NOISE ! , HELP! I can't take it anymore. Squidd??

[ren99]

OK I just setup my overflow, its the AGA over flow kit going along with my drilled 90G tank.
Turned on my return pump Mag 9 from sump, and this thing is LOUD!! It's like having Niagara falls at home.
I have read about durso and I am already using the standpipe.
I think majority of the noise is coming from the drain pipe and the standpipe. whenever the overflow is working, this pipe is not completely full of water. as result, it is draining half air down into the sump. (slurping air the right term?) Second problem is that since the drain pipe is not completely full, therefore the sound of water moving along in the pipe can be heard loundly.
Somone help, as this is soo frustrating. I am thinking about relocating the tank to a remote corner of the house if the noise can't be reduced.
Squidd??!!

 

[ren99]

Another thing is that the return water in the main tank is so powerful, even thou I am pointing it to shoot straight ahead, it is still stirring up a sand dune at the bottom.
I have a rated 600GPH overflow with Mag 9.5 going up about 3-4 feet, so doing about 600GPH.

 

[squidd]

"About 600"...more like 660-680 through the 3/4 return...
I've seen the AGA kit and while it "looks" like a Durso...it's not...
Suggest you build a DIY Durso out of 1 1/4" pipe per instructions on the Durso site...Mega Flow "boxes have plenty of room...that'll quite the overflow...
Then get a 3/4" to 1" mpt to slip adaptor and run a 1" return from the bulkhead up...that will maintain the flow (gph) but lower the "force" (pressure) coming out the return...which should help with the "sand washing"...

 

[ren99]

Thanks for your suggestions Squidd.
I have 2 questions.
1. I read over the durso site's instruction for building a durso, but the only difference I see between a durso and my already in place AGA overflow pipe is that the AGA overflow pipe has 3 more holes right above the intake. If I somehow block that off, wouldn't this be exactly just a durso standpipe?
2. If I split the output of the return pipe into 2 just before water exits the pipe, would that help reducing the "madness" or force of the water?

 

[ren99]

Oh ya another thing, I went to the lfs and they suggested also to use sponges in the sump(looks like cotton) to pad the incoming water from the overflow.
Is this a good solution? at least a temporary solution? would it even help? I know this can pollute the water, but would it help to reduce the noise temporarily?
Is there anything else you recommend I do in the sump? because the water from the overflow pipe really enters the sump with a huge force and creates a huge noise. What if I split the overflow pipe into 2 at the bottom when it reaches the sump?

 

[squidd]

DO NOT put the sponges or filterfloss in the overflow box...eventually we all get "lazy" and "forget" to clean them on a regular basis the clog up and you will have an overflow...Putting it in the "sump" to "catch" the water can help...but it also needs to be changed quite often....
Will it "temporarly" quiet the overflow..Yes...is it a good long term solution...No...
I've seen the AGA kit and while it "looks" like a Durso...it's not...
They are not "sized" properly, for For quiet effective opperation and does not "work" the same...:nope:
However...
Your other "suggestion"....could help...
By putting a 3/4" "T" on the top of the return and "splitting" the flow...you will restrict the flow down to right around 600 gph (or just slightly less) and that will help in the sand washing...and the noise from "pusing the limits" of the overflow...(up top)
Down in the sump...the return pipe should enter the water 1" below the surface...and drilling a smalll hole a couple inches "up" from the surface can alieviate some of the "surging or flushing" from air buildup...

 

[ren99]

Sorry, yes I did mean have the sponge in the sump to catch the drain water coming from over flow.
I went to the LFS, and they used a dry/wet filter with bio balls to catch the water from over flow and quite down the noise. There is also a lid ontop of this compartment to further quiet things down. How does this work?
They are not "sized" properly, for For quiet effective opperation and does not "work" the same...
What did you mean by they are not sized properly? cuz I looked on durso's website all sizes are identical to my standpipe from AGA.
the return pipe should enter the water 1" below the surface...and drilling a smalll hole a couple inches "up" from the surface can alieviate some of the "surging or flushing" from air buildup...
If I drill a hole in the pipe couple inches "up" from the surface, wouldn't water come gushing and spewing out of this hole and create more noise when this water hits the surface of water in the sump?
Here are some other suggestions I read on this and other boards, what do you think?
1. Cheap temporary solution is to try a sock on the drain pipe as it enters the sump.
2. gate valve on the drain pipe as it enters the sump. But when I went to Home Depot today, I coudln't find one made out of PVC, they only had metal ones.
3. coil the drain hose as it comes into the sump. This could be hard to do as I have threaded reinforced hose pipe that is very hard to bend.
4. gradualy reduce the size of the drain hose.

 

[squidd]

What did you mean by they are not sized properly? cuz I looked on durso's website all sizes are identical to my standpipe from AGA.
1 1/4" ??:nope:
If I drill a hole in the pipe couple inches "up" from the surface, wouldn't water come gushing and spewing out of this hole and create more noise when this water hits the surface of water in the sump?
Try it...
1. Try it..But don't forget to clean it...
2.-4.... All sound like they want you to "restrict" the return...
Probably not a good idea...:nope:

 

[msd2]

LOL the lfs is telling u the backward way to fix it, which is kinda risky. If you slow down the water to the overflow, yes a half correct durso would work, but unless you restict the flow of your return pump you eventually will get ur tank to overflow and suck ur sump dry. Trust me when I first put on my overflow it sounded like there was a black hole suckin in my flat. A correctly done durso makes it as quiet as a church mouse. The sock or the moss dont address the problem, only increase your odds of a flood. Build it, even if you think the one you have is similar, you might be shocked at the difference the slightest difference makes the largest difference.

 

[ren99]

Thanks! I will trust you guy's opinion and build my own durson. I will report back with the results in a few days when I get the time.

 

[brianbell1]

Ren
How did it work out for you?
I am in the same situation you are. I have the megaflow kit but have not set it up yet. I have looked at the durso but it looks just like the megaflow kit I have. I read that megaflow changed their design to mimic the durso which is what I believe we have.
Alos I hav ethe mag 9.5 that I planned to use, do you think it is too much pump for the tank?
Let me know what you find out.
Thanks, Bell

 

[ren99]

Hi Brian, glad to hear that I am not the only one having problems.
I think the durso has a few small differences from the mega flow kit. I will believe squidd's words and try to build a durso,. It would cost about $20-$30. (mainly cuz Home Depot doesnt sell just a 24" PVC. Minimum of like 10 feet!!) (orderign directly from the durso site seems like a good choice now)
I havn't had the time to do this yet. I will report back when I try it out.
I have also been recommended to use foam/pad at the sump to reduce noise. I bought 5 feet of pad for $3. Even if I have to replace weekly, it won't be more then $5 a month =)
I also have the Mag 9.5. At 4 feet, it is going to give about 650gallon, which is how much the mega flow drains. So looks perfect. Althou this is way too little water movement for your tank if you have no other water circulation.
I have the Mag 9.5 and 4 other powerheads + a 250gph filter. giving me about 15x on the 90g. When its time to put in the corals, I have a mag 12 lyign around, I can hook up for a closed loop to give the other 1000gph to take me close to 25x on the 90gallon.
so thats how I have planned my water turn over. Thanks to squidd's advice in another thread of course.

 

[brianbell1]

I will have to findo ut what a closed loop system is.
So the mag 9.5 and 4 maxijet 1200's on the red sea wavemaster will not provide enough turnover for a 90 reef. I was worried it would be too much.
If you have good results with the durso let me know I will order one.
All the LFS tell me the megaflow kit is just as quiet as the durso, I have yet to hear mine but if yours is loud I can only expect mine to be aswell when I finally get the tank set up.
As usual the LFS are trying to make a sell and not a long term customer.

 

[ren99]

closed loop is basically taking water out of the tank from one side and dump it back in on the other side.
maxi 1200 is 290 gph if I remember correctly.
so you got:
4x 290gph power head
1x 600gph over flow
1160gph / 90 = 12.88x turn over rate.
I think you need about 15x turn over rate for a FOWLR tank.
For a coral tank, you need 25x turn over rate. Which is why I have the other Mag12 lying around to give the other 10x turn over rate needed.
A lot of thenoise I am hearing is from the pipes/overflow to the sump. so I think that is the problem.

 

[brianbell1]

Thanks,
I have a proclear 200 gal wet dry I am going to use as the sump without the bio balls. It has a flexible hose rather than rigid pvc which should quiet the transition frm drain to sump a little.
25X flow man that is a lot of water movement,
My 2 year old was hoping to swim in it with the fish but I am afraid their may be too much undertow at 25x's. LOL
When do you plan to buil the durso?

 

[ren99]

closed loop is basically taking water out of the tank from one side and dump it back in on the other side.
maxi 1200 is 290 gph if I remember correctly.
so you got:
4x 290gph power head
1x 600gph over flow
1160gph / 90 = 12.88x turn over rate.
I think you need about 15x turn over rate for a FOWLR tank.
For a coral tank, you need 25x turn over rate. Which is why I have the other Mag12 lying around to give the other 10x turn over rate needed.
A lot of thenoise I am hearing is from the pipes/overflow to the sump. so I think that is the problem.

 

[ren99]

I guess I won't be able to set this up for a bit longer. If any other has had experience please post here.

 

[ren99]

okay my overflow is 90 degree. as a result the water at this point is extra extra loud. what do you guys suggest? Durso would take care of this too?

 

[ren99]

anyone?

 

[msd2]

Can you explain further exactly what you mean by 90 degrees? If your talking about the fitting at the bottom of your overflow I personally would suggesting figuring out a way to get rid of such a drastic angle so early in the system. It would seem to me like a potential bottleneck since gravity hasnt had a chance yet to excert force on the water very much.