Running Red Sea Reefer with No Socks (noisy)

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

Hey guys, I don't like filter socks mostly because of the maintenance. I just setup a new Red Sea Reefer 525XL and I removed the socks and replaced with 4 filter cups. 2 of them are filled with media, but the other 2 are empty. The empty ones however are super noisy. There is a constant water spillage sound and it's really annoying. Any ideas on how to silence these? I was thinking of funnels but wanted to see if anyone here has solved this problem already. Thanks so much!

stovenut · May 9, 2022

Add filter floss to the cups.

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

That would definitely work, but then I need to switch out the floss. Albeit less often than socks, but I'd rather now have to maintain it. Any other ideas?

Lavey29 · May 9, 2022

I have an XL300 with 1 or 2 socks. I was changing out every 3 days covered in black gunk. Started dosing PNS probio and now my sock stays clean a week or longer. Bacteria breaks down the waste before it flows to the sock.

undermind · May 9, 2022

JerseyReefer said:
Hey guys, I don't like filter socks mostly because of the maintenance. I just setup a new Red Sea Reefer 525XL and I removed the socks and replaced with 4 filter cups. 2 of them are filled with media, but the other 2 are empty. The empty ones however are super noisy. There is a constant water spillage sound and it's really annoying. Any ideas on how to silence these? I was thinking of funnels but wanted to see if anyone here has solved this problem already. Thanks so much!

You're certain the sound is coming from the filter cups right? I haven't ever noticed any sound coming from them, even when they're empty. And I use the filter cups too. There isn't too much height from the top of the cup down to the water level.

steven325 · May 9, 2022

Have you tried filter sock silencers? Give them a search on google.

MichaelReefer · May 9, 2022

If there is nothing there the water is just going to pour over the baffle.

Montiman · May 9, 2022

I filled my cups with biomedia to limit noise.

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

Montiman said:
I filled my cups with biomedia to limit noise.

Yeah, I think this is my best option so far. It's working on the far 2 cups filled with media. Thanks!

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

steven325 said:
Have you tried filter sock silencers? Give them a search on google.

I've seen these and even tried 3D printing some. Has anyone tried them? Curious before I run a long print job or buy them off ebay.

brmc1985 · May 9, 2022

Could also look up “rain chains”. This would help slow down the water and allow a more controlled fall of the water.

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

brmc1985 said:
Could also look up “rain chains”. This would help slow down the water and allow a more controlled fall of the water.

Interesting idea. I haven't seen any for reef tanks. Could you post a link?

brmc1985 · May 9, 2022

JerseyReefer said:
Interesting idea. I haven't seen any for reef tanks. Could you post a link?

I don’t have any links as I am not sure if they exist for tanks. Just something out of the box that someone might be able to print or find chain or something similar that could be installed in the empty cups.

JerseyReefer · May 9, 2022

FYI, I had a silencer that I printed out a while ago and a funnel that fits the hole. I tried them both and the sound is much lower. I can't tell which one is working better. I'll run a few experiments and post my results later for future reference. Thanks!

JerseyReefer · May 19, 2022

Quick update, those sock silencers work on the filter cups as well. Better than the funnel idea I had (although I'm sure if I played with different designs I could perfect it). It made a big difference on the noise and didn't slow the flow.

Here's an image of the design. I posted the print files to Thingiverse here https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5389484

beatle · Jun 22, 2022

Hey, do you have a new link to the print file? That link is broken.

JerseyReefer · Jun 22, 2022

JerseyReefer said:
Quick update, those sock silencers work on the filter cups as well. Better than the funnel idea I had (although I'm sure if I played with different designs I could perfect it). It made a big difference on the noise and didn't slow the flow.

Here's an image of the design. I posted the print files to Thingiverse here https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5389484