durso problem

[EMUreef]

Here is my issue.

The water drains into my over flow where i have my durso.
Durso takes in the water, than lowers the level of the overflow so much that it doesn't have anymore water to take in untill it fills up again. Gurgles than does this over and over.

at first it almost seemed like the return wasn't able to keep up with the durso/drain.

so to compensate i turned the ball vavle on the drain a little to restrict the drain and now i have a constant level but things could get caught and clog that and create a flood.

Discussing with sir pat and chort maybe the hole at the top of the durso is to small what is everyones input?

here are pictures to kinda help what im describing

picture one is normal water level, how it should be
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/standpipe.jpg

picture two is where the water level drops too and gurgles than the water fills back up to picture 1 line.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a255/RussWLW2004/standpipe-2.jpg

not my pics.

[Sir Patrick]

Almost like its flushing, and filling up again to flush all over again, right?

[Sir Patrick]

Is the end of your drain pipe under water in the sump, or is the end above the top water level of the sump below?

[Sir Patrick]

You using hard pvc, or flexible tubing for the drain?

[EMUreef]

Almost like its flushing, and filling up again to flush all over again, right?

correct. this is whats happening

[EMUreef]

Is the end of your drain pipe under water in the sump, or is the end above the top water level of the sump below?

under water.

[EMUreef]

You using hard pvc, or flexible tubing for the drain?

spa flex. that slopes a little into the sump

[Sir Patrick]

Raise that end of spa flex out of the water. See what happens.

[EMUreef]

Raise that end of spa flex out of the water. See what happens.

alright ill give that a try tomorrow and see what happens. if not im going to make the hole bigger.

[Sir Patrick]

Not an exhaust hole problem- but close-

Copied and pasted from the durso standpipe site-

The flushing is caused by back pressure in the standpipe preventing air in the pipe from escaping the drain. Instead of escaping the drain, the air tries to rise in the drain slowing the GPH exiting the drain. The water level in the chamber rises. The increase in the chamber water level adds pressure to help clear the air from the pipe. Once enough water pressure builds up in the drain, the air and built up water flush at a fast rate, kinda like a toilet flush. This causes a rapid drop in the overflow chamber water level, below the end of the durso stand pipe, to start all over again.

The flx tube end should be above water level, or if possible, less than 2" below the water surface, for noise. Somtimes it will need to be above water level to stop this issue.

[EMUreef]

are you getting alot of bubbles in the sump after it "flushes"?? If so this is a sign of to much air coming down the drain instead of out the "exaust" hole like it should be doing... which to me is a clear indication that the hole needs to be larger at the top of your standpipe

yea and their large bubbles, kinda like blowing air in a straw in milk.

[EMUreef]

Not an exhaust hole problem- but close-

The flushing effect works like this: Back pressure in the standpipe prevents air in the pipe from exiting the drain line. Instead of exiting the drain line, the air bubbles try to rise in the pipe slowing the rate at which the pipes drain. The water level in the chamber then rises. The increase in the chamber water level adds pressure to help clear the air from the pipe. Once enough water pressure exists in the chamber to overcome the back pressure, the air is literally is "burped" out of the drain line which crates a sudden rush of water. This is displayed as a rapid drop in the overflow chamber water level.

The flx tube end should be above water level, or if possible, less than 2" below the water surface, for noise. Somtimes it will need to be above water level to stop this issue.

the spa flex is about 2" inchs below the surface maybe a smidge more

[Sir Patrick]

Sounds like its an issue of both back pressure and the hole needs made bigger. For sure backpreasure is an issue though-

http://www.dursostandpipes.com/faq/45-flushing-effect-why-does-the-water-level-go-up-and-down

[EMUreef]

Sounds like its an issue of both back pressure and the hole needs made bigger. For sure backpreasure is an issue though-

http://www.dursostandpipes.com/faq/45-flushing-effect-why-does-the-water-level-go-up-and-down

ill fiddle with the back pressure issue than if no change ill make the air hole bigger and report back.

[Sir Patrick]

For sure- both me and chort will most likely be running into this exact issue very soon, lol!!

[jay13]

the issues are two fold, one: get rid of the spa flex, most times it bends just enough to screw up your drain allowing water to slow down while on its way to the sump. two: the hole on top of the durso is a major part of the problem. that hole allows for air to take up the flowing water volume inside the standpipe thus allowing it to flow with less noise. the difference with a durso and all that extra pvc is to make a quiet overfow. there is a relationship between the hole size at the top of the durso and the noise it will create. make too small of a hole and you might as well hang out in the bathroom and flush the toilet all day cause thats what your tank will sound like. make too big of a hole and all that extra pvc you crammed in there to make it quiet is just a waste of space and you basically have a standard overflow pipe with crap on the top. make sure your pipe is not underwater in the sump, although you can sometimes get it to "work" this way the cards are stacked against you, instead angle your drain pipe toward the walls of the sump to quiet that part down. good luck, i had this same problem and solved it with barely expanding the hole size ontop the durso.

[EMUreef]

i would like to report that i have success!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so wake up head to the tank.

First step. See if there is a back pressure issue. SO i hack off about 1 1/2" of tubing on the drain and fire it all back up... no help. The Drain now sits maybe 1/4" under the water.

Step two. See if the hole needs to be bigger so i take the top of the durso off and work my way up in sizes. Did a few new holes and started noticing a difference!!!!!!!! So i just worked my way up till i was happy with the water level and now i have a fully functional durso thats silent with the ball valve FULLY open.

So if you ever have problems with your durso flushing, draining more than the pump can handle. Check the air hole first. I would give you exact size of the bit i used but its probably going to be different for everyone's pump.

Thanks to everyone who helped especially chort and sir pat.

[Sir Patrick]

Glad to hear ya got this fixed!

[EMUreef]

Did my durso lastnight... ungodful splashing when the water was coming over the overflows into the box.... Raised the length of the main uprights and it quited it down A TON! Still tweeking my holes as I occassionally get a little gurgle, but its not bad or often so I don't think it will take to much more :)

I know this wasn't really your problem, just figured I would add it in for future reference dealing with durso problems ;)

I cut mine a little short as well but im not getting a bad spalshing.

This should be a good place for people with durso questions.

[EMUreef]

Ohhhh mine was horrible! But the water was splashing down like 10-12" with the original durso that came with the tank when I got it... cut a longer pipe so it was only about 6" still bad, now that its about 2-3" its tolerable (actually its quiter then my skimmer on the 75). Gotta keep it quiet for the wife tho, especially since its in the living room lol

my tank and skimmer set up is surprisngly quiet! i mean almost no sound other than a tiny water fall from the over flow but its kinda relaxing.