mister crabs Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 anyone have any problems with the backpressure in thier drain line causing thier durso to "flush"? basically the water level in the overflow raises almost to the top and the it kinda whooshes all at once down into sump. its almost got a set rythm to it. anyone else have this problem? how did you fix it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 A pic would be good. do you have a small hole in the top? there should be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 yep...i used a 1/4" bit i think....i tried making it a bit bigger....nothing. what do you want a pic of exactly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I have had this happen a few times before. Couple of things that could cause this. You have a hole in the durso right? If so you might need to make it bigger. How deep does the drain plumbing in the sump? Having it too deep can cause too much back pressure. I just had mine about and inch below the water level. Theron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 the drain is about 1.5" below the water line at most. i will try making the hole bigger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Make sure "before" you redrill that the hole isn't blocked. A 1/4 should be plenty. Use a tooth pic and be sure it's clear. I wanted a pic of the setup. I made my own on the 110 overflow. Not sure how yours is setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 heres pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 bottom bulkhead is blocked because i was going to build the durso inside the overflow box but it took up too much room and then i found out i could do external. the blue thing in the sump is a carbon pad from a powerfilter that i had new in a box. my water level is a bit higher in the return section of the pump now as well. I have micro bubbles and not sure why....there are no bubbles in the last section of the sump and i dont have a skimmer running yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 OK, too late now. I would have had the stand pipe a couple inches higher. Don't drill it out any bigger. Drill a smaller hole to the side of it first. it just needt to ballance out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 micro bubbles are from the pump. check imput and body for ANY kink of forin matter. does the bubbles change when you change the valve?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Just take a drill bit that is the size of the hole now, and move it around to make the hole slightly larger. Make it slightly larger until the flushing stops. Your pump is probably sucking some of the bubbles created when the water flows over that last baffle. Try setting a piece of acrylic or something in there to make a ramp and see if that helps with the MB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robz Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 What return pump are you running? I had that problem on my 100 gal. and the only thing that fixed it was getting a smaller return pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 its an off brand thats rated only at 400 gph at 4ft head. and i have it dialed back some. i think impur has the right idea the water seems to be falling too far off the last baffle and causing microbubbles behind the pump and getting in display. I may try raising the water level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 did you fix the flush????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 yeah id doesnt flush anymore. i added a second hole actually. but still got the microbubbles. I gonna try a piece of acrylic or glass in the last chamber as a slide as miles suggested. hope it helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 yeah id doesnt flush anymore. i added a second hole actually. but still got the microbubbles. I gonna try a piece of acrylic or glass in the last chamber as a slide as miles suggested. hope it helps Great!! one down one to go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 yep.....from leaks to flushes to microbubbles. nothing but greener pastures from here...lol oh wait....now i gotta keep things alive in here....bah. anyone gotta good link to an easy diy topoff? I am losing like 1/3-1/2 gallon a day thru evap i think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 floatswitches.net Get the floatswitch and hanger. You boil the hanger in some water for a few seconds and it becomes plyable. You don't HAVE to have 2 floatswitches, but one is for backup on my ATO. Make the hanger Sitting in sump Wire it to one side of the wiring to the pump Pump in bucket Instant ATO. Piece o cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I gave up on drilling holes to tune my durso and just installed a threaded John Guest valve on it. Now I can change the flow through my drain and easily adjust the durso to match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 a john guest valve? where do you get one of these at? I have an extra endcap laying around and mines not glued on. I saw that on your drain line pics you posted in my other thread but didnt know what it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 You can get em at HD, Lowes, hardware stores. Its just another type of plumbing. Basically there is a metal ring and an o ring where the tubing goes into the fitting. The metal ring clamps around the tubing to hold it in place, the o ring makes the seal. They are on the expensive side IMO, i pay about 4-5 bucks for a JG valve. But they work nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 You can get them at Home Depot or Lowes. They sell a threaded version and a quick-connect version; I bought the threaded version (1/4") and just drilled and tapped a hole in an endcap. Don't glue it down, it'll need cleaning (salt creep) once a week or so. I just put an elbow between mine and the standpipe to try and stop it from getting plugged up, not sure if it works yet. (Edit: Not sure the change stops the salt creep plug-up. The valve on the durso *definitely* works) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I use a piece of airline with an airline valve (you know those green things that we all have a ton of sitting around that allows you to control the air in the air line). The airline goes into the hole, then I control the airflow amount with the valve. I have also found that using a larger outer pipe diameter is beneficial. From the pics it looks like your's is straight one inch all the way through, I make mine so the outer pipe is 1 1/4". Just my experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 http://www.waterfilterstore.net/fittings_valves_and_tubing.asp?gclid=COP006XFiYsCFRTWYAodGWdkHg a link showing fittings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 I have also found that using a larger outer pipe diameter is beneficial. From the pics it looks like your's is straight one inch all the way through, I make mine so the outer pipe is 1 1/4". Just my experience I originally did use 1-1/4" PVC for my drain because i had read that it would flow better and it did. But it also leaked. the weight of the pipe of my drain caused a flex in the bulkhead gasket and caused a slow trickle. It hasnt happened with the 1" pipe. The second airhole is working like a champ now but i neeed to adjust the water in my sump and how it falls into the last chamber to get rid of the microbubbles. I should get a new pump as this one is a Catalina Aquariums 1800 and is a cheapie. I am going to get an eheim in a couple months when i have more disposable cash for my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.