What to fill loud overflow with?

[Miami Reef]

I’ve had bio balls in the overflow for years and it was silent. I removed all the filthy bioballs (there was a lot!), I didn’t expect the noise to be this loud from the water overflowing, but it is.

I can either refill it with new bioballs, but I’d rather not because so much dirt was caught in it. I am thinking of something that isn’t so pourus where water can just glide through to get to the filter socks without getting stuck in crevices. What would you use? Styrofoam peanuts? Empty water bottles? Bioballs? Suggestions are welcome, but please no plumbing suggestions. The overflow cannot have a high water level, because the sump will flood.

Attached is a video.

 

[davocean]

It's probably echo from drain splash, is your drain submerged?

Might be able to slip an extension tube on it to lower it and keep from splashing.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I see what I believe is your return line but don't see a stand pipe.....a durso. You can easily make one up for very little cash.

 

[Miami Reef]

Won’t it be easier to just fill the overflow with something? Like I said above, I really don’t want to start plumbing because I know leaks will happen from where the Durso will be attached, and I don’t want the sump overflowing.

The point of this thread is to find a material I can fill the overflow with.

 

[Even Further]

Stuffing something in the overflow is bandaid though. Anything you put in there is going to be a crud catcher, and will create maintenance. Plugged up filter media could lead to a spill.

Fixing the problem is more work now, but long term happiness. The normal water level inside the overflow box should be about 1/2" to 1" below the weir. You're missing drain plumbing. And the sump should be set up to hold drain back when the power is cut. Sounds like the normal water level in the sump is way, way too high.

 

[redfishbluefish]

It needs a standpipe.

Your water seal is with the bulkhead that is already in the bottom of the overflow. The standpipe will simply friction fit into the bulkhead and really doesn't need to be a waterproof seal. Any water that gets past the standpipe still goes into the plumbing to your sump. A DIY durso is simply a pipe, a tee, end cap and street elbow. You don't even need to glue it together....friction fit will work. And you never ever want to glue the bottom of the standpipe to the bulkhead. You need to remove when needed. Again, a standpipe is the solution. Just need to determine pipe size....most likely 1 inch, but could be 3/4 inch.

 

[Miami Reef]

The normal water level is fine. It’s just when I close the main pump that the level will only flow if it will fill with 2 more inches of water.

 

[Instigate]

The normal water level is fine. It’s just when I close the main pump that the level will only flow if it will fill with 2 more inches of water.

Your options are to fix it right like redfishbluefish said or just put the balls back in. If the sump can't take the back flow you can either add a check valve(not recommended) or get a larger sump. Like Even Further said, anything you put back there will collect detritus.

/Adding the standpipe isn't going to increase the amount of backflow. It will just lessen the waterfall noise and you will also quiet the sound of the drain.

 

[davocean]

I would not put balls back in for sure.
If you wanted to fill w/ anything small pieces of live rock would be a much better choice.

You should show what your drain looks like too.

 

[Snoopy 67]

If you raise the level inside the box it will hold more water on a shutdown and the noise decreases --A No Brainer.

 

[ca1ore]

Whatever material you put in the skim box to dampen sound must be something that cannot clog otherwise you risk a flood. Bio balls are fine for that application.