gUGgliNg from Seconday Drain...

jphilip813 · Jun 14, 2020

Hi all, there is a gurgling coming from my secondary drain, like every 10-15 seconds. I use a COR 20 at 80% on a 120gal mix reef, using a Reef Synergy return system. I recently (May 2020) did a major upgrade to my sump/plumbing added the Reef Synerfy, but using one inch pipes...everything was fine about last week, when I can hear the gurgling every 10 seconds from the secondary drain purging air...the primary drain, is fine, valve opened at 100%...What are some recommendations? Reef Synergy mentioned to possible add slits...not to sure what that is... See video, gurgling can be heard around 18 and 40 second time line of the video...

Lasse · Jun 15, 2020

Can´t you just turn down the flow a little? Probably do you have some growth in your primary drain.

Sincerely Lasse

jphilip813 · Jun 17, 2020

Lasse said:
Can´t you just turn down the flow a little? Probably do you have some growth in your primary drain.

Sincerely Lasse

What do you mean some growth in the primary drain?

Lasse · Jun 17, 2020

I do not know exactly how your drain system works but normally you have one drain that´s a siphon - the siphon is regulated by a valve in order to let the flow be exactly so much the the water level in the overflow box just reach the secondary overflows edge. 99 % of the water should pass the siphon. You say you have 100 % open valve - it means that your return flow is to large - the siphon does not manage the flow by itself - needs to take help of the secondary. If it have works well before - with the same speed of the pump - it means that something partly block the siphon. It could be snails in the valve ( if it is a membrane valve) or some bacteria (or other organisms) growth in the primary drain. Just adjust your siphon valve to be around 70 - 90 % open and after that adjust your pump speed to manage a water level in the overflow box to be in the same level as the secondary drain. It looks in the video that your overflow is pulsating.

Hope its help

Sincerely Lasse

jphilip813 · Jun 18, 2020

Lasse said:
I do not know exactly how your drain system works but normally you have one drain that´s a siphon - the siphon is regulated by a valve in order to let the flow be exactly so much the the water level in the overflow box just reach the secondary overflows edge. 99 % of the water should pass the siphon. You say you have 100 % open valve - it means that your return flow is to large - the siphon does not manage the flow by itself - needs to take help of the secondary. If it have works well before - with the same speed of the pump - it means that something partly block the siphon. It could be snails in the valve ( if it is a membrane valve) or some bacteria (or other organisms) growth in the primary drain. Just adjust your siphon valve to be around 70 - 90 % open and after that adjust your pump speed to manage a water level in the overflow box to be in the same level as the secondary drain. It looks in the video that your ove1amrflow is pulsating.
Ok thank you for the detailed response. I really appreciate it and will adjust when I return back home this weekend
Hope its help

Sincerely Lasse

jphilip813 · Jun 23, 2020

Lasse said:
I do not know exactly how your drain system works but normally you have one drain that´s a siphon - the siphon is regulated by a valve in order to let the flow be exactly so much the the water level in the overflow box just reach the secondary overflows edge. 99 % of the water should pass the siphon. You say you have 100 % open valve - it means that your return flow is to large - the siphon does not manage the flow by itself - needs to take help of the secondary. If it have works well before - with the same speed of the pump - it means that something partly block the siphon. It could be snails in the valve ( if it is a membrane valve) or some bacteria (or other organisms) growth in the primary drain. Just adjust your siphon valve to be around 70 - 90 % open and after that adjust your pump speed to manage a water level in the overflow box to be in the same level as the secondary drain. It looks in the video that your overflow is pulsating.

Hope its help

Sincerely Lasse

I just wanted to follow-up and let you know, your recommendations WORKED...turned down the pump to 65% from 75% and closed off the main drain slightly....silence now...No More Gurgling....