loud reef tank, how do you make it quieter?

Exostatic · Oct 15, 2016

I have a 90 gallon corner overflow tank. I am using a eheim 1262 return pump. This I think may be more flow than I need. More flow is more noise correct. The noise this makes is when the water flows down into the sump. It get quieter when i use a filter sock that is new or not dirty. After a day or 2 the sock can't handle the flow and over fills making noise(splash). I also have a reef octipus 1000. This makes a lot of noise. The pump is quit enough. By noise I mean the water outlet bottom is about 3-4 inches above the water line in the sump so it splashes a lot also. Should I move the skimmer down to the outlet at the water level? This would stop the splashing from the skimmer. Am I supposed to plumb the outlet to the water level or lower the skimmer level. I had a hard time setting the skimmer due to varying water levels. I now have a Tunze ATO so I hope this issue should be resolved. I think i'm going to love not keeping up with the water level...Hopefully more consistent parameters all around.
One more thing I have a 1 or 1.25 bulkhead hose going to one sock but I have a 2 sock holder. I tried to plumb it to both but it looked real bad! Frankenstein yuck Do they make a splitter that I can run 2 socks at a time. A hose that splits the flow into 2 maybe. They must make something... Yes this is wife driven...But the tank is Dad & 2 daughter driven...HAHA
Thanks in advance for your time!

Shameless_Dood · Oct 15, 2016

Exostatic said:
I have a 90 gallon corner overflow tank. I am using a eheim 1262 return pump. This I think may be more flow than I need. More flow is more noise correct. The noise this makes is when the water flows down into the sump. It get quieter when i use a filter sock that is new or not dirty. After a day or 2 the sock can't handle the flow and over fills making noise(splash). I also have a reef octipus 1000. This makes a lot of noise. The pump is quit enough. By noise I mean the water outlet bottom is about 3-4 inches above the water line in the sump so it splashes a lot also. Should I move the skimmer down to the outlet at the water level? This would stop the splashing from the skimmer. Am I supposed to plumb the outlet to the water level or lower the skimmer level. I had a hard time setting the skimmer due to varying water levels. I now have a Tunze ATO so I hope this issue should be resolved. I think i'm going to love not keeping up with the water level...Hopefully more consistent parameters all around.
One more thing I have a 1 or 1.25 bulkhead hose going to one sock but I have a 2 sock holder. I tried to plumb it to both but it looked real bad! Frankenstein yuck Do they make a splitter that I can run 2 socks at a time. A hose that splits the flow into 2 maybe. They must make something... Yes this is wife driven...But the tank is Dad & 2 daughter driven...HAHA
Thanks in advance for your time!

I would think that pump is about right, after you consider head loss due to height and whatever turns your plumbing takes, it's likely in that 5-10X tank volume range. You can always plumb in a gate valve if you want to turn it down a little.

AS far as the skimmer goes, check your manual for recommended water level, make it sure it's within that range (it's more efficient there too), then see what you need to do to stop the splashing. I would think adding a PVC elbow and pvc pipe that outputs below the water line would probably be best.

The drain hose, I don't know they make a splitter. You could always hard plumb it with PVC and a T, but that would take some planning to be able to change out your filter socks easily.

Exostatic · Oct 15, 2016

I now longer have the directions to my reef octipus 1000int. I watched some videos and it is supposed to be 5-6 inches deep. I had it 3 inches deep, 3 inches to high. This made it so the water drain was 3 inches of waterfall...NOISE... Much quieter now thanks. I am new but filter socks are beginning to suck the big one...The drain is a 1" drain hose. I still would like to set up the 2 socks at one time so it can go more days without me changing them I hope...need to set up more filters... I need Chaeto in the sump, maybe charcoal. My tank looks good but not great. Yes a work in progress for a new reef keeper.

My skimmer is to low now hahahaha. How i can tell is that clean skimate is going over the top with the valve wide open. I heard my ATO running intermittently before I found the puddle that my wife loves in the living room. I need to raise the skimmer till it no longer pukes over the top with the valve wide open. I am going to try tiles under the skimmer because my brick is too thick. Stay tuned for the drama as it unfolds... Lesson: Pay attention to your tank when you make changes...It's ok to be new, it's not ok to be inept...

Starwar · Oct 15, 2016

I have a 90 gallon corner flo...and i found that my 1100 gph pump was too much. My durso sounded like a toilet flushing. I put a ball valve on the drain pipe to control the flow to my sump. I also turned down the flow on my return. My durso is now whisper quiet.