Noisy sump tank

Ming_ · Dec 30, 2018

Good day and hope everyone had a good 2018 !

I am in the process of setting up a new tank. Tried to do quite a bit of DIY for this setup.
After a few months finally got to the point of doing a fill-the-tank-up-leak-test.

Generally everything went as planned, except that the sump tank water flow is too noisy for my liking.

Overflow pipes are made similar to Red Sea reefer herbie style.
Return pump used is a Jebao DCP 8000.
At 40% settings, there is quite a bit of splashing at the circle area, and water splashing noise is quite loud even with the cabinet door closed.

Like to check with you guys if you have any suggestions on the modification i can make to minimize this water splashing noise? Currently it is a fresh water leak test, so i can still make modifications relatively easily. Hope to reduce this water splashing before i go for the salt water fill.

Thanks in advance.
Ming.

JumboShrimp · Dec 30, 2018

It’s a little hard to tell from the photos, but are the pipes submerged below the waterline (and if so, by how many inches)? If not, I assume you are hearing free-falling water hitting the sump?; if submerged, I assume you are hearing air bubbles come up? Describe your situation a bit more precisely, and I’m sure others will have suggestions. Best wishes!

leepink23 · Dec 30, 2018

For me with the Herbie style drain I regulated that ball valve until silent but not going in emergency drain.

Frtdrmrose7 · Dec 30, 2018

Ming_ said:
Good day and hope everyone had a good 2018 !

I am in the process of setting up a new tank. Tried to do quite a bit of DIY for this setup.
After a few months finally got to the point of doing a fill-the-tank-up-leak-test.

Generally everything went as planned, except that the sump tank water flow is too noisy for my liking.

Overflow pipes are made similar to Red Sea reefer herbie style.
Return pump used is a Jebao DCP 8000.
At 40% settings, there is quite a bit of splashing at the circle area, and water splashing noise is quite loud even with the cabinet door closed.

Like to check with you guys if you have any suggestions on the modification i can make to minimize this water splashing noise? Currently it is a fresh water leak test, so i can still make modifications relatively easily. Hope to reduce this water splashing before i go for the salt water fill.

Thanks in advance.
Ming.

Extend the pipes into the filter socks but below the waterline.

Ming_ · Jan 1, 2019

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.
Noise is not from the overflow pipes in the display tank. They are from the return pipes into the filter sock. Photos below will illustrate the problem.

One question, does filter sock silencer actually helps? Those round filter sock cover with holes over them.

JumboShrimp · Jan 2, 2019

Oh, now I see. For one, you seem to have a lot of flow, which I am sure you would prefer to keep... Well, I don’t use filter socks, so please excuse me if this is a crazy ‘experimental’ suggestion, but if you filled the socks with cheap filter floss, would it pull out extra junk from the water while at the same time dampen (eliminate?) your noise problem? They say the cheapest place to buy large quantities of floss is at a craft store (for pillows)—just make sure it is not treated with a flame retardant, or anything. Second suggestion, similar to that: Cut a large rectangle from a Poly-Filter Pad and lay it on top of the box, covering the holes. Just a thought.

Ming_ · Jan 3, 2019

I tried to reduce the turbulence of the the water flow by moving up the filter sock plate.
Does not help at all, as it seems that the main splashing noise comes from the water flow into the filter sock.

JumboShrimp · Jan 3, 2019

Is there any way to safely raise the water level in the box?... obviously the farther the water falls down into the sock, the louder it tends to be, right?

Ming_ · Jan 3, 2019

And just as i was about to modify my piping for the returns, i found 2 small pcs of filter sponge lying beside my pvc pipes.

After a few minutes of fiddling with the sponge placement, managed to reduce the water splashing significantly.

So photos below for the benefit of future reefers with the same issue. Does not look the nicest but gets the job done.

So now i am planning to make a acrylic box / cover for this filter sock compartment. With a cover think i should be able to reduce the noise to a whisper...

Ming_ · Jan 3, 2019

JumboShrimp said:
Is there any way to safely raise the water level in the box?... obviously the farther the water falls down into the sock, the louder it tends to be, right?

Thought about this, but too big a job as i would have to cut out all the silicone and re-do the compartments.
Poor planning on my part, to be honest.

JumboShrimp · Jan 3, 2019

I tried to tell you that, yesterday, at 7:51 a.m.! Lol! I’m happy for you. Two thumbs up.

JumboShrimp · Jan 3, 2019

Go on Shark Tank. Lol.

Ming_ · Jan 3, 2019

JumboShrimp said:
I tried to tell you that, yesterday, at 7:51 a.m.! Lol! I’m happy for you. Two thumbs up.

Yup, thanks man. I would not have pick up the filter sponge without your post!

Cheers!

leepink23 · Jan 4, 2019

Ming_ said:
And just as i was about to modify my piping for the returns, i found 2 small pcs of filter sponge lying beside my pvc pipes.

After a few minutes of fiddling with the sponge placement, managed to reduce the water splashing significantly.

So photos below for the benefit of future reefers with the same issue. Does not look the nicest but gets the job done.

So now i am planning to make a acrylic box / cover for this filter sock compartment. With a cover think i should be able to reduce the noise to a whisper...

The cover will help a lot! Glad you found a solution.