Air coming down drain causing gurgling

[FishBoyJay]

Im a reef rookie to start... this is my first tank. I have just filled the tank and turned on the pump I have a lot of air coming down my drain causing loud gurgling. Im confused as to why theres any air as there is a little hole drilled at the top of the air pipe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mfinn]

Im a reef rookie to start... this is my first tank. I have just filled the tank and turned on the pump I have a lot of air coming down my drain causing loud gurgling. Im confused as to why theres any air as there is a little hole drilled at the top of the air pipe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

A little better description of what you have that includes is there a overflow box? How many drains. Size of pipe. List any valves on the drain lines.
Is this a new setup? Brand?
And of course pictures always help.

 

[Gsponi]

Which Air Pipe?
Do you have a Sump and a valve at the overflowpipe? If yes you need to close the valve a bit, so the water will fill the tube. Its difficult to get the perfect spot, so its filling up the retournchamber not too less and not too much.

 

[FishBoyJay]

Sorry you are right. Very vague post as i am dealing with it right now

60 gallon cube.

Pvc pipe in back with a T one with a cap on top with 1/8 inch hole breather, the other side is a 90

Theres no valves on the pvc or hose that goes down to the sump



It seems the water level is going up and down in the back of the tank in the "overflow"(idk if thats the right term) Box. The water hits the bottom of the pipe and it then stops draining climbs 3inches and starts again

 

[mfinn]

Take a picture inside the overflow box and one inside the stand where it comes down. Use a flash so it's bright enough to see.

 

[FishBoyJay]

 

[Bitter old man]

You need a gate valve on the main drain so you can control flow. Also all hoses should be in sump emergency just above water line.

 

[Shirak]

That 3rd green hose that cuts short. Is that supposed to be the emergency drain line? Right now you only have one drain line. You can get it to be quiet with a single drain with a gate valve, but it's at a very high risk of overflowing the tank without a second drain line.

 

[mfinn]

Looks like you have what's called a durso drain and they can be a bugger to quiet down.
I haven't dealt with them in a very long time. Once I found the herbie drain ( 2 lines going to the sump) and the bean animal style ( 3 drains going to the sump), I never looked back.
If memory serves me, there was a air line with a small air valve that went in the hole on top and you could regulate the amount of air.

Another avenue to explore, is what pump are you using?
Is it controllable? Can you speed up or slow down the flow?

 

[Shirak]

I think you are correct about air valve control on the durso drain. I had a single drain tank once. After overflowing the tank about 8 times in a couple years I shut it down and will never go with a single drain line ever again. Herbie with 2 is good, bean animal with 3 is best IMO

 

[mfinn]

If you were adventurous in your first setup, and really wanted to redesign and improve the whole drain system ( it's not really that hard) I would suggest you look ( google search) the herbie drain.
You have 3 bulkheads coming out of the bottom of overflow box.
The one would remain the return from the pump.
The other 2 would be converted to a herbie drain system.
I really think you would be much happier, it will be much easier to quiet it down.

 

[FishBoyJay]

Good morning,

Thanks for all the feedback.

I dont understand what the far right pvc/hose is doing as it is cut so short jn the overflowbox. The green hose sits above the sump so it would flow into the sump if it was to somehow work.

I looked up the herbie system looks simple enough. I may just bite the bullet and tear down and try it.

I was thinking about attaching a gate valve on the end of the green hose to try that out. What would be the downfalls? I guess it could clog easier? Thus overflowing my main tank?


Edit:
At this time i have quited the noise down significantly.. still having my overflow box fill up and down about 5 inches though causing alittle gurgle

 

[mfinn]

Good morning,

Thanks for all the feedback.

I dont understand what the far right pvc/hose is doing as it is cut so short jn the overflowbox. The green hose sits above the sump so it would flow into the sump if it was to somehow work.

I looked up the herbie system looks simple enough. I may just bite the bullet and tear down and try it.

I was thinking about attaching a gate valve on the end of the green hose to try that out. What would be the downfalls? I guess it could clog easier? Thus overflowing my main tank?


Edit:
At this time i have quited the noise down significantly.. still having my overflow box fill up and down about 5 inches though causing alittle gurgle

If you add a gate valve ( ball valves are notorious for being difficult to adjust ) you are in going into herbie territory. If you do add the valve to that main drain line you have to make sure the other drain line inside the over flow box is higher than the main drain and will work as a drain.
The height difference between the 2 drains inside the overflow box on the tank I use a herbie drain is about 3-4".
To do this you would need to remove the cap with the hole in it and shorten that pipe.

 

[FishBoyJay]

Yeah i seen the buildout on the herbie. Cant modify my tank unless i completely srain it is the only problem. I guess now would be the time to do so.

If i could just stop this current "flushing" problem then i think id be fine.

 

[Bitter old man]

.

 

[Shirak]

Looks like the 3rd one is capped off in the overflow and the hose was cut short? I think I would look into getting this uncapped and insert a piece of pipe as the second drain on a Herbie setup and get rid of that Durso piece on the main drain. Will need to fix and extend the second drain so it reaches the sump too.

 

[mfinn]

Yeah i seen the buildout on the herbie. Cant modify my tank unless i completely srain it is the only problem. I guess now would be the time to do so.

If i could just stop this current "flushing" problem then i think id be fine.

By just doing the minimum, adding the gate valve to the main drain, you will need to lower the pipe in the overflow box so it stays underwater and gives room inside the overflow box to prevent a flood. The second drain pie can remain higher, but I would give it a couple inches below the top of the box.
You would also need to add a longer tube on the second drain so if it comes into play, it won't create splashing in the sump.

You might be able to control some of the flushing by adding a air line valve to the top cap with the hole in it.
I would think most petco/petsmart stores would have the airline valves and air line.

 

[FishBoyJay]

So really dont even know what i did but i unplugged the pump and was just checking out some of the pvc. The overflow is no longer "flushing" but still gurgling.. does feel like if i put some sort of air valve or something on the top pvc it will help with the noise. If i put my finger partially over the hole it tends to quite down. To much over the hole and its sucks up the overflow box

 

[Shirak]

So really dont even know what i did but i unplugged the pump and was just checking out some of the pvc. The overflow is no longer "flushing" but still gurgling.. does feel like if i put some sort of air valve or something on the top pvc it will help with the noise. If i put my finger partially over the hole it tends to quite down. To much over the hole and its sucks up the overflow box

partial closing the hole with your finger or a valve will quiet it down because you are slowing the flow down the pipe by creating a partial air vacuum. You are also blocking some of the sound as air travels down the drain from escaping through the smaller air hole.

I would highly recommend you look at fixing the 2nd drain line and run a Herbie. It is virtually silent and risk of overflowing the tank is minimal compared to a single Durso.

 

[hsp]

I suggest you get a precision gate valve. Watch this video, and you will see why: