Sea Swirl HELP Pump size & bubles.

[Osama]

Hi; I could not leave my tank that is doing well alone I had to improve circulation ( Really needed because of the growth in the tank). Of course one of my big corals is now in three big pieces & few smaller pieces. My question and I need your input especially from those who have or have used sea-swirl. I got two of the 3/4 inch size. Mounted them got some water on the floor but hey I always get water on the floor. I have two questions:
a) Too many bubbles; what are the possible sources of the bubbles
b) My pump is much too powerful. I have a mak 5 rated at 1800gph & each sea swirl capacity is for 850gph So I figured 1800 would work fine for sea swirls that require 2X850=1700gph plus losses from bends etc.. I have too much water blowing everything in its path & the noise is impossible. I need your suggested pump size for the two 3/4 inch sea-swirl AND a quitest pump known to the hobby.... Please your thoughts with my thanks....

 

[Anonymous]

you can throttle it down can't you?

i don't know how much circulation you need (tank size?), but i would consider keeping the oversized pump for other possible uses like a refugium or remote sump. but then i don't have a clue as to your present setup.

have you done any deafening measures such as insulating the pump enclosure, etc.?

 

[Osama]

Podman: I have a heavily populated 180g reeef tank. Circulation is maily one return Mac 5 pump from the basement. Return water distributed through PVC with holes throughout the tank. Worked great for three years with some rio in tank pumps that I took out I now need to circulate flow around all the growing corals Sea swirl will do a great job after I stop the bubbles & use a smaller pump . One suggestion I received is to add more outlets from the same pumps that is serving the sea swril.
I appreciate guidance also on the size pump to use with 2 sea swirls alone. I need gentle motion otherwise I can damage the corals.

 

[Osama]

Bubbles solved; inlet pipe needed to be sealed better at acouple of joints.
I added a cvalve to control flow into he sea swils & later on I may add two extra returns maybe.
NOW how about noise isolation any suggestions of how to best isolate the pump noise & vibration ...

 

[Anonymous]

NOW how about noise isolation any suggestions of how to best isolate the pump noise & vibration ...

first you need to mount the pump on a rubber or vibration deadening pad of some sort. then you can insulate the mechanical box (?) and/ or insulate a pump housing box to cover the pump. that will improve noise in the basement if that is where the annoyance is.

if it is a noise problem at the site of the tank, then wait awhile, the noise of flowing water through your pvc will subside.

 

[Osama]

Podman; first Thanks for your input. Pump for sea swirl is only pump not in the basement. It is under the tank. Wife & I have enjoyed a noise free surroundings with the tank in the study & all equipment in the basement. I will get some rubber isolation pads put under the pump feet & will try & research on this site about noise damping material. More like sound attenuation material; expensive stuff that I recall the discussion here on this board. I think Mike Miltz from the Chicago area started it. ...anyway... If someone has the info before I locate it please post it. I will do the same if I find the discussion & site first. NOW back to work at the hobby .

 

[Mac1]

I've heard of people just using mousepads as mounts for their pumps, with great success. Too bad AOL doesn't give away free mouse pads w/ every CD....

- Mac

 

[goofyreefer]

Osama was the pump noisey before you added the sea swirls or was the pump added at the same time as the sea swirls?

 

[Osama]

Mac;I will try the mouse pads .
gooffy: I have all my equipment in the basement. I just addd a pump to the upstairs tank when I got the sea swirl. It is mostly vibration from the pump . The pump noise itself is not bad...

 

[Mogo]

A mouse pad! Great idea! I was looking for something around here that I could use, to further deaden pump vibes, thinking some sort of rubber mat would be the ticket. Didn't find anything suitable. Styrofoam? Naah. A mouse pad! Perfect. I'm sure my mouse will be ok for a bit while I steal his home.