help with quieting down GH overflow...sounds like a train.

OK I had a few min to read through the link.
my plan as of now is to:
1. trim my return plumbing to only 1" under water level in sump. if that does not help
2. add a gate valve to match siphon to water flow form pump.
3. if none of these help plug the hole and just go HOB Skimmer and call it good.

but i have a feeling I can get in dialed in... never had this problem with all my other tanks about 6 or so now.
 
I'm running the 1500 GH kit on my tank. (two 1 1/s drains) Mine was loud for the first 3 to 5 days and then it got a lot quieter. How did you do your return plumbing? Do you have a valve on the return? I put a gates valve on the return line and dialed it in. Also I'm running flex pvc for my drain. It's cut just below the water line.
 
Devaji108 said:
thanks for the link.
I'll have to take a look at it later. but I am thinking my GH overflow hole to sump would be underwater as it's pretty low in the box, but maybe not.

how much did you have to turn down your flow with the gate?
Click to expand...

I had to turn down the flow quite a bit with the gate. It's more closed than open. I'm using a DC return pump and started with the fastest flow setting scaling that back first as I want to have the fastest flow possible. Then once I found that setting on the pump I dialed in the gate so I couldn't hear anything, essentially with the water line in the overflow just over the drain.
 
booyaa138 said:
I'm running the 1500 GH kit on my tank. (two 1 1/s drains) Mine was loud for the first 3 to 5 days and then it got a lot quieter. How did you do your return plumbing? Do you have a valve on the return? I put a gates valve on the return line and dialed it in. Also I'm running flex pvc for my drain. It's cut just below the water line.
Click to expand...

for my return I am using ultra flex PVC and for the overflow ABS 1.5" PVC
no gate valve as I did not think I would need to dial it down is only pushing 400GPH tops.

I am gonna try cutting the PVC to 1" below water line and go from there.
 
Johnseye said:
I had to turn down the flow quite a bit with the gate. It's more closed than open. I'm using a DC return pump and started with the fastest flow setting scaling that back first as I want to have the fastest flow possible. Then once I found that setting on the pump I dialed in the gate so I couldn't hear anything, essentially with the water line in the overflow just over the drain.
Click to expand...

so your saying you closed the overflow down quite a bit almost closed? is that not a problem waiting to happen?

or are you talking about the return.
 
Devaji108 said:
so your saying you closed the overflow down quite a bit almost closed? is that not a problem waiting to happen?

or are you talking about the return.
Click to expand...

I closed down the overflow, not almost closed but more closed than wide open. Same design as a herbie in the website I shared. Why would it be a problem waiting to happen?
 
booyaa138 said:
Is this the kit you used?

http://www.glass-holes.com/700-gph-Overflow-Box-Complete-Kit-gh700kit.htm

It says to have a continuous flow of 200 to 500 gph. Maybe you have more then you think?
Click to expand...

booyaa138 said:
Also I would cut the return and put a valve in. I wouldn't put a valve on the drain side.
Click to expand...

yes sir thats the one i have.
i did trim the PVC so its 1" inch below the water line helped some but not much.
i'll go get a gate and try that.

yeah maybe I do have more than I think. guess i should check it...
 
Johnseye said:
I closed down the overflow, not almost closed but more closed than wide open. Same design as a herbie in the website I shared. Why would it be a problem waiting to happen?
Click to expand...

I was thinking with no emergency it could get clogged?
how do you plan for that?
I was thinking I could run a brush through once in a while. every moth or so to make sure there is no build up.

I am just suppressed they say 1.5 inch PVC then we need to close it off some to restrict the flow... I know every system is different.

hope it works I wanna get some saltwater in this tank and enjoy it!
 
Johnseye said:
I closed down the overflow, not almost closed but more closed than wide open. Same design as a herbie in the website I shared. Why would it be a problem waiting to happen?
Click to expand...
The use of a valve on a drain limits the amount of water that can be drained to be just a little more than you're pumping back into the tank. This is a very dangerous and fine line to walk unless you have a secondary drain that will be used if for some reason the drain capacity diminishes (something gets stuck inside) or the pump capacity increases (freshly cleaned pump).

Even a 1gpg difference can flood your tank within a fairly short period of time (several hours). So unless you're watching your tank 24/7, have a second emergency drain, have float switches to shut of the pump, or don't care about gallons of water on the floor, restricting the drain is a very bad idea.

Thanks,
Harry
 
Harry Muscle said:
The use of a valve on a drain limits the amount of water that can be drained to be just a little more than you're pumping back into the tank. This is a very dangerous and fine line to walk unless you have a secondary drain that will be used if for some reason the drain capacity diminishes (something gets stuck inside) or the pump capacity increases (freshly cleaned pump).

Even a 1gpg difference can flood your tank within a fairly short period of time (several hours). So unless you're watching your tank 24/7, have a second emergency drain, have float switches to shut of the pump, or don't care about gallons of water on the floor, restricting the drain is a very bad idea.

Thanks,
Harry
Click to expand...

Whether you restrict the drain or not, with a one drain overflow, if that drain clogs you have problems. A float switch that will turn off the pump is the best solution other than another drain.

Granted using a valve can increase the chance of a blockage slightly, but if you put a strainer on the drain and keep that clean you minimize the risk. Gate and ball valves are used on almost every aquarium with a sump.

The alternative is an aquarium that sounds like Niagara Falls and that's not an option for me.
 
I have the same as you.
First, you need 2 of the mesh things inside the overflow (GH sent me another) folded in half for each side. This alone will stop most of the noise everywhere.
I also put a 45 at the end of the return, underwater, inside filter sock.
For added quietness, I put pipe insulation (home depot) around the pipes.
She's all quiet now next to the couch, TV...
 
^ hmmm interesting i'll give that a try.

Harry yeah I hear you my friend but i gotta quite this tank down. NO it's not ideal, but with regular cleaning and maybe a float stwich to turn off pump. prob the way i am gonna go.
 
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