Gurgling Overflow and Low Water Line

Daniel@R2R · Nov 23, 2016

KorL said:
To get the water higher in the display. need to use a stronger return pump or open the valve more to the return pump.

I've used Maggie mufflers before and theyve always been fairly quiet . I would ticker with the air vent. Sometimes the hole could be too small or big. need to get it just right.

Maybe you can drill a couple more small holes on vent cap. then cover one or two them with finger and see what the difference in sound it makes. then can always seal one of the holes with silicone once you get it right

I'm worried about using a MORE powerful pump. I'm using a Quiet One 4000 right now which is way more than 10x the tank (which is 50g).

reefwiser · Nov 23, 2016

The water in the maggie muffler is too high it is just at the height of the drain. The intake needs to be so that the top of the muffler is above water not the whole piece. You only have water at the bottom of the muffler it should be up higher.
You can cut the stand pipe so by an inch to get the muffler farther down in the water.

It needs to be higher than the step piece so that the water flows into the drain with out sucking in the air.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 23, 2016

reefwiser said:
The water in the maggie muffler is too high it is just at the height of the drain. The intake needs to be so that the top of the muffler is above water not the whole piece. You only have water at the bottom of the muffler it should be up higher.
You can cut the stand pipe so by an inch to get the muffler farther down in the water.

Ohh...but wouldn't that lower the water level?

reefwiser · Nov 23, 2016

Or you can put a valve on the return line and close it slightly. I just alway pump mine straight adjusting the height till I find the sweet spot.
I use a union fitting on the stand pipe so I can make different heights till I find that one that works.

KorL · Nov 23, 2016

Personally, I don't think the water level needs to be adjusted. When the Maggie muffler is set up correct, it shouldnt make much noise regardless of the water level. As long as it's the correct size muffler for your flow rates.

If it's gurgling/flushing, it needs a larger air vent

Brew12 · Nov 23, 2016

mdbannister said:
Can you tell I know NOTHING about plumbing?

But hey...it looks pretty.

Wow, that really looks sharp! If I had done it, it would have purple primer all over it!

Brew12 · Nov 23, 2016

mdbannister said:
Ohh...but wouldn't that lower the water level?

Cutting the pipe lowers the level of the Maggie Muffler, giving the same impact as if you had raised the water level.

Not sure that is the problem, but that is the intent of the suggestion.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 23, 2016

Thanks everyone! I restricted the flow of the pump and it got quiet. I think I'm using too large of a return pump on it. Gonna try a smaller one.

Brew12 · Nov 23, 2016

mdbannister said:
Thanks everyone! I restricted the flow of the pump and it got quiet. I think I'm using too large of a return pump on it. Gonna try a smaller one.

Or you can just leave it restricted....

I would wait before buying a smaller pump. Once you start getting "stuff" build up on the inside of your piping you will get more laminar flow and the system will quiet down on its own. I would give it a little time before I replaced the pump.

tripdad · Nov 23, 2016

Do you have a bypass built into your return pump plumbing? I can't tell from your pic. This would be a tee off your pumps return to tank with a valve and a line that dumps back into the sump. Opening the valve bypasses some of the flow thus limiting return to tank without putting back pressure on the pump. Most non controllable pumps don't like to run against a partially closed valve in the long term. This let's you run a bigger pump and "dial" in the flow.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 23, 2016

Brew12 said:
Or you can just leave it restricted....

I would wait before buying a smaller pump. Once you start getting "stuff" build up on the inside of your piping you will get more laminar flow and the system will quiet down on its own. I would give it a little time before I replaced the pump.

Well, the problem is that I only restricted it with my hand coming out of the return to test it. However, I already have some smaller pumps lying around, so no need to buy anything (I hope). Just gotta swap the pumps out.

tripdad said:
Do you have a bypass built into your return pump plumbing? I can't tell from your pic. This would be a tee off your pumps return to tank with a valve and a line that dumps back into the sump. Opening the valve bypasses some of the flow thus limiting return to tank without putting back pressure on the pump. Most non controllable pumps don't like to run against a partially closed valve in the long term. This let's you run a bigger pump and "dial" in the flow.

There's a reactor running off a bypass on it, but even with that all the way open this pump is still too strong.

jsker · Nov 23, 2016

Set the skimmer up higher and add more water the the sump??

tripdad · Nov 23, 2016

The bypass has to be equal in size to the return plumbing and not obstructed by anything or it is really just a "feed" to whatever is on it. It is to be used only to "dump" flow from the pump back into the sump. Have you thought about one of the new DC controllable pumps? Then the plumbing plays a smaller role in things.

ss95003 · Nov 23, 2016

I don't know how the Maggie works. But you don't raise or lower the water level of your display by now big/ small your pump is. You control it by height of drain pipe. Yes when pumps on it's higher but that's not how you raise your display level by inches. When I saw the video I think water line is way to low.

Rjramos · Nov 23, 2016

reefwiser said:
The water in the maggie muffler is too high it is just at the height of the drain. The intake needs to be so that the top of the muffler is above water not the whole piece. You only have water at the bottom of the muffler it should be up higher.
You can cut the stand pipe so by an inch to get the muffler farther down in the water[/URL]

It needs to be higher than the step piece so that the water flows into the drain with out sucking in the air.

This is the right suggestion, the standpipe is too high. And it is sucking air through where only water is supposed to go. There needs to be a water fall effect from display level to overflow box level.

cromag27 · Nov 23, 2016

A Maggie muffler is a "silencer" that sits on top of an open standpipe. It's a horrible design, just wait until it gets clogged. Even a durso would be a better option, but not as good as a herbie.

I only shoot for a recirculation of 5x, 10x is crazy! as others have suggested, get a smaller pump or use a gate valve to restrict the flow right after the pump.

Bob Escher · Nov 23, 2016

Try adding a airline tubing to the hole on top let the part inside the cap a inch and outside of the cap maybe two inches. Silicone it into place ( easy to remove) 5thst will also help

Daniel@R2R · Nov 23, 2016

Swapped out the pump for a smaller pump. I may change the muffler out for a durso if it will help to raise the water level. otherwise, I'll just block off about half of the height of the teeth on the overflow (with a weir on the inside so it won't be visible)