Overflow noise

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nrmattila

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 13, 2008
8
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Minnesota
I know we have all seen this topic posted before, but I have to ask anyway.

I have recently set up my 55g reef tank and have the system pretty quiet now except for the noise coming from the drain line down to the sump. I am new to having a sump so do not know the correct amount of noise to expect from these, but I keep seeing the word "silent" everywhere I look on the topic and want to work towards that end.

Without further ado, here is the setup:
I took an overflow box drilled into the back of the aquarium w/ 1" bulkhead in place. From the bulkhead I have a PVC "T" fitting - up goes to a cap w/ hole for airline tubing - similar to Hofer Gurgle Buster and down goes to a PVC ball valve and then to 1" clear tubing down to the sump. I have tracked most of the noise to water draining down the tubing. Is there any way to decrease this noise? I have tried adjusting the airline tubing length and closing the valve (thought it was great until my sump almost overflowed:eek:).

I have my pump and the overflow box noises almost completely eliminated, but cannot get a handle on this noise - any suggestions?

Thanks everyone.

Aquarium Drain 001.jpg
 
http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=168430&highlight=

I had the same issue on my 235g. The above thread sorted it out beautifully.
I only had 1 bulkhead too but that is fine as you can run the full siphon over the edge of the tank into your overflow box.

The key points to remember are:
1) Make sure the standpipe can take the full flow if the siphon breaks due to power outage. You already seem to have that covered :)
2) Make sure you have two ball valves on your siphon line. This means you can set the adjustment on one and use the other to close off flow for tank maintenance etc so you don't have to tune it again.
3) You want about 95% of the flow down the siphon and just a bit down the standpipe under normal running. The low flow rate will keep the water clinging to the side of the standpipe rather than free-falling down the centre which is where the majority of the noise comes from. A full siphon is naturally silent.
4) Make sure your outlets into the sump are submerged. Don't go deep, just a cm or two under the water is fine for eliminating any splashing.

It really does work and my AC110 and the sump return pump make much more noise than the overflow/standpipe now. How did you quiet your pump down???
 
Thanks for the link - I will be trying this tomorrow night after I buy supplies!

As for making the pump quieter - I have a rather small system (55 display w/15 sump) so I used a QuietOne 3000, submersed in the sump, and used styrofoam cover the back of the stand. This takes care a most of my noise. I am sure after I get cascade water noise trimmed down I will be out to make the system even quieter, but we'll try one thing at a time!
 
Well, I couldn't wait and I dug through some parts I had laying around and was able to make the straight siphon tonight. After some tinkering I got it all figured out and the system is up and running superbly (even ran a few tests shutting down the power and losing the siphon). Now as expected, I can actually hear my pump (definitely the lesser of two evils at this point)!

One tip for anyone doing this in the future - adjust your flow to the durso valve wide open first (it will be MUCH slower than the straight siphon). After making this adjustment then bring the straight siphon in and adjust flow on this valve - LEAVE THE PUMP SETTING ALONE!

One other tip for making your pump quieter - for external pumps try using old computer mouse pads and then bolting the unit down. For submersible pumps try using a thick foam ("uncut blue foam sheets" work great and are only a few bucks from most online vender's)
 
Sweet as! Glad that worked for ya. I even find it a handy tell tale to a power out if I get home and can hear the stand-pipe. I can hear it when I come in and can then check my tanks etc to make sure everything is OK.

My return pump runs flat out, I don't like restricting the pump output any more than is necessary with the plumbing. You just have to be sure that your standpipe can take full flow if the siphon goes out and you are golden as it will auto restart with an overflow set-up.

I was getting pretty frustrated with my sump until I found that article. A day after I found it my marital life improved markedly haha!

Cheers for the tips. I have my submersible on some foam sheet already. I have also heard that putting some flexible hose directly off the output, even just a couple of inches before the rigid plumbing starts can help too - I will have to try that one.
 
Does anybody know where i can get either from.Would love to hear ur opinions on both.
 
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