I asked this on another forum, but didn't get the answer I needed (at least yet).

I got a 125g with a sump. The guys from the shop set it up for me, so I don't know the mechanics of things very much. It's making a LOUD gurgling noise irregularly every few seconds. From what I read and have been told in person, this setup is supposed to be fairly quiet. A little noise is fine, but this doesn't sound normal. I tried turning it off and on, but the noise came back.

PS--I resized the pics on Photobucket, but they still come up big. Sorry!

1. Check the pronounced U shape at the intake of your wet/dry.

2. I can't see clearly if the water level of the chamber where the bio-balls are is indeed higher than the water in the sump (where the waterpump is placed). There is supposed to be some air in there (wet/dry) and the water level to be even in all chambers. If that is happening you have a significant pressure differential that is not suppose to be there, at least in the arrays that use an overflow box. I have no experience with drilled tanks, so maybe it's normal in those.

3. Your tank seems to be drilled at the bottom and you are trying to return water towards both top and bottom through the water pump output.

What brand and model is this Wet/Dry system? do you have the schematics of it?

I can tell you that my Pro Clear Aquatic Systems mod. 75 that is installed in a 45US gal tank is almost totally silent.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

usually when a sump makes a gurggling noise it is because the vent is to big. check to see if there is anything blocking the vent if not then you might try to restrict the vent to allow less air into the system.

I checked the water between the area with the bio balls and the chamber with the pump, and the levels seem about the same. I think the pic makes it look higher.

All I know is the pump is a ViaAqua 4900.

Necromancer--The top vents where the water comes in? How could I block it? I'm willing to give all your ideas a shot.

addictinganimal wrote:


Levels being the same is great. Your noise is not there.

Gurgling sound means water and air are going down together. Your pump isn't the problem although maybe a bit stronger than usual in Wet/Dry set ups; however I used a 6,000 LPH once and not a single gurgling sound ever; now I'm back with a 1,400GPH powerhead in my set up.


I wonder how your system is connected, as for water flow. Please confirm that your tank is drilled (forgive me if I'm asking the obvious due to the pics uploaded).

I noticed the return (water pump output: back to the tank) hose has a T connection, you seem to be bringing water to the top but at the same time gravity may be pushing water downwards through the bottom hole.

Maybe you could try using necromancer easy DIY PVC overflow design -DIY projects in this forum- which uses no boxes and try it without using the drilled holes, just as in standard (not drilled tanks) assemblies.

I am confident you will figure this out.

Pepe
Santo Domingo
PS remember we are all learning here too, so please keep us posted when you solve it.

It's drilled from the bottom, but not the back.





When I look at the system, every time the gurgling happens, the soft U-shaped pipe on the right hand side shakes violently.

It sounds to me like the water level on one or more of your pipes are not staying at the right level, this will let air in, as well as water. look at inlet/outlet pipes and monitor if the level drops below or close to that of the pipe. At some point there will be a change in water height, this is where to look. you could put pen marks to water monitor levels. once you find where the level drops adjust the pipe a little lower to stay under the water line. Or if the gurgling sounds for a long time you may be how to find the problem by pushing a pipe(one at a time) under water to see if the gurgling is shortened. Most likely place is where pipe takes water from the tank or where water is taken from the sump to return back to tank. the pipe that shakes is good place to start.

You are always going to get some noise with sump filters, I was warned about this when I was thinking about setting mine up. You've got lots more pipe work compared to the commercial type filters. Like what's already been said, the gurgling is related to air in the system, you'll be hard pressed to stop that happening. I've got used to the noise of mine and I don't take any notice of it. Mind you, when you turn the whole system up, it's lovely and quiet:laugh:

did you get to the bottom of your sump noise??

I jiggled the pipes around and the noise seemed to become constant, but it went back to the way it was after only a few minutes. I'm having the shop owner come and take a look at it sometime this weekend.

good luck, post the result ))) it may help someone else. As OFL said some noise will result but not as much as yours sounds.

ya check the u shaped house on the over flow then make sure no kinks are in the system