Can I run my sump constantly to stop gurgling?

[99gtbaby]

I have a Bashea SS cube sump and right now I have the return pump from the sump set to auto, and whenever it shuts off it gurgles, what can I do to fix this? Can I run my return pump constantly, will it effect my skimmer and my ATO, which are also set to auto via a Neptune apex controller.

 

[Timfish]

I'm not familiar with the sump in question but I always have the return pumps running constantly on my systems. I'm curious, is running the pump intermitantly something in the instructions for the sump or is it something someone told you to do? And just FYI, most overflows will gurgle when returns are shut off and the water draining slows down and stops.

 

[Quietman]

Most sumps are designed to have return pumps run continuously unless needed to shut off for maintenance.

It's actually not the sump but the drain system that provides flow to sump that needs continuous flow or you get a gurgle as the pipe flow changes from full flow to empty.

 

[99gtbaby]

I'm not familiar with the sump in question but I always have the return pumps running constantly on my systems. I'm curious, is running the pump intermitantly something in the instructions for the sump or is it something someone told you to do? And just FYI, most overflows will gurgle when returns are shut off and the water draining slows down and stops.

The man that I bought the system from told me to set it up this way, but I’m going to be turning it to constant on.

 

[Timfish]

The man that I bought the system from told me to set it up this way, but I’m going to be turning it to constant on.

Well, that's not the craziest thing I've heard but it's definitely a prescription for trouble. Definitely keep your return pump on all the time.

 

[Quietman]

Just a quick check, you do have more than one drain line with one of the drain lines having a valve to adjust.

 

[Quietman]

Based on what the person who set it up said....If you only have one drain line. STOP! We'll need to dive into this a bit deeper before turning the pump on continuously. The person who set it up might not have done in a conventional way.

 

[Justanano]

Not sure why you would turn off unless maintenance

 

[Gort]

Based on what the person who set it up said....If you only have one drain line. STOP! We'll need to dive into this a bit deeper before turning the pump on continuously. The person who set it up might not have done in a conventional way.

Based on my very brief Google search, it look like that sump features a single drain.

 

[Quietman]

I'm concerned that if there's only one drain line that you might not have a backup drain that provides either a trickle flow or the flow in case the first drain cannot handle the entire flow. Sometimes this is called the emergency drain because it prevents water from overflowing your aquarium.

If there's two drains, you're fine. If only one, the pump maybe set up to shut off to prevent an overflow.

 

[Quietman]

Based on my very brief Google search, it look like that sump features a single drain.

Right but just because there's one main drain for a sock/filter doesn't mean a backup/trickle or emergency isn't plumbed.

Even if you were going to run only one (say older durso style), you would tune return flow with a valve on output or variable speed not shut pump off and on. And that's assuming not plumbing an emergency which is never done.

Unless I'm just completely missing something in drain design here.

 

[Gort]

@99gtbaby - could you post a photo of sump and plumbing?

 

[99gtbaby]

Well, that's not the craziest thing I've heard but it's definitely a prescription for trouble. Definitely keep your return pump on all the time.

The guy came over and figured out the issue, it’s constantly on now.

 

[Quietman]

Good to hear...thanks for updating us.

 

[99gtbaby]

The issue has been solved, there was a switch that was knocked out of position, fixed it and now the pump is no longer shutting off