gurgling, flushing noise from overflow

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by Pisces23, Mar 18, 2008.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Pisces23

    Pisces23 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    509
    Location:
    CT
    My overflow has recently started making some loud gurgling and "flushing" noises. I have a Durso standpipe in place and haven't had any problems for the past year or so. The input to the sump from the overflow has only a slight bend and ends about 1 inch below the surface of the water in a bubble tower filled with LR rubble.
    The noise is not constant (thank the reef gods!) but usually happens every night around 3am. Great timing.
    Any thoughts other than throwing it across the room?
    :confused:
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. reef_guru

    reef_guru Humpback Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,753
    Location:
    joliet,il
    whens the last time you cleaned it? sometimes the air gets obstructed internally which will produce noise
     
  4. Pisces23

    Pisces23 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    509
    Location:
    CT
    You mean the standpipe itself? I don't think I've ever actually cleaned the whole thing. I shudder at the thought of taking the whole thing apart. But maybe that's what I need to do. Thanks!
    Any other thoughts?
     
  5. reef_guru

    reef_guru Humpback Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,753
    Location:
    joliet,il
    sometimes they come out of the bulkhead just enough to let water pass. maybe it came unseated. i take mine out every six months and clean em. reseating them can be interesting, carefull not to break the bulkhead.
     
  6. Pisces23

    Pisces23 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    509
    Location:
    CT
    "Interesting" is such a flexible adjective. It can mean so many things. I assume that in this case you mean "interesting" to mean "*****" or "pain in the arse"?
     
  7. reef_guru

    reef_guru Humpback Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,753
    Location:
    joliet,il
    it can be, i have big arms and fitting them in the overflow is hard enough. but theres more than one way to skin a cat. i push the standpipe into the bulkhead hard enough to seat it but not to break the bulkhead, then twist and pull until the desired height without unseating it.
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. rocketmandb

    rocketmandb Ocellaris Clown

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2005
    Messages:
    1,451
    Location:
    Berkeley, CA
    Do you have a valve to control the air intake? When I made my first Durso I did not have that and every once in a while I would get the drainage sounds. I made the air intake bigger, added a valve and after a little adjustment I had no more problems.
     
  10. Pisces23

    Pisces23 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    509
    Location:
    CT
    Right now I just have some airline tubing coming out of the hole in the cap. What diameter hole do you have on top of yours and how to you control the airflow?
     
  11. reef_guru

    reef_guru Humpback Whale

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    Messages:
    2,753
    Location:
    joliet,il
    i dont have an airline attached, the hole is about 3/16-1/4.
     
  12. Pisces23

    Pisces23 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    May 25, 2006
    Messages:
    509
    Location:
    CT
    That's the size airline I have in there. Hmmm. Guess I have some dismantling and cleaning in my future.