Can't get rid of sump drain gurgling

[SkyJunkie]

Just set up my sump for my new 120. Drain is gurgling like crazy. I've tried everything I know to do. Reduced the return flow and/or add a u shape thing into the sump drain line. It seems like the water level in my overflow box is too high, should I take out some water? It seems like I just can't get the durso to not suck air....??

[SkyJunkie]

Just tried to take out water and that just made my return section of the sump drain to almost nothing. I've tried various return flows, and nothing seems to fix it. Surely it's not supposed to be this loud is it? I have to be doing something wrong.

[SkyJunkie]

photos of sump and top of overflow box if that helps. (the cap on the PVC does have a hole but the flash washed it out in the pic)

[IMG]http://i50.*******.com/33a771e.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i47.*******.com/2ch7rlk.jpg[/IMG]

[remix8315544]

Is there a hole in the top of your durso standpipe. I just happened to be watching this video a day or two ago. http://www.vividaquariums.com/sumps-pumps.asp

[kajung2k]

Your durso needs an air hole on top.

I would drill a 1/4" hole on top of your durso. See the last step in the link below

http://www.dursostandpipes.com/make-your-own-diy

[SkyJunkie]

Yes there is a hole there, the flash washed out the pic a bit but its there

[remix8315544]

Not sure, but it also looks like the standpipe is too short. My understanding is that the water level going in should be about in the middle of the horizontal pipe connected to the 90

[hey_frag]

Do you have a ball or gate valve along the overflows line anywhere? I had to tune mine with a ball valve to get it right. I believe durso's need to be restricted shortly after the bulkhead (valve/smaller pipe) to work properly. Also try bigger hole in the cap and maybe even insert a short length of airline tubing down and play around until you find the right height. Hth

[kajung2k]

I believe you are correct. What you here is the drain becoming a full siphon and then it gurgles when there is no water left.

Do you see the water in your overflow lower dramatically for a few seconds and then ill back up?

The drain connected to your sump. Is it under water?

Originally Posted by remix8315544

Not sure, but it also looks like the standpipe is too short. My understanding is that the water level going in should be about in the middle of the horizontal pipe connected to the 90

[kajung2k]

I believe you are correct. What you here is the drain becoming a full siphon and then it gurgles when there is no water left.

Do you see the water in your overflow lower dramatically for a few seconds and then go back up?

The drain connected to your sump. Is it under water?

Originally Posted by remix8315544

Not sure, but it also looks like the standpipe is too short. My understanding is that the water level going in should be about in the middle of the horizontal pipe connected to the 90

[SkyJunkie]

Originally Posted by kajung2k

I believe you are correct. What you here is the drain becoming a full siphon and then it gurgles when there is no water left.

Do you see the water in your overflow lower dramatically for a few seconds and then go back up?

The drain connected to your sump. Is it under water?

I've managed to keep a consistent flow with the return flow amount setting I have right now, but at any other setting the up and down water level thing does happen. It gets quiet for a second then rushes water through. Right now the top of the cap on the standpipe is the same height as the overflow box. You're saying it should stick out of the top and be taller than the tank? Should the water level be above or below the returns?

[SkyJunkie]

Anyone else?

[freeswimmingfis]

When I had a durso setup I had this problem until I cut the flow WAY BACK with a ball valve on the output of my return pump.
I think that you still have too much flow from the return pump.
At the time, I had a Mag 9.5 on my old 90g. I had the valve about 1/2 off. It was then mostly quiet.
On my new 156g, I used "Herbie" drains. Is that an option? My tank is so quiet that I often have to make sure it is running...and it always is!
Hope this helps

[SkyJunkie]

I've tried all levels of return flow and all except the one I have now (slightly closed) make it worse. Besides, with a 120 don't you need significant flow and filtration? If I turn it down almost all the way will it turn enough water?

[VegasMike]

Try this, works great on both my 240's.

Replace the durso fittings at the top of your stand pipe with a fitting that looks somewhat like a bowl. I use a 2"x4" coupling, might be a little different for your use. I then put a 1.5" strainer or whatever size strainer in the bowl to break up flow. It just lays on it's side in the bowl, but is too big to go down the hole. On top of the bowl, I place a drainage grate, like from a shower that perfectly fits the top of the bowl. I had to trim the interior rim of the grate so that the strainer did not prevent it from closing all the way. I also looped a zip tie in the grate to make it easier to remove for cleaning every few months.

I thought everything else a just too complicated. I barely hear my tanks when standing right in front of them. A slime/algae coating also helps to deaden the noise over time but even when I clean the grates, it remains quiet. The loudest part of my tank now is when the auto top off kicks in and the water drips into the sump for 30 minutes or so.

[SkyJunkie]

Do you have a pic of your setup so I can get a visual?

[VegasMike]

Here is what the coupling looks like:

http://sell.bizrice.com/selling-lead...COUPLINGS.html


Here is the grate that goes on top:

http://www.buy.com/prod/4in-round-gr...224871656.html

And the strainer I just lay in the bowl:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquarium...-pvc-strainers

It is pretty easy and cheap to try it out.

[VegasMike]

Ends up looking alot like this, but with more of a bowl like fitting on the bottom and the strainer just lying on the inside to break up any circular flow.



http://www.siouxchief.com/Drainage/C...nection2.QU04W

[SkyJunkie]

My standpipe is 1" so maybe I can find a 1" that has a 2" mouth? Or would 4" be better? Should the bowl be significantly under the waterline or just at the same level so water seeps in?

[VegasMike]

Mine is just under the water line. In fact, the way I see your stand pipe, you might just be able to remove the Durso and see where that gets you. The less water fall the better. If you can't find the correct bowl type fitting, you might need to size it up with another coupling. I am not sure you can get the grates smaller than 3" or 4", so that will be the pacing item. Also not sure about the room in your overflow, but you can determine that.

[SkyJunkie]

Ok managed to find couplings and reducers to get it from a 3" bowl to 1" into the standpipe. Now, hopefully when I get home at try it, it works haha

Thanks for the help! I hope this does the trick

[dwolson2]

I see you have three holes in the bottom, why not do a bean animal design, then it will be silent and failsafe. Only downside, you would have to run your return up the back. If you don't want to do that you could do a herbie, but I would do the bean animal if I were you.

[Canadian125]

have you tried the gurgle buster?

http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/

[awolusa]

The hole is too big

[lagatbezan]

how many drains do you have on the bottom of the tank? if you have two, you can set up a Herbie drain like this: pitch quiet.