nim6us
Well-Known Member
Hey All!
Okay I've got a real head scratcher here. I've been trying to logically think through this, but I must be missing something.
So basically I have to raise the level in my overflow area to where it's almost running down the emergency drain, I mean like a hair from the top of the emergency drain pipe (see pic below). Previously the water level would allow 1"-2" of the emergency pipe to be above the water line. The issue is now I have to keep the water level so close the top of the emergency drain pipe that whenever my powerheads surge the water flows over and runs down making a noise.
When I open the main drain valve any more to lower the water level I get this crazy... well best way I can describe it is a cracking noise?! I look into the overflow area and I can see there's a spinning vortex of water in the large drain silencer, similar to the vortexes you get if you put your powerhead too close to the surface. The water spins around and then flushes down to the sump area with a cracking noise. It happens off and on every 15-20 seconds, it's unbearable to leave it like this. My guess is the crackling noise is air, but I'm not sure.
I followed this video and cleaned the control valve, thinking the pipe must be clogged or something. But it was pretty clean. I've found that my system can be sensitive to any changes, cleaning the skimmer, changing filter socks, and I'd have to make small adjustments at the main valve to raise or lower the water level in the overflow. However this is a new one, I can't figure out what I need to do so I can lower the level.
I noticed this happening roughly about the same time I did a major clean of my sand bed, I don't know if it's coincidence. But it's been 2 weeks since the clean and I'm still having this issue. Any advice?
Okay I've got a real head scratcher here. I've been trying to logically think through this, but I must be missing something.
So basically I have to raise the level in my overflow area to where it's almost running down the emergency drain, I mean like a hair from the top of the emergency drain pipe (see pic below). Previously the water level would allow 1"-2" of the emergency pipe to be above the water line. The issue is now I have to keep the water level so close the top of the emergency drain pipe that whenever my powerheads surge the water flows over and runs down making a noise.
When I open the main drain valve any more to lower the water level I get this crazy... well best way I can describe it is a cracking noise?! I look into the overflow area and I can see there's a spinning vortex of water in the large drain silencer, similar to the vortexes you get if you put your powerhead too close to the surface. The water spins around and then flushes down to the sump area with a cracking noise. It happens off and on every 15-20 seconds, it's unbearable to leave it like this. My guess is the crackling noise is air, but I'm not sure.
I followed this video and cleaned the control valve, thinking the pipe must be clogged or something. But it was pretty clean. I've found that my system can be sensitive to any changes, cleaning the skimmer, changing filter socks, and I'd have to make small adjustments at the main valve to raise or lower the water level in the overflow. However this is a new one, I can't figure out what I need to do so I can lower the level.
I noticed this happening roughly about the same time I did a major clean of my sand bed, I don't know if it's coincidence. But it's been 2 weeks since the clean and I'm still having this issue. Any advice?
