My overflow is making strange noises

[Jon]

Just recently my overflow has began to make a gurgling noise and than releases an extra amount of water down the return pipe. When the water hits the sump it sort of bubbles up high and than dies down. This happens about every thirty seconds. When you watch this from above the tank you can see the water line drop in the overflow about an inch or two and than will slowly rise back up again. When the water level drops in the overflow this is when it is sending the extra amount of water down the drain and the gurgling noise begins.

My tank is an 58 gallon oceanic and my return pump is a mag 9.5. I have been told that my return pump is a bit large for the tank but up until now it had worked fine. What does anyone think he problem could be and is this something that I should be concerned about.

Thanks - Jon

 

[ds4x4]

do you have a standard return pipe or a Durso pipe? I think most people shoot for a return GPH of 5X your tank volume.. as long as your overflow can keep up with your return or vice-versa then you should be fine. check out below

some links for you..

small discussion
http://www.reefland.com/forum/tanks-filtration-basic-equipment/14832-durso-stockman-overflow.html

durso pipe
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/?page_id=6

stockman pipe
http://www.rl180reef.com/pages/standpipe/standpipe-ken_stockman.htm

 

[Jon]

My overflow is a oceanic mega overflow with a durso stand pipe. I think the problem now may lie within the piping from the stand pipe to the sump. It is a flexible hose that is not a straight shot to the sump. Instead it dips 6 inches below the sump and comes back up another 6 inches above the sump than finally down to the sump. It is in the shape of a U if you can follow me.
Jon

 

[ds4x4]

can you eliminate the dip in the tube? it will flow better with out that and could be your problem

 

[Lord Viper]

I agree I built a Durso return and it stopped the garling and the air trapping all together. And it's quite.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Welcome to the club .
I straightened my pipes to the sump that helped some.
I put filter socks (thanks AO for bringing them to the swap) on my pipes that helped some.
Still loud and once in a while I gurgle ...but don't flush.
I am debating on making my own durso's :-\ because the pipes are big in and I have to raise them too high up to keep from getting a water fall sound so the cover doesn't fit. :'(
In any case try the filter socks and straighten your drain pipes...that bought me enough time to putz around.

 

[mgonz]

try and adjust the water being pushed back from your mag 9. I had this problem and I added a tee and sent some water back into my sump. Could be that not enough water is being drained to keep up with the water being sent back up to your display

 

[redfishbluefish]

Had a similar proplem with my DIY durso...the little hole in the top had salted up. Used a toothpick to clean it out...problem solved.

When the hole gets clogged, water rises until a syphon begins, causing that flushing action.

 

[curt]

hey same tank same pump
mgonz is right
i installed the tee from the get go but when i turn the valve and send all water back to the tank it rises and falls in the overflow
try the tee with the valve

 

[mgonz]

 

[Phyl]

If it used to be quiet exactly how you have it now, definitely look for salt in the hole.

 

[Jcurry@wesketch]

...look for salt in the hole.

That's gotta sting.

 

[Jon]

OK. I straightened out my pipes and that did not work. Than I tried clearing the whole in my durso pipe and that fixed most of the problem. The only thing now that is not back to normal is I still have a small gurgle sound. I am going to try and see if I can live with the sound and if not than I will switch my pump. I have a quiet one 3000 that I can use. The only reason that I don't want to use this pump is because it does not give me as much flow as the mag 9. I am trying to keep my tank free of wires and other equipment that I do not want to add a give a cluttered look.

Thanks for all of your opinions - Jon