Can you help me quiet my overflow?

Fretfreak13 · 07/05/2014, 09:32 PM

Hello all,

Currently working on a little side project. I have a corner pentagon tank that I drilled on one side. I installed a black PVC 90 to use as the overflow for some surface skimming, and good lord is it loud. Just this 90 attached to flex tubing to the sump, nothing fancy.

I am not a plumbing queen. Frankly, talk to me like a three year old. How do I shut this damn thing up?

Thanks ahead of time for any input.

IPT · 07/05/2014, 10:57 PM

making all sorts of slurping sounds? It's been a while since I messed with it but before I went to the Herbie method (2 drains, one as back up with a gate valve set to full siphon - dead silent) I think I stuck an airline into the drain. If I recall correctly it allowed some air to get in there and quieted it but it required tweaking it all the time. Personally I'd do another hole or see what everyone else is doing these days. I remember all that noise and I couldn't stand it!

Fretfreak13 · 07/05/2014, 11:09 PM

Yup, sluurpie derp.

Is there any other method other than drilling a third hole? I have a hole for the return and this current drain. Honestly, after aquascaping the tank to my liking for hours tonight, and having it up and cycled now already...i'd prefer not to rip it all apart and drag it to the LFS for more drilling.

pmrossetti · 07/06/2014, 12:59 AM

The 90 is inside the tank or on the outside back?
What return pump are u using? gph?
What size hole?

myram · 07/06/2014, 06:29 AM

You can do an external durso setup, might help a bit.

Keep your 90 in the tank, but on the back of the bulkhead on the outside of the tank, put a tee in with a cap on the top that you can drill a hole in for air, and your return line coming out the bottom to your sump.

ca1ore · 07/06/2014, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myram

You can do an external durso setup, might help a bit.

Keep your 90 in the tank, but on the back of the bulkhead on the outside of the tank, put a tee in with a cap on the top that you can drill a hole in for air, and your return line coming out the bottom to your sump.

Fully agree; about the only thing you can do, other than cutting back significantly on flow.

azjohnny · 07/06/2014, 11:49 AM

The simplest method would be to slide a Maggie Muffler on the end of the PVC pipe in the overflow

http://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-plu...standpipe.html

Boa1277 · 07/06/2014, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azjohnny

The simplest method would be to slide a Maggie Muffler on the end of the PVC pipe in the overflow

http://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-plu...standpipe.html

Agree

sowildpaul · 07/07/2014, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azjohnny

The simplest method would be to slide a Maggie Muffler on the end of the PVC pipe in the overflow

http://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-plu...standpipe.html

I agree but I don't think there's an overflow box in her system so a Maggie Muffler is useless for her.

Quote:

I have a corner pentagon tank that I drilled on one side. I installed a black PVC 90 to use as the overflow for some surface skimming, and good lord is it loud. Just this 90 attached to flex tubing to the sump, nothing fancy.

mariusmeyer · 07/07/2014, 03:05 AM

If the elbow is facing up as I suspect then you will always have the slurping sound. You can convert it to a durso but you will still need to turn the elbow around so that it faces down. If you do this you will also have to drill a syphon whole so that the display does not drain all the way to the bottom of the elbow.

Aslmx · 07/07/2014, 05:50 AM

I have a ball valve in my sump on the drain. That way I can tune it to the same speed of the return pump. I know I'm flirting with disaster but it works for me and has been that way for a few years. Really the only way I could quiet my toilet flushing sound.

Uncle Salty 05 · 07/07/2014, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mariusmeyer

if the elbow is facing up as i suspect then you will always have the slurping sound. You can convert it to a durso but you will still need to turn the elbow around so that it faces down. If you do this you will also have to drill a syphon whole so that the display does not drain all the way to the bottom of the elbow.

+1

pmrossetti · 07/07/2014, 11:43 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhNk9...ature=youtu.be

SGT_York · 07/07/2014, 12:28 PM

On the outside of your tank where the bulkhead exits into the 90 going down, replace that 90 with a T and a cap drill a small hole in the cap and put some tubing in the hole.

You can keep the internal 90 pointed up and use the T for the siphon break. That should reduce the noise considerably if it doesn't you'll need to reduce the flow, or drill another hole.

Turning the internal 90 will lower your waterlevel an inch so is probably not acceptable. Also do you have any screens over it to keep snails and stuff out?

A herbie or BA with an overflow is the best method for long term a long term.

07/05/2014, 09:32 PM	#1
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Can you help me quiet my overflow? Hello all, Currently working on a little side project. I have a corner pentagon tank that I drilled on one side. I installed a black PVC 90 to use as the overflow for some surface skimming, and good lord is it loud. Just this 90 attached to flex tubing to the sump, nothing fancy. I am not a plumbing queen. Frankly, talk to me like a three year old. How do I shut this damn thing up? Thanks ahead of time for any input. __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

07/05/2014, 11:09 PM	#3
Fretfreak13 I am not a boy! Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,114	Yup, sluurpie derp. Is there any other method other than drilling a third hole? I have a hole for the return and this current drain. Honestly, after aquascaping the tank to my liking for hours tonight, and having it up and cycled now already...i'd prefer not to rip it all apart and drag it to the LFS for more drilling. __________________ ~Kali Just keep swimmin'

07/05/2014, 10:57 PM	#2
IPT Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 3,197	making all sorts of slurping sounds? It's been a while since I messed with it but before I went to the Herbie method (2 drains, one as back up with a gate valve set to full siphon - dead silent) I think I stuck an airline into the drain. If I recall correctly it allowed some air to get in there and quieted it but it required tweaking it all the time. Personally I'd do another hole or see what everyone else is doing these days. I remember all that noise and I couldn't stand it!

07/06/2014, 12:59 AM	#4
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	The 90 is inside the tank or on the outside back? What return pump are u using? gph? What size hole?

07/06/2014, 06:29 AM	#5
myram #347, 19 years Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Biddeford, ME Posts: 1,714	You can do an external durso setup, might help a bit. Keep your 90 in the tank, but on the back of the bulkhead on the outside of the tank, put a tee in with a cap on the top that you can drill a hole in for air, and your return line coming out the bottom to your sump.

07/06/2014, 11:49 AM	#7
azjohnny Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Gold Canyon Posts: 2,914	The simplest method would be to slide a Maggie Muffler on the end of the PVC pipe in the overflow http://www.aquacave.com/aquarium-plu...standpipe.html

07/07/2014, 03:05 AM	#10
mariusmeyer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 58	If the elbow is facing up as I suspect then you will always have the slurping sound. You can convert it to a durso but you will still need to turn the elbow around so that it faces down. If you do this you will also have to drill a syphon whole so that the display does not drain all the way to the bottom of the elbow.

07/07/2014, 05:50 AM	#11
Aslmx Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Cullman,alabama Posts: 329	I have a ball valve in my sump on the drain. That way I can tune it to the same speed of the return pump. I know I'm flirting with disaster but it works for me and has been that way for a few years. Really the only way I could quiet my toilet flushing sound.

07/07/2014, 11:43 AM	#13
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhNk9...ature=youtu.be

07/07/2014, 12:28 PM	#14
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	On the outside of your tank where the bulkhead exits into the 90 going down, replace that 90 with a T and a cap drill a small hole in the cap and put some tubing in the hole. You can keep the internal 90 pointed up and use the T for the siphon break. That should reduce the noise considerably if it doesn't you'll need to reduce the flow, or drill another hole. Turning the internal 90 will lower your waterlevel an inch so is probably not acceptable. Also do you have any screens over it to keep snails and stuff out? A herbie or BA with an overflow is the best method for long term a long term.