Please help me quiet my overflow so I can sleep again!

[Latte]

I bought a tank 2nd hand from a fellow reefer but this overflow is just so loud. It's a straight pipe overflow goes straight down into the sump. The overflow is about an inch under water and I've tried to surround it with a ton of floss (was already in the sump when I got it) to prevent the bubbles and constant gurgling.

Please help me make it quieter! The top is loud but the bubbles at the bottom are ridiculous and it is actually getting hard to sleep near it.

 

[Buckster]

Not sure of the size of the pipe but my dilemma was the same. I placed a cap piece over the top. In the center of the cap I drilled a 3/8 hole and placed a piece of soft tubing in it which sticks up about 2-3 inches.
It is definitely much quieter. Give it a shot - hopefully it works for you!

 

[Latte]

Not sure of the size of the pipe but my dilemma was the same. I placed a cap piece over the top. In the center of the cap I drilled a 3/8 hole and placed a piece of soft tubing in it which sticks up about 2-3 inches.
It is definitely much quieter. Give it a shot - hopefully it works for you!

Do you have any pictures to illustrate this? Want to make sure I understand and it's a bit hard just reading text to get the full picture. And did this silence the overflow or the bottom drain into sump? The main issue at the moment is definitely the bottom of the overflow, the drain into the sump (not sure what the specific term is for it sorry), though the actual overflow is also a bit loud.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Look up Durso standpipe. This is what you're looking to do. I would trash the entire thing and start with new pipes.

The bottom of your outflow should also be a few inches underwater. That itself will make it quieter.

 

[Latte]

Look up Durso standpipe. This is what you're looking to do. I would trash the entire thing and start with new pipes.

The bottom of your outflow should also be a few inches underwater. That itself will make it quieter.

I read that the bottom of the overflow being more under water would actually lead to louder bubbles as they make their way to the top of the water. You're certain it'd make it quieter? And would replacing the whole thing be necessary, would it be possible to just kind of attach a durso pipe on top? It's in an awkward spot and I'm in an apartment so the less work I have to do on the plumbing the easier for me.

 

[nereefpat]

The sound is from too much water going down the pipe, taking air along with it.

You need to slow down the return pump, or put a durso or other device on the drain, or redesign the drain system

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I read that the bottom of the overflow being more under water would actually lead to louder bubbles as they make their way to the top of the water. You're certain it'd make it quieter? And would replacing the whole thing be necessary, would it be possible to just kind of attach a durso pipe on top? It's in an awkward spot and I'm in an apartment so the less work I have to do on the plumbing the easier for me.

This isn't somewhat to put off. If you're going 50% go 100%. It's already thrown together. Build a standpipe and discharge line. It not a lot of work. You don't need to know much.

 

[DeniseAndy]

If it is only one pipe, look at the Durso standpipe as mentioned earlier. If has two, look at the Herbie overflow, if three pipes, look at the Bean Animal overflow. Google will show you great pictures and videos of how to do each. All can be done with very little noise.

 

[Sod Buster]

Try this. My fingers are at the approximate waterline. This made my single drain much quieter. Gives the air somewhere to go.

 

[Conchman]

Durso, or "Herbie" it, drain deeper into the sump, loose the stainless clamp it will rust and add a gate valve. Lot of variables, also pump size etc...lastly, not sure how big the tank is, that mdf stand will need to be replaced or better supported in the near future...

 

[Latte]

Durso, or "Herbie" it, drain deeper into the sump, loose the stainless clamp it will rust and add a gate valve. Lot of variables, also pump size etc...lastly, not sure how big the tank is, that mdf stand will need to be replaced or better supported in the near future...

The tank is 200L and around 2 years old. The stand seems pretty sturdy, but now I've got a nightmare flashing through my head of 200L of salt water going through our apartment. How can I make sure that doesn't happen? Is a tank even this size going to cause an issue with this stand?

This isn't somewhat to put off. If you're going 50% go 100%. It's already thrown together. Build a standpipe and discharge line. It not a lot of work. You don't need to know much.

Ok, I'll give it a go. In my OP do you see the picture of the standpipe, there's a white and black section. The white section unscrews quite easily from the black, and the black seems like it's very well attached to the part that's sealed to the tank. I don't want to fiddle with that seal on the tank, as I just know I won't be able to get it right again. Does it make sense to leave that black part in and fix the top and the bottom sections? Or do I really need to take out all of the plumbing entirely?

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, I'll try out a durso.

 

[Latte]

I actually just turned down the return slightly and the drain pipe is almost silent now... So I'll just leave it at that for now, but I am a bit nervous about the stand after @Conchman's comments. Any suggestions on if I need to reinforce and how to do so?

 

[nereefpat]

Is the whole stand made of fiberboard, or is there lumber in it? MDF just doesn't hold up to getting wet very well, theoretically. I have a friend that built a bunch of MDF stands for 55-180 gallon tanks. As far as I know, they are still fine 12-12 years later.

Maybe some more pics of the stand would help us see how structurally sound it is.

 

[Latte]

Is the whole stand made of fiberboard, or is there lumber in it? MDF just doesn't hold up to getting wet very well, theoretically. I have a friend that built a bunch of MDF stands for 55-180 gallon tanks. As far as I know, they are still fine 12-12 years later.

Maybe some more pics of the stand would help us see how structurally sound it is.

Not really sure to be honest. Here's some pictures

 

[Sod Buster]

That looks exactly like my old cadlights stand. I had a 45 gallon shallow. Build a new stand. That stand is a disaster waiting to happen. Take a break from wanting water in the tank, focus that energy on not wanting a disaster on the floor.

 

[Latte]

That looks exactly like my old cadlights stand. I had a 45 gallon shallow. Build a new stand. That stand is a disaster waiting to happen. Take a break from wanting water in the tank, focus that energy on not wanting a disaster on the floor.

I've already got water in the tank and tbh have no clue how to build a stand. Is it really something I can feasibly do myself? I've got next to no woodworking skills. Did your last stand break? It really seems pretty sturdy to me, not sure it's necessary to replace it.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I've already got water in the tank and tbh have no clue how to build a stand. Is it really something I can feasibly do myself? I've got next to no woodworking skills. Did your last stand break? It really seems pretty sturdy to me, not sure it's necessary to replace it.

The problem with fibreboard stands isn’t their strength, it’s the durability. That stuff is basically made out of compressed wood chips and glue. Which means it’s strong enough to hold the weight, but it will degrade over time, especially when exposed to high humidity and direct water contact. It’s not a matter of if it will fail, but when.


This video outlines how to build a simple, but extremely effective stand.

Tools required: Some sort of saw, measuring tape, drill/driver, pencil, and a square.

Materials: 2x4s and a bag of screws. How many depends on how big the stand is going to be.

I admit, I am fairly handy, but I built a stand for a 20 and 55 gallon in a couple hours. Then built a stand for my 260 gallon over a couple days.

 

[Projects with Sam]

Try a stockman standpipe:

 

[Latte]

The problem with fibreboard stands isn’t their strength, it’s the durability. That stuff is basically made out of compressed wood chips and glue. Which means it’s strong enough to hold the weight, but it will degrade over time, especially when exposed to high humidity and direct water contact. It’s not a matter of if it will fail, but when.


This video outlines how to build a simple, but extremely effective stand.

Tools required: Some sort of saw, measuring tape, drill/driver, pencil, and a square.

Materials: 2x4s and a bag of screws. How many depends on how big the stand is going to be.

I admit, I am fairly handy, but I built a stand for a 20 and 55 gallon in a couple hours. Then built a stand for my 260 gallon over a couple days.

Is there anyway I could just reinforce this one? Or just watch it's durability? It'd be a huge pain to build anything like this in our tiny apartment and I'm likely only going to have this tank for a year or two.

 

[billyocean]

Top of the overflow can be make like this to run quiet. The drain in the sump just needs to be deep enough down to be quieter.

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