Floating bioballs in overflow?

[snorvich]

Anyone ever tried this to reduce the sound of falling water?

[snorvich]

Noone try this?

[srfnhooker]

I haven't but i was thinking of doing the same thing. I don't see why it be a problem. Could be wrong though.

[Spar]

I did this for a while. People were arguing that the bioballs are just capturing gunk and becoming nitrate traps. But I guess if you only have a few and they tumble readily then they are less likely to do that. I was using them to break up micro bubbles though, not for noise purposes.

[moondoggy4]

I did it made my tank very quite I removed them thinking it would help my nitrate problems. My wife keeps asking me to put them back in but I threw them away. I have a 120 tank so it took a lot of bio balls.

[buckeyereefer1]

interesting idea ! but agree that nitrates could build. but thinking on alarger tank & an a large skimmer wouldn't be a big deal. could always have several & swap them out.

[moondoggy4]

PS my never floated I had the bulkhead on the bottom and a screen over it so the water fell to the bottom but I also had the overflow filled with bio balls.

[viggen]

I have added bio balls in the overflow however the best way is to make a durso stand pipe. If you don't want to do a durso you can still just add a PVC pipe on the bulkhead & cut a few holes all the way up so the water level is close to the display tanks level. This will eliminate the water falling sound if you get the level high enough inside the overflow. However you need to play around with the number of holes & also have a chance of getting a air sucking noise on the top of the pipe.

I made a 2in durso standpipe on my 475g. Totally silent & is easy to make, just takes a little time & a little adjusting to get it silent.

[dg3147]

I would warn against this. It doesn't seem to help much and you really risk clogging up your drain (especially is you only have one). Check out "durso pipe" and consider adding a cover to your overflow (a plastic cover).