you found the problem,

Dr Joe

.
 
fishingaddict;818875; said:
i fixed the problem.. i was wrong the tube from my sump to pump wasnt quite submerged as much as i thought.. and it would barely catch some air and shoot it out..

i have a check valve on the return because the spray bar i created is lower than the overflow box.. and i tested it by switching off the pump.. and when i switch off the pump the water siphons infrom the spray bar and can overflow my sump.. so basically it back tracks through my return so i have check there to stop it.
Click to expand...

I understand your setup now.Why not keep your spray rails higher though to avoid relying on the checkvalve to stop back flow.I would be paranoid about the check valve failing,even from build up in the line after some time or debris in the case of power outage.With the spray rails higher , nothing can fail.Just my 2 cents.
Glad you found the problem though:)
 
i set up the spray bar like that so i wouldnt have all these bubbles in my tank due to the spray bar breaking the surface of the water from the top.. and when i had it on top aiming down, the sand would move all over.. so i had to lower the bar and aim it up. i didnt wanna put it too low either, but 3/4" pvc connects in such ways where it ended a bit lower than i wanted. so the solution.. check valve.
 
Dr Joe;818883; said:
Jumping too quick is still easier than cleaning up alot of water on the floor.

Glad you found the problem,

Dr Joe

.
Click to expand...

too right.
 
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