Overflow

[jollyRogers]

Hello all, thanks for the welcome and tips so far! we have run into one problem we are having a hard time with. The overflow chamber is rising and falling, gurgling. the tank is just filled with fresh water now to check system. Is this normal, or is there something to be tweeked with? Any ideas will be appreciated! Thanks!

(Oceanic reef ready, dual factory installed overflows)

[burning2nd]

what do you mean by rising and falling?

the water level in the main tank?
the water level in the return of the sump?

are you accounting for evap, every few hours?

the square box, in the corrner? raiseing and falling in there?
pump over rated, or very close to your over flows, max?

[lcstorc]

I don't know the answer but am hoping someone else has some ideas.

[prow]

no worries easy fix on the gurgling. build one of these. http://home.nc.rr.com/stockmanreef/b...nstruction.htm
its easy, there are other versions of durso standpipes but i like this one. keep critters out, its adjustable and quiet. i am not using the air cap thing with the air line. mine is quiet with out it. but if you go with this and it is not silent enough then i would use it.

for the rise and fall of the water level, i think you are close to your max flow wise on the bulk head. might want to look into that and perhaps get the next size pump down. what size is your pump and how big is your bulk head?

[bluespotjawfish]

Do you have a pic of yours?

[prow]

well my camera is broke so i can not get a new one. i might have a old one some where i take a look. i have to go to a wedding soon so will check for ya after.

[mps9506]

Prow is right on again A stockman or durso standpipe will fix the problem asap. If you don't want to DIY you can purchase them prebuilt from premium aquatics. Also the newer all glass aquarium and oceanic overflow kits use durso standpipes.

[jollyRogers]

Thanks to all, sorry it took so long for a reply, computer was down!
we do have standpipes, they are the all glass aqu. mega flows
with one inch bulk heads, pump is a reef flow dart vari flow. overflows are plumbed with one inch sch. 20 pvc. with 45's directly into filter sock. overflows seem to keep up with flow. pump full on. the noise seems to get just a bit quieter when pump is 1/2 power. Thinking Im at 2000 gph.after talking to the folks at reef flow. the tank is 29 in deep. top of overflow is 2 inches out of the water. drop in skimmer box is 2 in. as well.
the rise and fall is in the skimmers at back of reef tank. loud gurgle sound.

we'll keep trying!

[prow]

ok first the noise is not from the water. its from the air being sucked in. a 1" bulk head should olny go up to 900gph max. and that is the real max. 600gph is the recomended rate. at 600gph on each 1" bulkhead should keep the air from being sucked in and reduced the sucking gurgling noise. the size of the overflow box comes into play aswell. if your getting a backup of flow anywhere "the rising and falling" it usually means your pump is to big for that section to acomedate the flow. could be the baffling is to tight for your current flow or some other similar thing like too small of a bulk head. get a smaller pump and that should take care of the rising and falling of the water. i think. not sure though if your talking about the water in the skimmer or the overflow. do have a pic of your set up so we know exactly what we are talking about?

FYI-IME the stockman sandpipes are adjustable and way less likely to suck in air, less likely for critters to get through and impede the flow. than other durso sandpipes-JMO for what is worth.

[PhilOlsen]

WOW, thats a huge overflow for a 29, way to much IMO, especially if you are going into a fuge. The flow rate for a fuge should only be 4-5 times tank volume per hour.
I would put a valve inline AFTER the pump in order to slow the return rate to the tank rather than buying a smaller pump, you may also want to put a T to divert some of the water back to the fuge.

[mps9506]

If you are using the AGA/Oceanic overflow kits try placing a little plastic air valve on top of the hole in the standpipe and adjust the amoutn of air getting in that hole.
You may also need to play with how high you have the standpipe set. I found the higher it is the less issues I have with gurgling and such from the standpipe sucking air bubbles into the standpipe. Although you might find moving htem down will help.
FWIW we had no issues pushing 1800 gph through dual oceanic megaflows...
So maybe you'll have to dial it back a tad bit with a valve.

[garret]

if its a built in overflow i have been their mine has done it to i thought it was an air problem that not enough ait was getting in the line, all i did was clean it good and mess with the ball valve in the return line