Please validate bubble box

[Mihai]

Here's the plan for a bubble box that is meant to remove bubbles from the water coming from my upstream refugium before it gets into the display tank (I've had it with the bubbles in the display!).

The box itself is a 1 gal rubbermaid box from Walmart and I intend to keep it closed (sealed even). The water comes from the refugium and gets out through the exit on the right (ideally after getting separated from bubbles by the baffle). The exit on the left has a 90 elbow pointing up inside the box and is for the air and insurance in case the one on the right gets clogged. Normally no water gets out through there. The unit is supposed to hang on the back of the display (resting on the exits).

A few questions:
1) Am I missing anything?
2) I'm planning to use 3/4" PVC pipes for the exits, although I'm sure that 1/2" can handle the flow - should I go 1/2"?
3) Is there something I can do to increase the efficiency of the separation? I assume that the baffle should be towards the right side and rather low, is another baffle (or several) in any position (not necessarily vertical) further helping?

Thanks a lot,
Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

seems good. Just make sure your output tube goes down into the tank far enough so bubbles won't escape into the tank.

My hang on fuge output is above the water line. I have to keep a piece of hose on there so it doens't splash/bubble everywhere. But as teh water level changes, I sometimes get bubbles escaping. And since it's only a 50gph pump, the bubbles aren't coming from the fuge. they're from when the water from eht fuge rolls down the pipe and hits the tank water. Air mixes in and bubbles out.


B

 

[dizzy]

I think your out to tank pipe should be turned down under the water to keep from picking up air at that point.

 

[Mihai]

seems good. Just make sure your output tube goes down into the tank far enough so bubbles won't escape into the tank.

My hang on fuge output is above the water line. I have to keep a piece of hose on there so it doens't splash/bubble everywhere. But as teh water level changes, I sometimes get bubbles escaping. And since it's only a 50gph pump, the bubbles aren't coming from the fuge. they're from when the water from eht fuge rolls down the pipe and hits the tank water. Air mixes in and bubbles out.

I think your out to tank pipe should be turned down under the water to keep from picking up air at that point.

If I understand correctly you both tell me that the exit pipe that carries water to the tank has to go a bit more under the water such that it does not splash/suck air where it enters. I'll make sure of that. I'm a bit reluctant to turn the pipe vertical as it will likely start to splash when it falls vertically and that would result both in bubbles and noise.

Thanks,
Mihai