...need help with gurgling flushing sounds

Just wanted to add that my durso pipe is crammed into my overflow, the cap with the hole in it is sitting about 2-3 inches under the water level of my tank and the water in the overflow is about 2 inches below the cap of the durso.. Just wondering if simply drilling the hold bigger will fix it? Or should I install a ball valve?
With regards to the ball valve I would have to drain my sump so the overflow can empty into the sump allowing me to cut the hose and install the valve? Is that correct?

 

I was talking to the guy at my LFS and he said that gurgling and flushing noise will stop once some algae has built up after a few weeks of the tank running in. I still think the ball valve is a good idea, he said to mount it on the hard PVC tube that goes into my sump from the overflow, not on the soft plastic tube going from the pump up into the tank. I got the idea from what was said on here to do the later, restricting the pump.. Is that correct? Will this put extra strain on the pump?

 

It will slow the amount of volume going into the tank, and slow the water exiting the tank down, quieting the noise down and allowing a smoother flow of water. It will restrict the volume and cause a little more pressure on the pump, but nothing it can't handle. I have two return pumps that feed my DT, and I had to restirict one of the pumps a small amount to allow for a smoother flow out of the over flow box. Make sure the check valve is plastic ( home depot / lowes ) and you get the correct adapters to attach it to the proper size hose. Then just turn it down a little and watch the volume in the tank and over flow. No need to drain anything.....also this is a good time to ensure your sump will handle a power outage ....sufficient room for the back flow of water should the electricity go out.

good times !!

 

One other question.. How long should the hard PVC pipe be that comes out of my bulkhead into the sump? I read it should only be like 1-2inches below the water level. Because mine is prob about 4inches underwater, would this be causing any problems?

Thanks everyone

 

Yes, this will cause some back pressure problems and is exacerbating your current issue. It's not the entire cause of it but is definitely adds to the problem.

 

To cut down the PVC pipe I'll have to drain the overflow won't I? Or drain the sump completely so all the water from the overflow can empty allowing me to unscrew that pipe and cut it down?

 

Yes, that's right, fezzz. To remove that standpipe from your overflow you will have to drain the overflow. The order of events might be something like this:

1. unplug the main (return) pump.
2. drain enough water out of the display tank so that the level is below the cutouts of the overflow--to prevent water from entering the overflow area.
3. remove enough water from your sump, so that you can simply lift the standpipe out, allowing the overflow area to drain into your sump without flooding the sump.

Reserve all water you remove in a clean receptacle.

When you're finished working with the standpipe, re-insert it, and pour a sufficient amount of water back into the display, until the overflow fills back up, then restart your main pump.

Don't leave the area until you've spent at least 15 minutes monitoring everything for leaks and have confidence you prevailed.

If you're lengthening the standpipe, make sure you have some new saltwater mixed, as you'll need a bit more water after the job is done.

Good luck!

 

was just going to post this link

 

Well I just installed my ball valve, which has helped already, only thing is if I adjust it until the gurgling noise stops nearly all together than I get this loud drip kinds noise comes out the hole in the top of my durso pipe. When this noise occurs there is also a few drops of water pushed out the hole. Sounds like there's too much pressure in the durso? Is that correct.. At the moment I've got it balanced between the gurgling sound and the noise from the top of the durso.
Does anyone know how to fix this? Do I drill the hole bigger in the durso cap?

Thanks fellas

 

from the bottom of the durso to the pump, is it pvc or flex, if it is flex make sure that the angle is down all the way and does not curve up causing back pressure which will cause a suction when it gets enough build up. I had this problem with flex, again just make sure that it is a downhill flow all the way and you wont need the ball valve, if it is pvc and you have a right angle into the sump you need to change it to a T with an extention on the top side so that i will suck air from there instead of all the way through the pvc to the top of the durso, the right angle will cause a back pressure also so if you can cut it off at the sump you will not get that suction.