Need help quieting overflow

maryc137

maryc137

Member
I have a 140 gallon acryllic tank with 2 drilled overflows. We just replace one of the return pumps and it is a little more powerful. The overflows do keep up, but every few seconds they suck air and it's real loud. Didn't have this problem with the other pump. Anyway, I've looked up the diagrams on the durso standpipe, but can only find diagrams for overflow boxes, or for built in overflows. Can't find a diagram for a tank with just bulkhead fittings. Can anyone help me?
 
marinerock

marinerock

Member
HI MARYC...
DO YOU HAVE 2 DRILLED OVERFLOWS WITH THE BLACK CORNER
OVERFLOW BOXES SILICONED INTO THE TANK..? IF SO, YOU CAN BUY MAYBE 5 GALS. OF BIO-BALLS AND FILL UP THE CORNER OVERFLOW BOXES...IT WORKED FOR ME...PRIOR TO PLACING THE BIO-BALLS IN THE CORNER OVERFLOW BOXES, OUR 125 SOUNDED LIKE A TOILET FLUSHING ALL DAY/NITE...NOW, ITS
MUCH BETTER, NOT SILENT BUT BETTER....
REGARDS...
MARINEROCK
 
maryc137

maryc137

Member
No, I don't have the built in overflow boxes. I have 2 bulkhead fittings that do directly out of the main tank. I've been told that it'll help to put a "t" instead of an elbow coming out of the bulkhead, so that the top part of the "T" will let air in. I tried drilling 1/3 inch holes in the top of the elbow as an experiment, but it actually slowed down the water flow. Could that be because the air hole wasn't big enough. In that case, would using a T work?
 
marinerock

marinerock

Member
I REALLY DONT KNOW .... SOMEONE ON THIS BOARD WILL
PROBABLY HAVE A GREAT IDEA TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM...
REGARDS...
MARINEROCK
 
03

03

Member
you can try a tee. with a 5 inch piece of pipe comeing out of the air side of the te faceing up it might work,place a piece of floss over the the top of the air intake to defuse the air.
 
maryc137

maryc137

Member
I've already seen these standpipe directions, but they are for tank with a built in overflow, with the bulkhead on the bottom. My tank has no overflow and is just drilled at the top of the back side and has bulkhead fittings there.
 
zafirablanca

zafirablanca

Member
Mary,
I have two Tidepool overflow boxes on my 125, with flexible tubing piped down to my 20 gallon tall sump. When the sucking sound gets loud on my overflow box, I just move where the hose is sitting in the sump to try to quiet the noise. Ususlly this works, but almost never on the first try. I always end up with the noise coming back. I have figured that it is because the water level changes due to evaporation and I do not have an auto-top-off system yet. I can usually get the noise to stop if my hose is placed at or above the water level. Below the surface always creates the sucking/ flushing noise. Above the surface can create a loud waterfall noise, so I usually have to tinker until it is just right for either noise. I believe that it has something to do with how the water is flowing down the pipe versus how the air is flowing down, along with any head pressure that is created in the pipe. Broomer5 had a post about this a week or two ago, maybe try a forum search.
Oh, last night I put 45 degree elbows on the end of my discharge hoses, just at/ under the water surface and it seemed to help alot. Time will tell for me if this has really done anything. I am pretty new at this and still learning!
Good Luck
-Christine
:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top