Overflow issue

[nyhcx516x]

*sigh*
Just did a fresh water test of the entire system... and boy is it loud!
Here is a pic (a long time ago) of what the inside of the overflow looks like, I dont currently have a camera. Its basically an elbow fitting in the bulkhead at a bit of an angle. The bulkhead itself is most of the way up the tank, it is NOT drilled on the bottom.

Everything ran great, I have a valve on the return pump to control the flow. The sump works great, no bubbles make it to the return pump. The issue was... the actual elbow fitting is super loud with a slurping sound when its running. I tried to adjust the angle of the fitting, the noise would stop for a second, but then gravity would win, the water level would drop a bit, and the slurping would continue again.
Are there any fixes for this? The sound is... to say the least, unbearably loud... the roomate was none too happy either with the noise. The only thing I can think of is another valve on the drain pump to slow the flow down *just a hair* so that the drain opening is fully covered with water. (also reading up about external durso's... due the the manner of construction of my overflow box and drain, i would have to rip everything out and start over again...)
Any help would be great guys!
Thanks!

 

[jetskiking]

Look at doing an external durso. Basically you are getting the noise because of a siphon. Install a T on the back side of the bulkhead then install a pipe on the T extending above the water line and the other side goes down to the sump. put a cap on the top pipe and drill a small hole in it. Here is a pic of the back of my 30 cube

 

[natclanwy]

Look at the stockman and gurgle buster overflows they are a little more compact than the durso and may be able to fit inside your overflow.

 

[chris17]

I don't have my tank up yet, but I thought you should have your 90 pointed straight down. The "T" design jetskiking is talking about will help too, It will create a full syphon allowing more water to flow down the pipe. The only thing with haveing only 1 overflow pipe is if it gets clogged somehow your tank will overflow. This info is not from experience but from what I have read. Hopefully somebody else can chime in that has had the first hand experience....HTH

 

[nyhcx516x]

Looking into the "T" fix. When I first got the tank together I had used cement to get all the fittings into place, so I have some hard core destruction to do in order to rebuild. Looking at the tank this morning made me think though.. and I would love your thoughts...
When the pump power is off, the water level drains *below* the top of my overflow... due to water draining down the second bulkhead I have for the return jet . Does this make my overflow box pointless? Would a strainer on the bulkhead - without the overflow box around it - work just as well?

 

[nyhcx516x]

Well, I spent a part of last night and today looking at different solutions online, and then went and talked to my very good LFS to see the owner Paul.
1) an external durso - not too hard to build using a "T" fitting, but a pain in the butt to remove my current plumbing hardware since its cemented in.
2) paul (having never used the "T" fitting idea) suggested using 2 drains. Currently I have 2 bulkheads. 1 with an overflow box built around it as the drain to the sump. the second as a return from the sump pump. He said that I should use the second one as a second drain instead of as a return. Suggesting that the loud noise was created by the 1 drains inability to handle the amount of flow. Then use a hang over the tank return head.
3) maybe the simplest and cheapest idea. The one I didnt think would do anything... Placing a length of flex air hose down the drain until you find the *sweet spot* that makes the noise stop. Apparently, doing this sucks air in at a deeper length in the drain pipe (I think thats how it works)... if you listen to the end of the flex hose you can hear slight sucking, but not that high pitched noise.
So far, this flex hose idea seems to have worked (still wish i had a camera guys, im sorry....) BUT... it seems to have been too easy of a fix... I was prepared to do some complicated overhaul.. and it dosnet seem needed. If this works, GREAT! ... but can it be that easy?

 

[natclanwy]

Originally Posted by NYHCx516x
http:///forum/post/2844799
Looking into the "T" fix. When I first got the tank together I had used cement to get all the fittings into place, so I have some hard core destruction to do in order to rebuild. Looking at the tank this morning made me think though.. and I would love your thoughts...
When the pump power is off, the water level drains *below* the top of my overflow... due to water draining down the second bulkhead I have for the return jet . Does this make my overflow box pointless? Would a strainer on the bulkhead - without the overflow box around it - work just as well?
The overflow box will help to skim the surface of the water which is where a majority of your protiens and oils will accumulate and will allow for maximum oxygen exchange on the surface of your tank and will make your skimmer a little more effiecent.
Originally Posted by NYHCx516x
http:///forum/post/2845413
Well, I spent a part of last night and today looking at different solutions online, and then went and talked to my very good LFS to see the owner Paul.
1) an external durso - not too hard to build using a "T" fitting, but a pain in the butt to remove my current plumbing hardware since its cemented in.
2) paul (having never used the "T" fitting idea) suggested using 2 drains. Currently I have 2 bulkheads. 1 with an overflow box built around it as the drain to the sump. the second as a return from the sump pump. He said that I should use the second one as a second drain instead of as a return. Suggesting that the loud noise was created by the 1 drains inability to handle the amount of flow. Then use a hang over the tank return head.
3) maybe the simplest and cheapest idea. The one I didnt think would do anything... Placing a length of flex air hose down the drain until you find the *sweet spot* that makes the noise stop. Apparently, doing this sucks air in at a deeper length in the drain pipe (I think thats how it works)... if you listen to the end of the flex hose you can hear slight sucking, but not that high pitched noise.
So far, this flex hose idea seems to have worked (still wish i had a camera guys, im sorry....) BUT... it seems to have been too easy of a fix... I was prepared to do some complicated overhaul.. and it dosnet seem needed. If this works, GREAT! ... but can it be that easy?
1) is probably the best solution but like you said will be the most difficult.
2) I don't think that this will help most likely you will ge the sucking sound from two overflows instead of one.
3) I have never had long term success with this method it would work for a while and then I would have to clean the tube or readjust it all of the time to keep it working. Try it and see if it works for you maybe you will have better luck than I did.

 

[chris17]

I would do number 2 if number 3 starts needing adjusted all the time. I was going to suggest the same as number 2, but had not gotten to it. If you do turn your return line into another drain to the sump it would keep your tank from overflowing if the first drain became clogged. ( unless both got clogged at the same time some how

) I'm not sure that both of them would make noise or not, but the chance of 1 getting clogged and flooding would make me change it to another drain just to be safe. HTH

 

[markeo99]

take a 2foot piece of air hose and stick down the hose leave a few inches out of the water it breaks the syphon and stops the gurgling

 

[bmkj02]

You can also drill a hole on the elbow on the back of the tank and silcone an airline tubing in it. You do need the overflow box though to skim and to keep the water level at where you want it.

 

[sman]

When I first set mine up it was very loud as your describing, I then went to the airline methond(what your currently doing) which I thought helped alot, then I helped a friend setup his new tank with a durso. All I had was one word, WOW! I stopped at the big orange home store on my way home to pickup the parts to make my own. My overflow is now COMPLETELY silent, the noisiest thing I have now is my skimmer.

 

[nyhcx516x]

The big orange store was useless for me, lol. They didnt even have the basic parts to make this. If i ever get out of work this weekend (im here on saturday, on OverTime... which is nice to help me pay for live rock)... i am going to go to some other stores and find what i need.
I have considered doing a double drain. My one existing drain has an overflor box built alrealdy around it. I got the box already made from someone else, I would have no idea who to make one on my own... (bending arcylic and such). Would I need to make a second overflow box for the second drain? (if the power fails, i have PLENTY of room for water to flow into the sump to the lowest point of the non-overflow box... its why i built a huge sump, so backflow is not a problem).
Would 2 drains be too much for for the 1 mag 7 pump i have as the return? I guess not... it can onlu flow down as much as is being pumped back up right?

 

[nyhcx516x]

I built the external durso pipe. Its curing right now. Will there be a difference in the sound (or anything for that matter) if:
a) the drain pipe is above the level of the water in the sump
or b) below the level of the water in the sump
I guess I mean to say, is it ok for the drain pipe outlet itself to be underwater, or will that add to problems with noise at the bulkhead itself.
with the mouth of the drain above the water level, there is lots of splashing - with the mouth of the pipe below the water line.. its much less noisy.