My drains sound like water running through tin cans.

[magdelan]

On my 4x2x2 120g, I have two, inch and a half drains on the back of my tank coming from an overflow box. They run diagonally from the top of the tank down to the sump. I am using a Blueline 55 as a return. My drains sound like gutters on a house durring a rain storm. I don't know how else to explain the sound. Are they too large??? Do I need to push more flow through them? Is it too much flow?? I'm stuck!

 

[davidpesce]

This fixed mine - http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/

 

[davidpesce]

Forgot to mention it has a link to the construction on the page. While mine isn't silent, there is no gurgling sound. Only the sound of running water.

 

[terry4505]

I ran two pieces of regular air hose about 18" down the return line. I had a lot of bad noise prior to that

 

[Johnsy85]

Do you have a back up to the HGB in case something clogs the holes?

 

[magdelan]

Do you have a back up to the HGB in case something clogs the holes?

What is a HGB?

I already have airline inserted into the elbows coming out from the tank...

This isn't a gurgling/flushing problem. The noise is not from trying to suck air... imagine having an empty aluminum bucket or garbage can infront of you. Think about how it would sound if you took a gallon of water an began pouring it into the empty can. That is the best way I can describe this noise.

 

[acdraindrps]

The only way I have found to make an overflow 100% silent. The only thing I can hear on my tank is my skimmer venturi and that drives me nuts at the moment!

The noisey plumbing is the result of having an air/water mix which creates a flushing sound. The idea is to cap the primary drain, and drill a small hole in the cap, opening the hole with a dremel just enough to get the water level where it is shown in the overflow box. The secondary drain is only there for a backup in case the primary drain fails for whatever reason. Pay close attention to water where the water levels are in the overflow box as well as the sump in the picture.

 

[davidpesce]

Do you have a back up to the HGB in case something clogs the holes?

Yeah, there is a airline tube at the top that creates a full siphon if the water gets too high. And honestly I would need to have a good deal of large gunk to fill up all the holes in the HGB.

 

[davidpesce]

The only way I have found to make an overflow 100% silent. The only thing I can hear on my tank is my skimmer venturi and that drives me nuts at the moment!

Look up venturi muffler. I put one on my asm and it's almost silent.

 

[magdelan]

This is what my drains look like...

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Does the water exit the drain pipes above or below the surface of the water in the sump?

What sort of elbows/openings do you have inside the overflow box?

 

[magdelan]

The water exits underwater and the drains are just bulkheads.

 

[truebeliever71]

I have kind of the same setup as you. I used flexible tubing between the tank and the sump and I currently have a piece of filter material over the whole.... makes a huge difference! Just have to change it out or rinse it every couple days.

 

[Conesus_Kid]

the drains are just bulkheads.

I think that this is the problem.

Do you have room in your overflow box to slip street ells into the bulkheads? If you can, point one downwards and the other one upwards. The downwards facing elbow will start a siphon, the upwards facing elbow will act as an emergency drain and will be used when first starting the return pump after it's been off.

If you go this route, you may need to throw a valve on the siphon line to slow down the flow a bit and keep the water level in the overflow box consistent. (This will make more sense after you see the siphon in action.)

 

[magdelan]

hmmm.... when you say "street ell", are you refering to elbows?

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Yes. Street ells are skinnier on one side so they fit inside a bulkhead or other fitting. The other side is wider and can accept a pipe.

 

[magdelan]

Awsome! Thanks Scott.... I'm on it.