Quietest Return Pump? Go!

[DcoarM]

Hello all! I just bought a used system off someone and have been trying to get it all up and running over the last few days. Today I was finally able plug in the return pump and try to dial in the overflow, but holy cow was it super loud. Like loud to the point that I woul get rid of the tank.

The tank sits in my living room and is 180g. Any suggestions on a quiet return pump? Also suggestions on how to quiet the return water to the sump.

The pump is a reeflo premium pump.

I have ordered a Gate valve to help with dialing in the pipes to the sump, but will that really make it silent?

 

[Dcal]

vectra ones are supposedly very quiet. (disclaimer i haven't owned one)

 

[fishface NJ]

I have a Syncra SDA controllable internal pump. I sit 3' from my tank approx 12 hours per day. The sump area is completely open. Don't hear the pump at all

 

[PanchoG]

I had Sicce SDC, AC and a COR20 and have seen a Vectra in operation. By far COR20 was the best, we needed to touch it to confirm it was on.

 

[landlubber]

i haven't tried many so i'll generalize and just say if quiet is a priority limit the search to DC pumps. incredibly quiet

 

[DcoarM]

I have a Syncra SDA controllable internal pump. I sit 3' from my tank approx 12 hours per day. The sump area is completely open. Don't hear the pump at all

Do you have link to the one you have? Seeing lots of different ones.

 

[Greg P]

External return pumps are in general noisy. Consider replumbing with a submerged pump. The water will help muffle it, and use a thick pad under the pump to minimize vibration noise. I use Lifegard Aquamesh Green

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[NoVa Reefer]

I have a reef octopus Varios 8 on my waterbox 220.6 and it is super quiet.

 

[Greg P]

If you do replumb, rotate the sump 180 degrees. The large section would be for your drain, socks, skimmer, reactors etc. The return pump goes in the small section after the baffles.

 

[DcoarM]

If you do replumb, rotate the sump 180 degrees. The large section would be for your drain, socks, skimmer, reactors etc. The return pump goes in the small section after the baffles.

I left it that way so I can run a refugium out of the small chamber. The sump is drilled for an external return pump.

 

[zalick]

I have a reef octopus Varios 8 on my waterbox 220.6 and it is super quiet.

I also have a Varios 8 on my 300. Its in my living room with a 100g sump. I have a Beananimal overflow and its completely silent.

 

[Greg P]

I left it that way so I can run a refugium out of the small chamber. The sump is drilled for an external return pump.

I saw that and is why I mentioned it's part of your noise issue with the external pump. Plus I see it's a dart pump and have heard they are also noisy.
You could still have a 'fuge in the larger chamber if you get creative.

 

[fishface NJ]

Do you have link to the one you have? Seeing lots of different ones.

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[zalick]

I just looked more closely and you have a Beananimal setup too. Once dialed in, that will be completely silent.

A dart is loud. Get a Vectra or a Varios and you'll be set.

You should flip it around. Just have the fuge in the middle. Hard to tell from the pics but my guess is the baffle on the far right, baffling your current overflow section, is the lowest. This should be the return section and the water flows over the highest baffles down to the lowest.

But I'm sure it will work either way.

 

[Screwgunner]

Blue line

 

[DcoarM]

I just looked more closely and you have a Beananimal setup too. Once dialed in, that will be completely silent.

A dart is loud. Get a Vectra or a Varios and you'll be set.

You should flip it around. Just have the fuge in the middle. Hard to tell from the pics but my guess is the baffle on the far right, baffling your current overflow section, is the lowest. This should be the return section and the water flows over the highest baffles down to the lowest.

But I'm sure it will work either way.

 

[DcoarM]

Still very loud

 

[zalick]

Still very loud

If the overflow is loud, its not tuned correctly. The left elbow inside the overflow must be turned down and the other end must be submerged in the sump. You then use the gate valve on this pipe only, to tune it so the water level in the overflow box allows just a trickle down the middle backup drain.

It will be noisy for a few minutes or so while starting up and the air flushes out of the main channel.