Drain Noise - Air/Bubbles

[FearTheTerps]

I have a problem with my drain line putting lots of air bubbles into my sump, which is making it incredible noisey. I dont really know what the cause is, I have had this system set up before without much difference and I didnt have this problem before.

 

The tank is a 72 bowfront with a CPR 90 HOB overflow. The overflow itself is quiet, this is not the cause of the noise. I have a durso installed to combat the flushing/gurgling noise of the overflow. Again the problem is in the sump where the drain exits causing lots of air to bubble up. The drain line comes down about 2 feet where it connects to a hose barb fitting into vinyl tubing ( I thought that would be easier to plump, but wondering if it may now be the cause of the problem itself). The tubing then connects to a 90 degree hose barb fitting then travels about 18 inches horizontally, then into another 90 degree hose barb turn 1 foot down into the sump. All plumbing is 1.25 inch. Bulkhead in the overflow is rated at 600gph, and my pump with head pressure is running about 500 or so.

 

 

Any thoughts or suggestions??? I havent tried yet to experiment how to fix it, way too busy with work. Looking for suggestions first before i go and start tearing everything apart.

[Origami]

Have you tried terminating the drain with an elbow placed at the surface of your sump so the water exits horizontally and allows the air to escape without bubbling up?

[FearTheTerps]

Hadnt thought about that, that might be a good solution. Havent really tried anything yet, just looking for a few suggestions before I do anything. Would hate to go chopping and cutting things to bits, then have to rebuild back to something similar to what I have now. I read about putting a T connection in place of the last 90 elbow. The top of the T is left open for the air to escape... Anyone use this???

 

Any more suggestions would really be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

-Steve

[Origami]

Hadnt thought about that, that might be a good solution. Havent really tried anything yet, just looking for a few suggestions before I do anything. Would hate to go chopping and cutting things to bits, then have to rebuild back to something similar to what I have now. I read about putting a T connection in place of the last 90 elbow. The top of the T is left open for the air to escape... Anyone use this???

 

Any more suggestions would really be appreciated.

 

Thanks,

-Steve

 

I've used the tee. I've also used a submerged perforated pipe below the tee. All worked. The elbow's one of the simpler solutions that's also very common.

[quazi]

This is timely for me. I have the tee, and the four way (two exits) on my 120 with a basement sump. It is really LOUD. I am planing on adjusting my durso with air limiters. I am afraid my drains may be too small (two 1 inch returns, I inherited them) for my Pan World 200 PS. The amount of air in the system is amazing. I think I can get 1.5 inch drains with the current setup. Certainly 1.25" drains. Do you think that would help?

 

Anyway, I do not want to hijack this tread, I just want all the information I can get.

[zygote2k]

If you have too much flow coming through the drains and it makes gurgling noises or makes large bubbles come out, simply throttle back the return pump until it gets quiet. Many return pumps can push more water than can actually go through the drains.

[steveoutlaw]

Have you tried terminating the drain with an elbow placed at the surface of your sump so the water exits horizontally and allows the air to escape without bubbling up?

 

I took mine a step further and and put a "U" on the end of my exit pipe so the water is coming up and over the pipe. It has cut down tremendously on the bubbles and the noise.

[txaggies07]

Google Durso Standpipe or Hofer Gurgle Buster to stop the sound. I put a Durso on my 120g and it worked perfectly. On my tanks with the eshopps overflow I use the Hofer Gurgle Buster and it works great.

[Happyfeet]

I have a HOB Overflow currently.

 

I had the same exact problem you were having and here is how I solved it. I used 1

[treesprite]

I've got sa imilar problem as far as bubbles and gurgling into the sump, and it produces a ton of microbubbles getting into the tank. I have tried various positions of elbows but not Ts or turns, and tried someone's suggestion of putting a little air hole on top of each pipe's exit. I've kind of given up and just live with the noise.

[jason the filter freak]

if you werent so far away id show you how to fix the darn thing in person basically what ive developed that works nearly perfectly is having the drain (would have to be ridgid pvc or hose with a pvc adapter on the end. any how i have the drain come down in a 90 to take it underwater then 4 pvc t's and a finished with a pipe cap. 2 of the pvc t's are turned so that theyre dumping water out paralled with the sump bottom the next in be tween them i have two pvc ts facing upwards that have pipe caps with holes drilled in them and pieces of 1/2" id tubing comming out above the water level terminating in two open loops about 4" coilds/diameter. this is nearly perfectly silent.

 

an alternative solution much more simple and would work great for the lower drain gph you have is a 90 followed by 2 t's have the 90 bring the draining water paralle with the sump bottom so that the drin is now half submerged half not and have the 2 t's facing direlty up to vent air. this should give you a nearly silten set up if you have baffels that keep your water level at a near constant at the drain side. wow that was a pain to type out on my phone

[treesprite]

Jason, do you have pictures?

[FearTheTerps]

Jason, do you have pictures?

 

 

I was wondering the same thing. I read your post about 5 times before i finally started to understand it. Pictures would be helpful but I think im starting to get it. I havent done anything yet. I will probably have to wait until this weekend, work is keeping me too busy still. I cant even find the time to run to home depot to buy parts yet alone work on the tank.