How to reduce the noise? Please help

[kttran_2005]

Hi All,

I setup this tank recently and got some noise issues that needs your help. As you can see from the picture, my tank is two layers tank. the return will be on the first layer with 3/4" pipe. then it flows over the second layer from two 1 1/4" holes that drilled. then the overflow on the second layer is just 1" pipe. Now since i got two wave makers for both tanks, the water won't come down constantly. Therefore, it makes loud noise from first to second tank through those two holes. since those two holes are bigger than the overflow pipe (1"), it makes another water sucking noise coming to the sump. I tried put in the valve to block water from the return but still have the same issue. If you have any idea of how to reduce or eliminate the noise (including building a overflow if needed) please let me know. I really appreciate your big help.

Thanks,
Ken

[hardin4019]

So is it your pipe flowing into your sump on the lower of the 2 tanks making noise, or the two holes between the 2 tanks? And is it all the time or only when the wave makers let loose?

[kttran_2005]

Both, the two holes between the tanks make noise and bubbles. the pipe on the lower tank makes noise almost all the times with water sucking noise (very loud).

[hardin4019]

Hmm. Your pipe into your sump could probably use a stand pipe modification or simply just a cap over the top. The 2 holes between the higher and lower side could also benefit from the same idea behind a stand pipe. I'm not sure how else to deal with something like this without covering an overflow or getting a silencer someone mentioned was available from off of Ebay. I couldn't find one when I checked though.

Here is my poor idea and even worse drawing.

The green lines on the left is the concept of putting a notch in the cap on the top of the stand pipe, and making a small gradual slanted cut to the top of the standpipe to allow for adjustable air flow. The same concept works for your overflow into your sump and from tank to tank. Of course all of this means seeing pieces of plastic pipe sticking up above the water line in your really nice looking tank.

[kttran_2005]

Thanks Shawn,

I tried the cap off already but didn't work because the amount of water flowing from the upper tank is twice as the lower tank drain. i am thinking of build a overflow box right at the joint between two tanks. that way when water from the upper tank will flow directly to the overflow box. the lower tank drain pipe become the return and the water from into the overflow box. since i have two 1 1/2" drain pipes with adjustable air holes, this will give me as much as silent as any regular tank overflow.

[hardin4019]

But if the overflow into the sump is only located in your lower tank and your returns from your sump are in the upper tank, you wouldn't have 2x the flow in the top tank. Only as much water as comes from the sump return line can raise the level in the upper tank to the over flow holes and then raise the level of the lower tank to make the overflow and back into the sump. Basically you can never flood the upper or lower tank unless you have a huge pump or volume of water and either the upper tank vents into the lower tank or the overflow into the sump gets plugged. Then you would most likely run out of water before you could flood either tank.

So you are thinking about making an overflow from the high tank to low tank, or you want it to flow directly into the sump? Directly into the sump probably makes the most sense but then you have to quiet that overflow and the lower one. But building it to go from tank to tank also makes sense but I'm curious what your plans are. I was thinking a U tube over the top from the overflow box, but in the end, you can't really get one the right length, and even worse, it would pull a siphon that would either empty the overflow on the high side or pull a lot of water into the sump and flood it. I think it can be done though, it just has to be figured out so that both sides of the overflow contain the same height of water.