any suggestions for quieting trickling water?

nemofish2217 · 10/18/2012, 05:35 PM

I'm looking for suggestions for quieting the water that trickles through the overflow before draining... I have been using a coarse sponge but I would like to get away from that if possible. I would preferable like to use some type of plastic modification. Any suggestions?

ingtar_shinowa · 10/18/2012, 10:35 PM

Look up Durso stand pipe. $20 and 15 minutes to put together. Its what I used

OodleyBoodely · 10/19/2012, 01:15 AM

I think the OP is refering to the noise made by water before it reaches the standpipe...anyway, I had that problem with my tank which has an external BeAnimal drain. My problem was a Niagra-sounding roar from water flowing over my internal overflow, going through the bulkhead and down into the external drainbox. I fixed it by raising the height of the open and emergency drains to the middle of the bulkhead (and slightly above that for the emergency drain). The siphon could be lower because the siphon drain could be adjusted to keep a little water flowing through the open drain pipe, thus raising the water level in the drain box. Nemofish, if you have a similar situation, increasing the height of the drain pipes so they are closer to the tanks water level will help. If that is not possible, perhaps you could fashions some acrylic slides to attach to your overflows so the water is not crashing straight down, instead sliding down a slight incline. I did this with the baffle to my sump return chamber and no matter how low the water level gets, it is always dead silent. HTH!

ingtar_shinowa · 10/19/2012, 01:51 AM

lol thats what a durso does.......

KSzegi · 10/19/2012, 06:44 AM

Are you talking about a standard internal overflow box? I zip-tied a plastic sandwich bag to the slots in the overflow on the inside of the box .....

On my external I used a piece of half-round acrylic to prevent the water from falling straight down ....

dannyp02908 · 10/19/2012, 07:17 AM

look in to the durso pipes as suggested. I have mine at a height that you cant hear the water overflowing in to the box. If you do that, keep an eye on your overflows. Clean them everytime you do a water change. There is no real flow in those boxes and detritus settles at the bottom.

jacksonpt · 10/19/2012, 09:40 AM

If the noise is coming from water "tumbling" over the overflow wall, then you need to find a way to get the water level inside the overflow higher, so the water doesn't fall as far. Standpipes are good for this.

ingtar_shinowa · 10/19/2012, 10:33 AM

Thats a decent point. My durso's have been up for 8 months, I cleaned one out last week for the strainer getting a little gunks. The other overflow has a cucumber in to so its always closed.

tankmates · 10/19/2012, 10:41 AM

Check out for herbie. Also, I would not recommend bringing the standpipe too high as than water will stay stagnant in that overflow . I would raise the siphon pipe to about 4" from the top of the overflow and emergency at the water level of tank...I have same and my overflow is dead silent.

dannyp02908 · 10/19/2012, 01:10 PM

For me, i have my standpipes all the way up. I understand about the stagnant water. What are the opinions of putting small powerheads (Koralia nano maybe) in the overflow blowing up words to keep the water moving?

bezlar · 10/19/2012, 01:25 PM

What would happen if you drilled a couple half inch holes in the bottom of the stand pipe to allow some of the water lower in the overflow box to drain into the pipe? I also have my overflow water almost same level of tank and was wondering about the water in the overflow.

dannyp02908 · 10/19/2012, 01:43 PM

Bezlar

Would that not create a full siphon?

swcc · 10/19/2012, 01:56 PM

with the overflow stagnate you have a nice little settling area to collect detritus wtih your siphon. any orgaincs from this have to go to the skimmer so that is good. still if concerned just use a turkey baster now and again to stir it up. I would rather detritus settle out of display upstream of skimmer than downstream in sump.

nemofish2217 · 10/19/2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacksonpt

If the noise is coming from water "tumbling" over the overflow wall, then you need to find a way to get the water level inside the overflow higher, so the water doesn't fall as far. Standpipes are good for this.

Yes, this is exactly the issue... I am a little hesitant about trying to raise the overflow level (I am using a Durso standpipe and the water level in the "holding" area is about 2"-3" below the intake scren)...plus, I'm sure I can only raise it an additional 1"-1 1/2" though because that's all I have to work with the pvc... I would prefer to not have to do lots of cutting and refabbing...any suggestions on modding the Durso?

Thanks for all of the input

r-balljunkie · 10/19/2012, 02:43 PM

You could try to put a valve on the durso tubing, and adjust from there.

I use a coarse sponge too, and it works like a charm for me, dead silent. I do understand your dilemma as it creates one more maintenance requirement, i.e. rinsing the sponge. I cut my sponge down, thickness wise to achieve breaking up the slosh, and only have to give it a rinsing every month or so.

swcc · 10/19/2012, 02:44 PM

to modify the durso you should just need to get a little longer pipe than the one you have. then install durso portion on that pipe. try the sandwich bag trick mentioned earlier.

Steve_B · 10/19/2012, 02:52 PM

In my opinion stand pipes are dangerous.
I have a 30” tall tank with the overflow channel that I fill with bioballs, no noisy water fall sounds. In addition you are creating more surface area for oxygen exchange. With the bioballs there is a thin amount of water as it cascades over them. I also came up with an idea that works really well. Because you are creating this thin surface area you aren’t dealing with a solid amount of water. If a cooling fan is placed over the overflow pumping air down onto into it that thin film of water will cool way down dramatically.
It works for me after having to get rid of a total 4 cooling fans down to 2 now for maybe a year or so.

nemofish2217 · 10/19/2012, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSzegi

Are you talking about a standard internal overflow box? I zip-tied a plastic sandwich bag to the slots in the overflow on the inside of the box .....

On my external I used a piece of half-round acrylic to prevent the water from falling straight down ....

Can you show me a pic of this so I can get a visual? I would think the sandwich bag would simply collapse when the water started rushing in...

bezlar · 10/19/2012, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyp02908

Bezlar

Would that not create a full siphon?

Not sure.

DutchLeck · 10/19/2012, 06:36 PM

I am having the same problem (never ending waterfall) in my 80 gal w/ corner overflow. I have noticed the water level goes up and then back down in the overflow, but never below the Durso pipe. Regardless of the waterlevel it's noisy. I've turned the valve on the outflow back to the aquarium to nearly shut to slow the flow down. While it helped some, it is sitll loud.

Steve_B · 10/19/2012, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchLeck

I am having the same problem (never ending waterfall) in my 80 gal w/ corner overflow. I have noticed the water level goes up and then back down in the overflow, but never below the Durso pipe. Regardless of the waterlevel it's noisy. I've turned the valve on the outflow back to the aquarium to nearly shut to slow the flow down. While it helped some, it is sitll loud.

I'm telling you man, if you want to walk that fine line with the DURSO METHOD it’s pretty dangerous. I don’t know if anybody here has had the experience I’m talking about. It sounds like it is the only way to get rid of the noise. I used it and when that water in your overflow is so close to the edge any kind of blockage will end up with a nice wet floor.
It’s walking a fine line that really makes no sense to me.
But that’s just my opinion. I wonder why nobody considers other ways.

nemofish2217 · 10/20/2012, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchLeck

I am having the same problem (never ending waterfall) in my 80 gal w/ corner overflow. I have noticed the water level goes up and then back down in the overflow, but never below the Durso pipe. Regardless of the waterlevel it's noisy. I've turned the valve on the outflow back to the aquarium to nearly shut to slow the flow down. While it helped some, it is sitll loud.

If the water level is constantly fluctuating I would think you need to drill a slightly bigger hole in the top of the drainpipe. I had this same issue and drilling a slightly bigger hole helped keep the water level stable.

KSzegi · 10/20/2012, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemofish2217

Can you show me a pic of this so I can get a visual? I would think the sandwich bag would simply collapse when the water started rushing in...

Not sure if you wanted the picture of the bag in the corner overflow or the acrylic in the external .... but here is a phone pic I just snapped of the bag in my 90 ....

I have had the sandwich bag in my corner overflow for a year now with no issues ... nothing really there to collapse, bag is closed, water just flowing down and around it ....

nemofish2217 · 10/20/2012, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSzegi

Not sure if you wanted the picture of the bag in the corner overflow or the acrylic in the external .... but here is a phone pic I just snapped of the bag in my 90 ....

I have had the sandwich bag in my corner overflow for a year now with no issues ... nothing really there to collapse, bag is closed, water just flowing down and around it ....

that's the one... thanks! it looks like you have the plastic bag kind of like a "pillow" filled with air. ever had any problems with overflowing?

AugustWest · 10/20/2012, 05:48 PM

I did the bag thing too. Works great, I don't have any air in the bag though.

10/18/2012, 05:35 PM	#1
nemofish2217 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,606	any suggestions for quieting trickling water? I'm looking for suggestions for quieting the water that trickles through the overflow before draining... I have been using a coarse sponge but I would like to get away from that if possible. I would preferable like to use some type of plastic modification. Any suggestions?

10/19/2012, 01:15 AM	#3
OodleyBoodely Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Azle, Tx Posts: 754	I think the OP is refering to the noise made by water before it reaches the standpipe...anyway, I had that problem with my tank which has an external BeAnimal drain. My problem was a Niagra-sounding roar from water flowing over my internal overflow, going through the bulkhead and down into the external drainbox. I fixed it by raising the height of the open and emergency drains to the middle of the bulkhead (and slightly above that for the emergency drain). The siphon could be lower because the siphon drain could be adjusted to keep a little water flowing through the open drain pipe, thus raising the water level in the drain box. Nemofish, if you have a similar situation, increasing the height of the drain pipes so they are closer to the tanks water level will help. If that is not possible, perhaps you could fashions some acrylic slides to attach to your overflows so the water is not crashing straight down, instead sliding down a slight incline. I did this with the baffle to my sump return chamber and no matter how low the water level gets, it is always dead silent. HTH! __________________ 37gal w/LED lighting with cement/oystershell/perlite background, DSB, 20l sump with 30lbs lr, biopellets in reactor, Reef Octo skimmer, 1 pajama cardinal No corals at this time. -

10/19/2012, 07:17 AM	#6
dannyp02908 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 190	look in to the durso pipes as suggested. I have mine at a height that you cant hear the water overflowing in to the box. If you do that, keep an eye on your overflows. Clean them everytime you do a water change. There is no real flow in those boxes and detritus settles at the bottom. __________________ Dan 110 Gallon Aquarium Numerous corals and some fish Current Tank Info: 110 SW various corals and a few fish.

10/19/2012, 09:40 AM	#7
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	If the noise is coming from water "tumbling" over the overflow wall, then you need to find a way to get the water level inside the overflow higher, so the water doesn't fall as far. Standpipes are good for this. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

10/19/2012, 01:10 PM	#10
dannyp02908 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 190	For me, i have my standpipes all the way up. I understand about the stagnant water. What are the opinions of putting small powerheads (Koralia nano maybe) in the overflow blowing up words to keep the water moving? __________________ Dan 110 Gallon Aquarium Numerous corals and some fish Current Tank Info: 110 SW various corals and a few fish.

10/18/2012, 10:35 PM	#2
ingtar_shinowa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Billings MT Posts: 1,610	Look up Durso stand pipe. $20 and 15 minutes to put together. Its what I used

10/19/2012, 01:51 AM	#4
ingtar_shinowa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Billings MT Posts: 1,610	lol thats what a durso does.......

10/19/2012, 06:44 AM	#5
KSzegi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 278	Are you talking about a standard internal overflow box? I zip-tied a plastic sandwich bag to the slots in the overflow on the inside of the box ..... On my external I used a piece of half-round acrylic to prevent the water from falling straight down ....

10/19/2012, 10:33 AM	#8
ingtar_shinowa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Billings MT Posts: 1,610	Thats a decent point. My durso's have been up for 8 months, I cleaned one out last week for the strainer getting a little gunks. The other overflow has a cucumber in to so its always closed.

10/19/2012, 10:41 AM	#9
tankmates Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Brampton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 124	Check out for herbie. Also, I would not recommend bringing the standpipe too high as than water will stay stagnant in that overflow . I would raise the siphon pipe to about 4" from the top of the overflow and emergency at the water level of tank...I have same and my overflow is dead silent.

10/19/2012, 01:25 PM	#11
bezlar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Blue Springs Posts: 432	What would happen if you drilled a couple half inch holes in the bottom of the stand pipe to allow some of the water lower in the overflow box to drain into the pipe? I also have my overflow water almost same level of tank and was wondering about the water in the overflow.

10/19/2012, 01:43 PM	#12
dannyp02908 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 190	Bezlar Would that not create a full siphon? __________________ Dan 110 Gallon Aquarium Numerous corals and some fish Current Tank Info: 110 SW various corals and a few fish.

10/19/2012, 01:56 PM	#13
swcc Moved On Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 1,659	with the overflow stagnate you have a nice little settling area to collect detritus wtih your siphon. any orgaincs from this have to go to the skimmer so that is good. still if concerned just use a turkey baster now and again to stir it up. I would rather detritus settle out of display upstream of skimmer than downstream in sump.

10/19/2012, 02:43 PM	#15
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	You could try to put a valve on the durso tubing, and adjust from there. I use a coarse sponge too, and it works like a charm for me, dead silent. I do understand your dilemma as it creates one more maintenance requirement, i.e. rinsing the sponge. I cut my sponge down, thickness wise to achieve breaking up the slosh, and only have to give it a rinsing every month or so.

10/19/2012, 02:44 PM	#16
swcc Moved On Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Tampa Fl Posts: 1,659	to modify the durso you should just need to get a little longer pipe than the one you have. then install durso portion on that pipe. try the sandwich bag trick mentioned earlier.

10/19/2012, 02:52 PM	#17
Steve_B Moved On Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: HERE, IN A PARALLE DIMENSION Posts: 892	In my opinion stand pipes are dangerous. I have a 30” tall tank with the overflow channel that I fill with bioballs, no noisy water fall sounds. In addition you are creating more surface area for oxygen exchange. With the bioballs there is a thin amount of water as it cascades over them. I also came up with an idea that works really well. Because you are creating this thin surface area you aren’t dealing with a solid amount of water. If a cooling fan is placed over the overflow pumping air down onto into it that thin film of water will cool way down dramatically. It works for me after having to get rid of a total 4 cooling fans down to 2 now for maybe a year or so.

10/20/2012, 05:48 PM	#25
AugustWest Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 765 Blog Entries: 1	I did the bag thing too. Works great, I don't have any air in the bag though.