Durso

[GiantBen]

Hi all,

Sorry I couldn't make the last meeting (family event), but it looked like it was going to be sweet.

So I got my new tank all setup in the house, but the Durso is being very noisy. I'll try and get some pictures up, but the problem is essentially this:

Every so often the water in the over flow box lowers to the level of the intake pipe on the durso and makes a loud slurping noise. I am wondering if maybe the air intake hole is too small? The pipe is a one inch pipe. The air hole is like 1/8" or so max. I can get the noise to happen by putting my finger over the air intake hole, which is why I suspected that enlarging this hole may help. Is there any down side to doing this? I assume PVC/Fusion paint shavings getting into my filter sock is no big deal?

Thanks!

-Ben

 

[northbay-reefer]

slurping noise is from the flushing of water going through the pipe. Make the air hole bigger

 

[Reef Bass]

Downside would be possibly loosing that slurping sound you love so much.

 

[coralfarmer]

What size and kind of tubing are you using to your sump? Are there any elbows or loops to the sump? Or is it a straight shot. And what size return pump r u using? And I'm assuming u built the Durso yourself if so is the height adjustable? Sometimes it is a combination of factors that causes flushing sound. eg. flow rate verses bulkhead and tubing size.

 

[GiantBen]

Yeah I built it myself, you found my other thread that shows some images of it. There are two elbows. It goes down the back of the stand, into the stand and then down into the sump. The pipe is 1" PVC, all glued except a union and one other threaded connection. I can not change the height, but I could rebuild it. I don't want to make it taller, because right now it doesn't show out of the top of the tank. I could lower it, but I don't want a lower water level either.

I increased the hole size and it no longer has the toilet flushing effect, where the water level in the overlow dropps occasionally, but it is still loud. I am thinking of making several secondary holes around the single 1/4" hole in the center of the cap.

Also, the drain pipe is a little above the water line. Would extending this to be under the water line in the sump have any effect?

Thanks all.

 

[northbay-reefer]

It is loud from what Ben? the water hitting the sump loud ?

 

[justin_cutri]

+1 bigger hole

 

[GiantBen]

Tom, the noise is a slurping sound coming from the durso pipe.

I made the hole bigger and the whilepool effect, where the water occasionally drained out of the overflow area stopped, but the durso is loudly slurping now. I wasn't sure if this meant not enough air was getting in, so I made a few more holes.

At this point I am pretty sure the drain is all messed up. No big deal, as I have the parts to make another one. Or I might just try plugging some of them with rubber corks. I'm guessing (in retrospect) that the goal should be to get as small a hole as possible without the drain "toilet flushing" occasionally happening.



I made the hole bigger

 

[GiantBen]

I'm starting to believe that the real problem is that my drain pipe might not be big enough. I'll verify the specs on my pump and post the info here later. Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Reef Bass]

That is possible. As a general rule of thumb, many people (myself included) run a 3/4" return to the tank from the sump, and a 1" drain from the tank to the sump. The drain to the sump being physically larger than the return from the sump is what ensures joyous (though arguably noisy and in need of durso'ing) drain regardless of the flow from the pump.

 

[coralfarmer]

Ben, I like the All Glass brand overflow kits they are around $60-$70 but worth it.

 

[northbay-reefer]

I'm starting to believe that the real problem is that my drain pipe might not be big enough. I'll verify the specs on my pump and post the info here later. Thanks for all the help so far.

Once way to test is turn down the pump to see if the sound stop. If it does then your drain pipe is too small.

 

[GiantBen]

When teh pump is turned down as far as it will go, the noise is still there.

Can anyone tell me why a smaller hole would be better on the durso? Why have a hole at all? I suppose I'm not seeing the full picture here. At this point, I think I am going to replace the current durso and plumb the second bulkhead in the overflow. Haven't decided if I want a striaght pipe or another durso. Room is tight for both.

The pump I have is a QuietOne 4000. The return line is 3/4" the drain is 1". Both are 4' with 3 90* elbows.

 

[kokaneejr]

Ben,

For my 55 corneroverflow I built a Stockman Standpipe. Can't find the exact instructions i used but it is similar to the ones you see if you google it but it has a small bit of tubing coming out of the top for more adjustments. It works good. I will try and find the plans online later.

 

[GiantBen]

Thanks Craig. This will be far better than a durso for my tank. I can't remove the durso without removing the bulkhead because the overflow is so small. The Stockman willl be replacable without touching the rest if the plumbing. Got the parts yesterday. Hopefully have it in by this weekend.

You can see in the pic of the tank I posted in another thread that my BioCube is blocking the right-side access, but there is another bulkhead on that side of the overflow. I'm gonna roll with one drain for now, and if I have to add a second I'll do it after the cycle.

Thanks all.