WMAS Discussion Forum : drain help

drain help : I still have a screen and snails...

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 10:25:09 +0000

Author: jfinch
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 21 2006 at 10:25am

I still have a screen and snails still occationally get stranded out in the middle.

The durso will not work without the elbow.

[edit]

Maybe I shouldn't say it will not work, but it would be very difficult to regulate without the elbow.

Edited by jfinch - October 21 2006 at 10:26am

drain help : Jon, I can't remember, did...

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 05:03:10 +0000

Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 21 2006 at 5:03am

Jon, I can't remember, did you ever do vertical screen, like your last post in that thread indicates?

Also, how well does it work without the elbow, just a straight shot to the tee in back?

Edited by Mark Peterson - October 21 2006 at 5:07am

drain help : Here's a thread with pictures...

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:56:41 +0000

Author: jfinch
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 20 2006 at 8:56am

Here's a thread with pictures of my set up: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335

And if you do a search on Durso you'll find lots of help/info. Done right, they are very efficient and quiet.

drain help : "If only I could work a modified...

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 08:35:31 +0000

Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 20 2006 at 8:35am

"If only I could work a modified durso out for my father-in-law at sunday dinner, I'd be set."

drain help : jfinch has a similar set up, but...

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 18:31:38 +0000

Author: fj40fax
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 19 2006 at 6:31pm

jfinch has a similar set up, but he built small boxes around the 90degelbow to keep a constant water level. It sounds to me that theair hole needs to be adjustable. A correctly set up durso needsto be part siphon, but also alow air into the drain pipe at the rightratio to allow smooth operation. The easiest way to do this is tomake an adjustable air hole. Just use a small section of pipe andput on a cap and then drill a 3/8" hole through the cap and thepipe. Glue the small pipe into the T and let it dry. Thenyou can adjust the amount of air by simply turning the cap on the smallpipe. When it is right the water level should be somewhere nearthe middle of the bulkhead and should not oscilate up and down. Should be really quiet, becuse it no longer has to suck air and waterthrough the same hole. If only I could work a modified durso outfor my father-in-law at sunday dinner, I'd be set. Hope thishelps.

Fax

drain help : Sounds to me thatwhen the air...

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 21:22:39 +0000

Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 16 2006 at 9:22pm

Sounds to me that when the air hole is closed the unit acts as a siphon, pulling water down fast. The tank water level drops, a whirlpool develops, and then the water level drops further until it simply drags air into the "siphon" tube right from the water surface. The air displaces a portion of the water which reduces the amount of water going down the pipe. This reduction of water entering the sump allows the pump to keep up and eventually reaches equilibrium or else the siphon breaks and all water stops going down the pipe. If the air wasn't sucked in, the pump would not be able to keep up with the flow. Is this a good evaluation of what happens or would happen if you left the air hole closed?

Where did you get the idea to do it like this or is this a tank that you bought already drilled?

How many inches from the top frame is the top of the bulkhead opening?

Why is the 90 pointing down?

If this communication process is too slow for you (as it is for me), please feel free to call me at the number below.

drain help : The hole is drilled in the back...

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:10:18 +0000

Author: jbo22
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 15 2006 at 6:10pm

The hole is drilled in the back top left of the tank. It is a 1 inch bulk head. The setup on the inside of the tank is a 90 aimed down with a drain screen covering to keep the fish out. The T on the outside of the tank is as close to the bulk head as it can be. When the air hole on top of the T is open, the drain doesn't drain much and the pump will overflow the tank. When the air hole is closed, it is forced to suck the air from the inside the tank (very loud), but it drains a lot more water. The setup from the T to the sump: a simple 1 inch pipe straight down with a 90 and some 1 inch flex pipe to the sump.

drain help : Sounds like (that's a pun)...

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 17:23:18 +0000

Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 15 2006 at 5:23pm

Sounds like (that's a pun) you need more air to reduce the noise. Your description of the durso is unclear. Did you actually have the tee just inches above the bulkhead? Please explain.

I think I get it. The tank is drilled on the back top, right? Is the Tee as close to the back as possible? What's the setup for the inside of the tank?

Oh, and yes, making a Modified Durso with a larger diameter standpipe is much better and often much quieter. here are pics of it. I'd be happy to show you how to make it. It takes up much less room than the standard Durso.

Edited by Mark Peterson - October 15 2006 at 5:34pm

drain help : I have a 1 inch bulk head at the...

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 16:56:17 +0000

Author: jbo22
Subject: 14626
Posted: October 15 2006 at 4:56pm

I have a 1 inch bulk head at the top of my 90. What is the best way to plumb the drain to the sump so that there isn't very much noise? I tried a durso type thing with a T right after the bulk head and a hole at the top, but it wouldn't drain very much water. When I plug the hole, the water drains a lot more but it then has to suck air through the drain screen which makes it really loud. Do I need to go to a bigger pipe (1 1/4 inch) after I come out of the bulk head? Any suggestions would be nice.