Quiet PVC overflow??

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catfish52

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 8, 2010
15
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Maryland USA
Hello all, I'm new here, but old at fish keeping , as in life itself:) Want to try my hand at a DIY overflow and sump. Seen lots of PVC overflow plans and I guess they all work more or less the same. My primary question is, is there a particular version of the beast that is reasonably quiet and idiot proof?? Not that I'm an idiot, but you know what I mean...set and forget. For safety I plan to use a pair of whatever type I end up building in the unlikely, but always possible event that the first tube gets plugged up. The Missus would take a dim view of my flooding her house with fish water!!.....Oh yeah, the tank size will be 150 USGallons, for the sump I'm figuring 30-55 gallons should be about right. Any input would be appreciated.
 
I had a PVC overflow on my 150 when I got it... horrible. Sure it worked no problem... minus the annoying continuous toilet flush sound. In my experience there is no quiet sump unless its the over-tank style, as once the overflow gets a water siphon going it starts to suck air, and that sucking air noise just plain sucks.

IMHO, get a canister filter. Its quiet, costs about the same as a sump, and will never overflow if the power goes out. Right now I use a Rena Filstar xp4, cost about $225, and is money well spent. Theres lots of different brands and costs for canister filters, and we can go on and on all day about whats better, but in the end, they all do the same thing. Get the best you can afford.

Speaking of cost, good sump pumps, like the Little Giants for example, are very expensive. The Little Giant 700gph pump (which is not really even enough for a 150 tank after a few feet of head) costs $300 by its self, and requires monthly oiling.
 
Have you tried the Durso Standpipe or the Hofer Gurgle Buster?
 
Drilling the tank is sooo much easier, I would do a side wall drill. Then you can use a proper overflow box or you can use an elbow as a make shift overflow. The drilling of glass is not that difficult but does require to have a hand, and to find a good drill bit. Or see if the local glass store has someone to drill it for you usually no more then 50$ and you can make the drain super quiet and not have to worry about failures.
 
The pvc overflow design that pulls from the bottom of the tank can be very quiet. The over types draw air. You will have to make it large. I am running about 500 gph through an 1 1/2. If you use plumbing fittings they are less restricting around the corners. This will help the water flow quieter. I don't use the little check valve on top of the overflow to start the siphon. I vacuum the standpipe with a wet dry vac. If you install a valve downline to the filter and shut it off and use the vacuum you can start the siphon and don't have to rely on the 50 cent check valve.
 
i like this too, but imo and from what others said, the canisters (average ones) can't filter and turn water over like a nice large sump and return pump. the advantage is that they are sooo much quieter. but what i'm looking into for a big tank, i would have to get like three huge ehiems or something, which aren't economical.

i'm thinking sump with 1500-2000 gph return rate..



pjsmetana;4197001; said:
I had a PVC overflow on my 150 when I got it... horrible. Sure it worked no problem... minus the annoying continuous toilet flush sound. In my experience there is no quiet sump unless its the over-tank style, as once the overflow gets a water siphon going it starts to suck air, and that sucking air noise just plain sucks.

IMHO, get a canister filter. Its quiet, costs about the same as a sump, and will never overflow if the power goes out. Right now I use a Rena Filstar xp4, cost about $225, and is money well spent. Theres lots of different brands and costs for canister filters, and we can go on and on all day about whats better, but in the end, they all do the same thing. Get the best you can afford.

Speaking of cost, good sump pumps, like the Little Giants for example, are very expensive. The Little Giant 700gph pump (which is not really even enough for a 150 tank after a few feet of head) costs $300 by its self, and requires monthly oiling.
Click to expand...
 
also with my setup now, the overflow isn't much noisy, esp. if a durso pipe is made...it's the sound of the water entering the sump thats super loud...still trying to see how to quiet that..
 
deeboi;4198265; said:
also with my setup now, the overflow isn't much noisy, esp. if a durso pipe is made...it's the sound of the water entering the sump thats super loud...still trying to see how to quiet that..
Click to expand...

insulate the stand, to lower that sound output., you can also put lids on your sump that helps....
 
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