RSM 130 Problem Please help!!

[skully]

Hi everyone,

Was just after some advice really, ive recently set up my 130 but i am finding that after a couple of hours the water level in the return pump chamber drops so much that the pumps start chucking out loads of micro bubbles.
After topping the compartment up the micro bubbles stop for a few hours then start up again.

I have since turned one return pump off and i noticed that the water level in the return pump chamber rose significantly, has any one had this issue?

The tanks running at 28 degrees and i couldnt work out why until i started writing this when i remembered that i got given 2 hoods with the tank and the previous owner (i havent!!:o) may not have moved over the fans from the hood that he was using to the brand new one i am using, so to cut a long story short is the disappearing water down to the heat my tank is running at?

Any advice would be great and sorry for the waffling!!:thanks:

[skully]

sorry the tank is running at between 28.2 and 29, sometimes slightly higher.

[ergo]

Highly unlikely that it is due to evaporation if it is happening within a couple of hours.

You will need the fans, so make sure the hood you are using has them. The fans are fitted at teh end of the lights, there are 2 of them - I am amazed you cannot hear them!! Last summer (and let's face it, it was rubbish) my tank ran at 28, hitting 30 on one day at which point i bought a chiller. If this summer is going to be better than last year you will need one!

Make sure the sponges before the skimmer are cleaned out, and try removing the bag of rubble that sits under the powerheads - it may be blocked up/reducing the flow.I threw that bag of ceramic stuff away and put some live rock rubble in the bottom of the chamber.

I also added some flexible pipe to the bottom of each powerhead to extend the water in-take of the powerheads so there is no chance of them sucking in air along with the water.

[redseasteve]

The lack of flow to the pumps can be caused by a few issues. You may find it useful to download the manual from www.redseamax.com to check you have everything set up properly. To start with ensure you only use the white felt pad for short term 'polishing' of the water, as it will block quickly. Do not add rubble or any other non-Max media to the filter, especially other brands of carbon etc which may be in finer bags than are supplied with the Max carbon. Ensure the inlet shutter is in its lowest position and is clean. Regarding the fans I would suggest you purchase a water cooling fan which is supplied with lv transformer and sits in the purpose built fitting at the back left of the tank. This will reduce temperature by up to 2C. You MUST ensure you have the fans in the hood working properly or you will overheat not only the water but the components. If you look through the grill at the RH side of the hood you will see the fans. Make sure they are turning whenever the PC lighting is on.

[skully]

Thanks for the info guys will get onto it when i get in,

Cheers again!

[redseasteve]

Any probs, PM me with an email address and I'll see if I can help you out. All the best, Steve

[skully]

It looks as tho everything is working fine now, the temp issue seems to have resolved itself ive turned the thermom down to 24 degrees and it is now running between 26.5 and 28.5 so alls good there.

With regards to the micro bubble problem with the return pumps i think it may have been down to me using some juwel carbon stuff in the return chamber and since ive removed it all seems to be fine and back up to using both pumps now.

There was fans in the hood working fine, these are actually alot quieter compared to my old orca450l!

Thanks for your help everyone.

[Linds]

Hi Skully

hot off the press with reagrd to ur micro bubbles, Steve also suggested using H2Ocean or red sea salt, as most other salts are chemically synthesised and therefore need a bulking agent (can't remember the name) The first 2 salts are harvested naturally and therefore work more efficiently with skimmers.

(if you read this Steve....I was paying attention :-)

[skully]

Thanks linds, i do use red sea salt as i have heard that from someone else so it must be true!! Funnily enough the micro bubble issue has just returned today, the tank is set up as per the manual, but i have to turn off the one of the return pumps to stop it.

I may add some piping to the tubes that are at the bottom of the return pumps to lower the intake level, but apart from that im out of ideas!! thanks for the heads up mate!!

[juls]

:) def add some flexible pipe to the bottom of each powerhead to extend the water in-take of the powerheads :thumbsup: worked a treat for me :thumbsup:

[Linds]

Have u got the new skimmer grill attachment, cos it does take some fiddling around with to get the level set right. I've found that there is less tolerance of lover water levels with the skimmer grill upgrade although the advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages. If the water level gets a little low then the pumps can pull more water than the tank can deliver and u get bubbles again

[Linds]

lol, that should read lower and lot lover, I've really got to learn to read my posts before is submit them

[whipitup]

Mine was playing up a bit today in the micro bubble dept. I checked the water level and it seemed as high as it would go, but, what I hadn't noticed is that the surface skimmer and dropped down about 5 mm.

I raised it up, topped the tank off and everything was fine again.