Newbie question - drainpipe

[tebstan]

This is the fist time I've had a sump (overflow tank). How can I get my drain pipe to stop making the flushing toilet sound? This can't be normal. Am I going to have to install a shut off valve? It goes away after a while and with much fiddling with the tube (which I think is too long). But if I ever shut off the pump for maintenance, it takes forever to get the excessive gurgling to go away. Do I add a shut off valve so the drain pipe doesn't drain into the sump, shorten the hose, or just be patient?

[Bill S]

Take a pic of your drain, or draw it, and post it. Sounds like - no pun intended - you need a durso (search for it).

[recoiljpr]

A Durso solved my problems after a bit of tweaking. I had some noise problems with it at first. I switched to spa-flex under the tank, and raised/lowered the end cap. I finally found my perfect balance by adding a small piece of tape half over one of the air holes on the cap. Then, I had a lot of noise out of the return in the sump. I put a pretty good bend in the spaflex and that sound too went away.

Now, the loudest piece of equipment on my tank is the skimmer (Stupid venturi). You can put your ear next to the durso on the tank and not hear a thing.

[tebstan]

It's the Aqueon overflow kit, so it is a durso, from what I've read.

http://www.paradisepetshop.net/images/productuploads/allglassoverflowkit_6956.jpg

No pics of my tank yet, but that link is the product I've got. Does anyone else have this kit? I keep adjusting that tube, and just when I think I've got it, it flushes again. The water level inside the overflow box is going up and down by less than inch, then woooshh... water drops a bit, builds back up, and is quiet for another ten minutes to an hour. And it's not entirely quiet, just not as loud.

The drain line going into the sump is the flexible tubing that came with it, the ridged kind. I've got some heavy duty flex tubing from the pump into the return tube as well, the kind sold for pools.

The running water noise I don't mind, but the gurgling in the tube under the sump is just annoying.

[Bill S]

Take a piece of rigid tubing (like icemaker tubing) and push it from the top thru the elbow, and push it past the intake. That will allow the drain to "burp".

[tebstan]

That's a good idea, the hose is long enough to have developed a natural trap.
Isn't ice maker tubing copper? Is there any chance this will puncture my tubing? And, will I have to do it every time I turn of the sump pump?

I'm hoping shortening that tube will reduce the gurgle, if I remove the natural trap. I've gotten the drain pipe adjusted so it doesn't flush anymore, now it's just the gurgling I'd like to reduce.

[Bill S]

No - I'm talking about the plastic tubing at Home Depot. Do NOT use copper. Just insert it into the top of the durso, and make sure goes past the elbow, and leave it.