Loud over flow noise

[Kreeger1]

I have a new marineland 60 cube tank. The drain setup inside the slim overflow is LOUD. Im getting a suck noise through the hard airline pipe they have drilled into the elbow in the slim overflow box. Hope that makes sense. I turned my return pump down to the lowest flow setting and I still get the noise, its not as loud but its still way to loud. If I place my finger over the hole in the airline It's silent for around 10 seconds then it "flushes" like a toilet does. I hate fish tanks sometimes lol.

Any help here guys?
Erik

[es1887]

maybe try to put a silencer on it like a power head has, or one for a skimmer

[Kreeger1]

Thought about that but thats just masking the problem, there shouldn't be a gurgle noise. Something isn't right in the plumbing. The air valve is to help with water flow, seems to be to much flow going into the return but I've dial the pump down too maybe 300gph and that over flow should handle much more then that.

[Kreeger1]

Finding out that this is a issue with the slim over flow design.

[reefergeorge]

I don't know what a slim overflow box is, but with the normal durso style you can just drill the hole in top a little larger. That usually fixes it.

If you go to large you can put ro tubing with an on/off and use it as a valve.

[dbond]

Just got my Marineland cube (25 gal) I ordered it site unseen, big mistake did not realize it was going to be drilled on the back as well the holes are drilled directly above each with the smaller 3/4" return to the tank being the lower hole and the 1" sump return being above it making plumbing challenging plus like already stated their is zero room inside the overflow making it impossible to replace bulkheads without first removing the overflow box.
I find it hard to believe anyone with even a touch of brain cells could come up with this design definitely the worst I have ever seen.
The fix for me is going to be removing the sump return 90 which is inside the overflow box using a dremel as much as I can get cut then finish with a hacksaw blade the space you have to work with is less than 2" width so Im sure this will be fun but I think it can be done, once the 90 is removed Im going to attempt to install a strainer into the bulkhead if not will just leave the bulkhead open.
The smaller 3/4" tank return I will remove the locline and insert a pvc male adapter with a small piece of pipe so that it is above the the 1" sump return basically going Herbie style using the 3/4" as a 2nd safety return to the sump and the pump return will be over the back of the tank.
Im also going to install a level sensor off my controller in the overflow box as a third precaution. I have been running my main tank this way for a few years and never had problems but then again I never worked with an overflow box this small so will see what happens.

[huskysglare1]

Add more elbows it tends to quiet it a little.

[ThrowedToad]

If I only had my camera, I have been battling a loud overflow for the last two years ( I mean toilet 24hrs a day loud) and I have tryed everything. I looked into the durso style pipestand and it works fantastic. I also have a small overflow about 3"x3" and the drain was drilled in the middle making it hard for 90's to fit. I fitted two 45's and brought the pipe up the middle and did a diy Durso. I celebrated when I heard the lack of noise coming from my overflow. This has been no more than fifteen minutes ago. I'll get my camera. "CHEERS"

[ThrowedToad]

[IMG][/IMG]

Here's the pic. The width of the overflow is square.

[E.intheC]

How did you plumb the drains of your tank? I have the 45 and it was loud as well. There's a few things you can do.. First is to add some soft airline tubing to the hard tubing in your slim overflow. (The part you were describing in your first post). That and letting the lines get 'slimed up' is what helped me. It's a lot quieter now. I've heard you can also drill the piping coming out of your bulkhead so air can come in (just make sure the tubing is higher than the water level).

Good luck.

[uncleof6]

Originally Posted by Kreeger1

I have a new marineland 60 cube tank. The drain setup inside the slim overflow is LOUD. Im getting a suck noise through the hard airline pipe they have drilled into the elbow in the slim overflow box. Hope that makes sense. I turned my return pump down to the lowest flow setting and I still get the noise, its not as loud but its still way to loud. If I place my finger over the hole in the airline It's silent for around 10 seconds then it "flushes" like a toilet does. I hate fish tanks sometimes lol.

Any help here guys?
Erik

First things first. What size is the durso (pipe diameter)? What size is the bulkhead?

Reliable flow rate (quiet, bubble free, stable, no toilet flushing etc) for 1.5" pipe is ~320 gph, depending on some variables. It goes down from there. This is inherent to all air/water mix modifications, variations and bandaid solutions. If the pipe is 1", the flow rate will be lower than you would want to run coming in below 100 gph (the figure is not exact) but more illustrative.

Bottom line is 1" durso on 1" bulkhead is pretty much useless (per the designer) and the smallest practical size is 1.25", which will reliably flow lower than your dialed back pump. (you stated it was down to 300 gph, 1.25" = less than that.)

Better drain systems utilizing multiple standpipes and full siphons are gaining popularity because they are silent and trouble free, but unfortunately "reef ready" tanks, are way behind in this area.

Regards,

Jim