overflow problems with a durso pipe???

tableforglasses

tableforglasses

Member
I just put a durso pipe in the corner overflows and it really did the job of keeping things quiet, but I am running into a problem the overflows are actually overflowing, the water level is not dropping fast enough and I am afraid it is going to overflow the tank. I built the pipe to spec and drilled the hole in the top just wondering what I might be able to do to keep water level somewhat down. BTW I have the return pump valve closed pretty far so I cannot really slow down return any more than it already is. Any thoughts on what I could do, I thought about drilling holes up and down pipes and a couple other things, just wondered if anyone else had experience with these things.
As a side note I was going to take a pic of it to show you what I had but I dropped my camera phone in the sump :/
Thanks
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about your phone. I've done that before, I know how you feel...
Many people tune it with some John Guiest fittings... a ball valve and tube to increase and/or decrease air flow to silence it. I'm assuming you had a standard overflow pipe with the holes cut in it before?
How big is the durso pipe(s) and how big is your return pump? How far above the top of the pipe does the water come up? You might be able to cut the pipe down a bit more for some extra insurance...
 
tableforglasses

tableforglasses

Member
For some reason drains are not same size, one is 3/4" and one is 1" (I bought it used this way). The pump is a mag drive 9.5. When the durso pipes aren't in there I have no problems with water level, however do have to have the return valve partially closed.
 
tableforglasses

tableforglasses

Member
The tank is drilled in rear corners and has plastic corner overflows that section them off from rest of the tank and I actually never put a standard pipe in just always lived with the noise until I thought there has to be a better way and searched message boards here and durso pipe kept coming up and it was pretty easy to build so went with that on the first go round. The pipe comes up about 85% of the overflow and the water level is rising the 15% above the durso pipe all the way to the top.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
I guess some pictures would help, what size is your tank, the Mag 9.5 is rated at 950 GPH. Snake is right about the hole in the top of the durso pipe to control the air going into the drain, I just have a small adjustable valve on mine.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Drill it out a little more and insert a small tube (1/4" or less... like an airline tube) into the top of it until it starts draining really well, and remains quiet. It should take a good 15 minutes or so of waiting for each adjustment you make to get it right. If you want to really get it fine tuned, add a john guiest ball valve to it.
The reason why it might not be sucking in as much water is because it has no way of sucking any air into it to get it going... try that and see what happens. If that doesn't work, there is one other thing you can try.,
 
tableforglasses

tableforglasses

Member
Sweet I will drill it out tomorrow and put some thin airline tubing into it and see if that helps. Thanks for all the info, gonna go blow dry my phone!
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
If you dropped your phone in saltwater - it's toast. If freshwater, put it in a bag of rice for a little while / overnight. The rice will pull out moisture... saved my phone a time or two.
Best of luck! If you still can't figure it out - come back and we'll try a new theory!
Thanks Al as well!
 
tableforglasses

tableforglasses

Member
Good news on all fronts. I cut the pipe down about 1 1/2" and added the air hose water level is perfect now and to think for almost 10 years I have just lived with overflow gurgling, not anymore. Also at least as for now the phone powered up and worked perfectly this morning, we'll see if it lasts. Here's to hoping!
 
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