Introduction! Noisy Return :(

[Premnas]

Howdy Reefers! I'm new to the hobby, obviously. Here's what I got goin' on.
Current tank set ups:
24" 60 gal cube upstairs, linked to 100 gal sump in the basement.
Quarantine tank with some of the cutest clowns around.

When we turn on the return pump, iwaki 40 something something, the waterfall created at the back of the tank in combination with the massive air suck sound going to the basement is TOO F'n loud. Halp. Me.

Everything is already glued together. Do I have to completely drain the upstairs and then hacksaw the return off?

 

[kschweer]

Some pictures would help. What type of drain are you running? Also what size bulkhead on the drain?

 

[kschweer]

And welcome to R2R!! The [HASHTAG]#reefsquad[/HASHTAG] may be able to help out a bit more as well.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I think your problem is having the cutest clowns around.....now if they were ugly, no problems!


Actually fill us in on the plumbing job you did.....pipe diameter, length and any horizontal runs. Pictures would be nice too!

 

[dbl]

Welcome to R2R. It's already been mentioned we need some pictures and info to help with diagnosis. Well don't forget to include a shot of the cutest clowns around.

 

[Breadman03]

Here's your problem: too much flow. Valve the pump down a little and it should go away.

Fill in the requested info for a really good answer, but what it will come down to is having flow that is balanced for the capabilities of the system. Those details will help us determine those limits and get you flowing nice and smooth

 

[melypr1985]

Welcome to R2R! I'll leave it to these other guys/gals to help you out here as I'm not the best plumbing person around.

 

[Maddlesrain]

Welcome!
I've noticed covering the overflow area reduces sound by a landslide.
The peeps with more knowledge on plumbing can give you better pointers I'm sure, but that's just my two cents.

 

[jsker]

Welcome to R2R, I will wait on further details

 

[mcarroll]

TOO F'n loud.

Here's your problem: too much flow. Valve the pump down a little and it should go away.

+1

It also helps to have a target. Unless you're doing something out of the ordinary, you only need between (60g x 2) and (60g x 4) GPH of actual flow rate to run your sump, filters, etc. That's anything from 120GPH to 240GPH – not a lot of flow. And about what a 1" drain will carry silently in most cases.

Once you stop flooding your drain, the massive bouts of suction should stop.

So, use a cup or bucket...something convenient...to measure the flow from your return. Time it. Convert the volume of water collected and the time it took into GPH.

As mentioned above, valve down the pump until you're in the stated range and see how things behave.

 

[kireek]

*Welcome to Reef2Reef @Premnas !* I have screens over my overflows to prevent happy little critters from falling through.It also really helps with the noise and slows the flow down just enough.Although it must be kept clean,it rarely needs it.In addition my overflow leads to a refugium and tumbles over live rock.This helped create a more relaxing tune.

 

[twilliard]

Welcome to R2R!
Indeed to better help we need to know or see how your drain is set up

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

Welcome to R2R! I'm very happy to see a new member join our community

I see you're from Pittsburgh. I've never been there myself, but I have family that resides in Pennsylvania. What's the LSF situation in Pittsburgh?

By the way, I am quite curious as to what your avatar is.

- C. Smith

 

[beaslbob]

you might look up durso standpipes.