Overflow loud... need suggestions
- Thread starter GOSKN5
- Start date
- Tagged users None
SailAnnapolis
New Member
Now they we have overflow experts here. I have an external overflow box with two one inch drains in it on outside of tank. It is not an add-on box it was designed that way to save room inside. On a 120 tank picture a 12" long x 4 x 4 box. Water falls inside via grating then there are two one inch drains. They are internal thread drains and I have no plumbing on them just two holes. 1 valve on each of drains. Should I just close the valves enough that both holes are underwater or should I do a mini standpipe system inside ? Right now valves are closed a lot and sound is "okay" but I don't like it this way. Any suggestions? Or experience with an external overflow system.
Koaboy
Community Member
I'm using the open foam, and it does work. Remember, though, that the foam is before the filter, and will work as a filter...meaning it will be a nitrate factory if you don't clean it. I clean mine when I clean the socks.
I've personally been of the opinion, that any kind of valve or restriction on the overflow is not good. That instead, a gate type valve should be on the discharge side of your return pump to regulate flow/overflow. I'm sure a lot of people do it, but. Instead of an open stand pipe in your overflow, perhaps you could use a durso style top piece, and use the air hole to dampen noise and control flow somewhat.
McAllyn
Well-Known Member
So just open top bulkheads on the bottom of your external overflow, correct? Personally, I'd put a couple short Hofer Gurgle Busters on there, which would take up very little space in the overflow, raise the water level in the overflow a little bit, and allow you to remove any valves from the drains. I've never been a fan of valves on drains.
Mac
SailAnnapolis
New Member
If you open both valves the water falls so fast it wouldn't matter much what you had on the drains and you can't magically change the level in the overflow box. So maybe if I added a 2 or 3" pipe it would raise the level of water in the overflow box deeper. But then the holes gurgle like crazy anyway. So I use the valves to make the water be above the level of the drain holes , enough so it doesn't gurgle.
UCReefer
New Member
I think that if you have two available drain pipes the best choice is to leave one fully opened and the other tuned with a gate valve to slightly less than the amount being supplied to your dt. That way the fully open drain will have a slight trickle going down, which also allows you to tune in the level in the overflow box by the height of the fully open drain. With this method I have silenced my overflow box that before had only gurgle busters that I couldn't get tuned in. gl
tanklovers0801
New Member
The return on my Marineland is quite loud due to a hole drilled in bottom of elbow for siphon break. Any ideas to quiet this stream? Water levels in display and return look good just noisy because of that hole drilled for siphon break
mikellini
Active Member
Replace the elbow with a new one without a hole, and ensure your return nozzles are close enough to the surface that they break the siphon before your sump overflows. This is safer than depending on a little hole like that anyway. Some people will tell you to somehow restrict the hole or place foam in front of it to reduce noise, but that's just increasing the likelihood of flooding your sump IMO.
tanklovers0801
New Member
Thank you for the advice. Is it difficult to replace with system up and running?
mikellini
Active Member
Not if you haven't glued anything. You just need to find a 90 degree elbow that will work. For my marineland plumbing it was 1" slip on one side and 3/4" threaded on the other for the loc line
Ligershark
Well-Known Member
I've got some never used maggie mufflers available for sale if anyone's interested. i was going to use them on my setup because my durso was too loud but I ended up going with the herbie method, dead silent now.
UCReefer
New Member
Well while all of these suggestions would work to quiet your return the best method is to simply add a check valve into your return line. This (Swing Check Valve - Bulk Reef Supply) would work fine however the most reliable one would be the georg fisher wye check valve(George Fisher Wye Check Valve - Bulk Reef Supply) b/c if it fails you can open it and clean it without having to replumb the return.
Though If you dont feel like plumbing in a check valve just take mikes advice. Also it should be ez to do with system running just turn off return.
Though If you dont feel like plumbing in a check valve just take mikes advice. Also it should be ez to do with system running just turn off return.
