Noisy overflow

[Handymanmike79]

I had the same issue with that style overflow. The noise seems to come from the system pulling a siphon and then gulping air. A gate valve just above your sump will let you tune the flow so that you can achieve max flow without gulping for air. Although you'll quickly find your self tweaking the valve twice a day.

What your doing is best way but when water levels drop creates more noise.... Need an ato to maintain water level ya have system adjusted to if that makes sense?

 

[CookeRS]

Actually, did placing the filter pads under the filter and skimmer improve the humming or high frequency vibration sounds? Wondering if I pop into a pet store tomorrow and get one... approx how thick is the one you're using?

It improved the humming yes, when I closed the cabinet. It would amplify the humming making it really resonating. I'll probsbly post some before and after videos this weekend if I get around to it [emoji14]

 

[Cliffsreef]

Following

 

[mikes686]

There is a small hole at the top of the drain. To make this bigger I would literally have to drill a bigger hole! Surely this can't be the solution otherwise they would have made this adjustable??

I do get periodic gurgling sound but the vast majority is falling water, no the drain does not go into the sump water. I could look to extend this which would really only contain the noise right? Wouldn't actually stop it. Just make the PVC tube a sound barrier.

I've never used a system like this and the logic obviously is for the water to fall down the drain. Are they always this noisy or is there some art to getting them quiet?

If I'm understanding you, you're hearing the water flowing through the air gap. Lengthening the pipe so it's submerged into the water will quiet it down.

 

[kiwis]

If I'm understanding you, you're hearing the water flowing through the air gap. Lengthening the pipe so it's submerged into the water will quiet it down.

Refer to the earlier video when I filled the sump up to submerge the pipe. I wasn’t better

 

[kiwis]

I'm based in Australia, I got my things at "Bunnings Warehouse". I shouldn't take all the credit, I got some assistance building this modified pipe from my local Aquarium shop. (very kind of him!).

The parts I used were 40mm, and conduits and such.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-40mm-pvc-solvent-weld-ball-valve_p5070705

https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-40mm-pvc-dwv-straight-coupling_p4756300

https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-40mm-x-1m-pvc-dwv-pipe_p4770086

I'm working on some plans to silence the overflow in the weir, the protein skimmer air intake (the horrible girgle it makes) and vibration. I'll link you in on anything I find that works. [emoji106]

Hi Again
I’ve found one here in NZ for $12 so am tempted to give it a go vs the sponge in the drain, my main concern is the drain blocking while I’m at work once day.

How does this ball valve help reduce the noise? And is your pipe also in the water?

 

[Tony's Reef]

Here is the way I have my drain. I don't think I posted this earlier in this thread, but just did a huge write up about it in the DIY section when I built my sump. This design is very quiet, but does result in some salt creep because of bubbles splashing around a little. I have to clean it about once a month and it's good. Also, I don't know that I would put a filter pad under a pump. Not that it won't work, it definitely will, I'm just lazy and that is something else I would have to clean when I clean the sump lol. I just use soft rubber feet. That paired with a DC return pump gives me a silent return and as you will see in the pictures, I'm all hard line and no flex line is used until I connect it to my tank.

Pay no attention to the hydrometer. I tossed that in the trash years ago lol.

I'm thinking the straight fall is what is causing so much of the noise. As you can see, my water has to turn twice on its way to the first chamber of my sump. And obviously the right inlet to the sump gets more water flow than the left, but the left still gets quite a bit. Maybe it will spark an idea seeing this pictures. I hope so at least.

 

[WallysWorld]

My drain is different design(Herbie-Overflow), but I too had difficulty adjusting it to be quiet. It took me several days to get it. In the process I discovered a resource that really help me. I think that they also discuss your style of drain on this site as well. Take a look it they may have the background theory to help you understand what adjustments to make as well.

http://gmacreef.com/herbie-overflow-reef-tank-plumbing-method-basics/

Wally

 

[vetteguy53081]

My Formula:

I use pipe insulation sleeves over the plumbing, Silencers for my filters socks and a fish bag over the sump to reduce noise, evaporation and splashing and a siphon break at my overflow. My tank is virtually silent

 

[kiwis]

My Formula:

I use pipe insulation sleeves over the plumbing, Silencers for my filters socks and a fish bag over the sump to reduce noise, evaporation and splashing and a siphon break at my overflow. My tank is virtually silent

What are these?

 

[Flexin]

As others have said the return system is basic and is affected by the return pump used and the size of the hole in the top. Personally I would not place anything in the pipe, you are asking for trouble if it clogs.

If you put a ball valve on the return pump you can slow the flow going into the aquarium which will allow water to catch up with the amount of air coming in so it does not gurgle. So yes, you either have to slow the flow of the return pump or make the air hole bigger, or place and adjustable valve so you can fine tune it. I would be more concerned about placing material in the pipe than simply making the hole bigger or adding an adjustable valve.

If you add a ball valve to the return pump, you can turn it down and fix the problem. Or you can get a dc pump that’s adjustable, but you will still have to turn the flow down to stop the noise. If you want a higher flow you have to have more air going into the top hole so it needs to be bigger. Adding a valve to the top will allow you to fine tune it and get the highest flow with the least amount of noise.

Drink a beer, drill the hole bigger or add a ball valve to the return and turn it down.

 

[kiwis]

Drink a beer, drill the hole bigger or add a ball valve to the return and turn it down.

I can't un-drill it and it others have said it's already big enough so what if it does not fix it.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

So just thinking out load here and I’m tired, so if I sound really dumb, I blame work. Now in my old reef dynamics protein skimmer I had a fine tunner with an air hose. Meaning I could keep it wide open and nothing changed or if I turned it just a little bit, my skimmer would not over flow. Now based on the fact that they both use air to move water, why not find a hose and attach a fine tune valve to the top of the drain pipe. If you leave it wide open, it’s the same, or you can decrease it in very small amounts to help with the noise. I have twin dc pumps, and the short one is always dead silent, but the one which is further away (aka overflow) always makes bubbles and turtles. When I turn the pump down it does go away, but I still need flow in my tank. I have tried turning the other one up, and then the same thing happens because it can’t keep up.

I have thought of adding a 90 degree bend at the end of my pipes going into the sump. Then after these add a small three inch pipe with three air line holes drilled in each one. Now as most have stated if they are above water they will make the noise. But if there are more than one less air can escape, right. Since we are not plugging up the the pipes, why not stuff bits of cotton balls in there.

I’m like every one else some days my tank is just dead silent, and then it’s like I’m standing next to Niagra falls. There has to be something that will work as a constant regardless of water flow and air.

 

[Slarti]

I lengthened my pipe into the sock and it did much better afterwards, still not quiet but better. When I asked about this a while ago I had one guy showing me what he did and if I had the time I would have tried that. He actually turned his sump around which meant his overflow box were on the opposite side. He then put two l-bends in the down-pipe with a ball valve at the end to take it across into his sock. Quiet as a mouse it was...

Can't remember which forum it was on but will look if I can find some picture.

 

[dnyceli]

;Wacky

 

[vetteguy53081]

What are these?

These what?

 

[CookeRS]

Hi Again
I’ve found one here in NZ for $12 so am tempted to give it a go vs the sponge in the drain, my main concern is the drain blocking while I’m at work once day.

How does this ball valve help reduce the noise? And is your pipe also in the water?

Yes the pipe is in the water, I actually extended it by maybe 5cm deeper into the water than standard.

I don't know the exact science behind it, but basically as the water accelerates down the tube from the display tank to the sump, it becomes turbulent (instead of flowing through the pipe quietly it's free falling) so the idea behind the valve is to reduce how much water is able to fall through the pipe, to the point where it's "flowing" rather than "falling"... That's the most basic way I can explain it in my head haha.

I've put together a short before and after video. I feel that whilst not "silent" the splashing/turbulent water sound AFTER the ball valve mod I find much less offensive than it was before.

 

[Flexin]

I can't un-drill it and it others have said it's already big enough so what if it does not fix it.

It worked on mine. Your missing a few options.

1) Install a ball valve on the return pump and turn down the flow
2) Install a valve on the intake hole (the one I'm saying to make bigger) You would have to drill the hole to make the valve fit. Then it's adjustable.

There are options besides making the hole bigger. Adding more pipe is a crap shoot, there is no guarantee it will work because there are many factors that make your tank different from someone else. Also, installing a ball valve on the down flow into the sump is an easy way to cause the tank to overflow. It may look fine today, but if the return pump is adding water slightly more then the ball valve allowing it to enter into the sump, it will overflow. Installing material in the pipe can cause an overflow (if not today in the future).

In regards to simply making the hole bigger, don't use a huge drill bit. Find one the fits the hole sung and start with that one. You can also move the drill bit in a circle to make the hole a bit bigger than just using the drill bit straight in and out.

I put a valve on my return pump and dialed it back, the noise went away. I wanted more flow so I slowly increased the size of the hole. Noise gone. I use to be able to hear it in the connecting rooms and now it's perfect.

You asked what to do, there are the options. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[ca1ore]

It worked on mine. Your missing a few options.

1) Install a ball valve on the return pump and turn down the flow
2) Install a valve on the intake hole (the one I'm saying to make bigger) You would have to drill the hole to make the valve fit. Then it's adjustable.

There are options besides making the hole bigger. Adding more pipe is a crap shoot, there is no guarantee it will work because there are many factors that make your tank different from someone else. Also, installing a ball valve on the down flow into the sump is an easy way to cause the tank to overflow. It may look fine today, but if the return pump is adding water slightly more then the ball valve allowing it to enter into the sump, it will overflow. Installing material in the pipe can cause an overflow (if not today in the future).

In regards to simply making the hole bigger, don't use a huge drill bit. Find one the fits the hole sung and start with that one. You can also move the drill bit in a circle to make the hole a bit bigger than just using the drill bit straight in and out.

I put a valve on my return pump and dialed it back, the noise went away. I wanted more flow so I slowly increased the size of the hole. Noise gone. I use to be able to hear it in the connecting rooms and now it's perfect.

You asked what to do, there are the options. Good luck in whatever you decide.

This is good advice - particularly the part about NOT constraining the single drain.

 

[Dburr1014]

There is a small hole at the top of the drain. To make this bigger I would literally have to drill a bigger hole! Surely this can't be the solution otherwise they would have made this adjustable??

I do get periodic gurgling sound but the vast majority is falling water, no the drain does not go into the sump water. I could look to extend this which would really only contain the noise right? Wouldn't actually stop it. Just make the PVC tube a sound barrier.

I've never used a system like this and the logic obviously is for the water to fall down the drain. Are they always this noisy or is there some art to getting them quiet?

With a durso, this is what you have to do to quiet the noise. Just go a little bigger, test. Repeat if nessissary.
It works, try it.