Water fall sound

I noticed tonight something a bit strange. I'm sure if it had been doing it all along I would have noticed it before now.

Sometimes I notice the overflow-waterfall-sound being pretty loud. What I'm hearing tonight is Its loud and then the sound gradually decreases and then gradually increases. I was watchin the overflow area and saw where the water was having to fall further than usual. As soon as it hits its low point then the water line in the overflow gradually increases thereby lessening the water fall sound. As soon as it reaches its height with little noise then the water level in the overflow starts dropping again and the further it drops the noisier it is.

What's going on here? Is it anything that I should be concerned with? Its kind of strange watching the water line go up and down.

Any suggestions?

Cindy

 

Do you have a pic? does it sound like a toilet flushing sortof?

Mine does that when the return pumps are a hair faster than the overflow. Do you have prefilters that need to be cleaned?

 

well when my filter does that it usually means that i need to add water to the tank...this is because as u all know if water is droped from a higher point it will make a splash when it hits the water causing that sound...so just add some water probably it evaporated my $0.02

 

do you have a dorso style standpipe ? If so, you might need to adjust the level of the overflow pipe. I'm real tired so I may have mis-understood your problem, but my AGA with the mega-overflow, did the same thing , and I had to play with the pipe height to get it as smooth as possible. I think this is the place to read up on these problems. http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

A low water level , as said before, might also be the fix...

good luck!!!

Scoffer

 

It couldn't be from evaporation because I have an automatic top off system.

I don't have pics but I'll try to get them. It does sort of have that flushing sound.

I have no filters other than my skimmer and sponge. I changed it out about 6 days ago and did about a 35 gl water change before going out of town for a convention . BL I've been at the Mid-Winter Dental Conference in Dallas this past week and week end. Just got in this afternoon so I need to clean out my skimmer and sponge, but that's not it. My sump does bubble and gurgle a lot but then it always has. I think when it is bubbling its hardest is when the water level in the overflow is droping.

I guess I could try putting a little more water in it tomorrow and see if it makes a difference.


Cindy

 

Does it have airline tubing in the pipe? Sometimes that needs adjusting as well....more help with pics...

 

Here's just a few pics of my plumbing. There is one side view and a couple from the top. I didn't know how to just pull out those 3 for you to see.

The side view shows the water level where it usually is. It gradually drops down at least 6 inches or so from the water level you see there and then comes back up. It does it with in 30-60 sec.

I'll try and get some other pics for you tomorrow. You know how it is when youve been out of the office for a few days. We are going to be running tomorrow and I need to get to bed shortly.

Cindy

 

Scoffer, somehow I had missed your post. I've been told that I have the dorso standpipe. YOu can see some pics from my last post. I have a link to the pics.

Thanks, Cindy

 

Sorry, I forgot the link-Here it is:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/perio...p;.done=http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Cindy

 

Yep, thats a Dorso standpipe setup. Looks like either a generic or different-brand style. Mine has the ability to adjust the height of the drain pipe, I don't think yours does. Since this problem is new, I'd say something has changed. There is a small hole in the top of the drain pipe, can you take something like a wire wrap, or pipe cleaner, and clean out that hole really good. Sounds like your drainage is "burping" to me.

That little hole on top of the drain pipe is what controls the speed of the drain. The bigger the hole, the faster is drains. You don't want the overflow box to drain out below the curve before the water can flows into the overflow. The little air hole in top may be getting clogged, slowing the drain process. Goo, growth, whatever, may be stopping air from entering the drain pipe, making the system, "burp" for air.

Place your finger on the hole and see if the problem immed. occurs, or if the water level quickly changes at least, it should with a quick change to that hole. If nothing happens, that hole almost has to be clogged up.

You could make it bigger, a small drill bit, BUT....take caution on this kind of mod!!!

hope this helps...you have a wonderful setup!!!

and cute little furry ones!!!!

Scoffer