plunderisley
Member
Well, I was working on all different methods to silence an overflow for my 75gal tank with a good sized return pump (800gal/hr return pump) . As all of us know without any modifications, the overflow sounds something like a waterfall. I tried many different methods to silence it but nothing worked right.
I wanted to use Herbie's method as that would be the best, but since my tank was bought without any customization, there is only 1 overflow and no way to add a 2nd overflow hole to allow for the emergency pipe.
then I went with the Durso standpipe which also wasn't working right. First I tried the holes, but since there was no room in the overflow box to put a 1 1/4" or larger setup, I had to go with the 1" which is the same size as the overflow piping. I tried hours to get it dialed in, but no matter what I just couldn't. Then I read somewhere by using an air tube placed into the pipe, it would work. Well, it did and it worked well but I came across a huge problem. While I was working on the sump I turned off the return pump, did some work and turned it back on. I then noticed that the durso overflow mod with the air tube would not prime! So what next happened was a small overflow before I was able to remove the pipe and let the overflow drain out. There was a simple fix fir this - keep the airline tube above the T but below the top of the tank. What happens when the water gets high up is that it will siphon into the air tubing, prime it and then continue working. I also attempted the power failure scenario with the durso original mod, but it just completely failed. In addition neither method was that quiet.
so without wanting to risk any option of failure and the general rule being K.I.S.S. I went ahead and took part of the durso setup and modified it. The 1 1/4" pipe does fit in the overflow and I used the 1" to 1 14" reducer and made the pipe height a few in below the overflow slits. I then cut some horizontal slits into the pipe. What happens now with having a larger opening is that the water does not cause a possible overflow of the tank (there is nothing to prime, no holes to worry about, etc) and there really isn't any gurgling noise nor that waterfall noise. In addition it isn't any louder than the durso mods I've tried on my tank.
I hope this might help some people.
Before any mods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3yehfn4eQ8
With the mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1gUy1ks_o8
Durso standpipe with the air tubing (warning: this was before my tank overflow with the air tubing out of the tank)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5La_zjxHNk
I wanted to use Herbie's method as that would be the best, but since my tank was bought without any customization, there is only 1 overflow and no way to add a 2nd overflow hole to allow for the emergency pipe.
then I went with the Durso standpipe which also wasn't working right. First I tried the holes, but since there was no room in the overflow box to put a 1 1/4" or larger setup, I had to go with the 1" which is the same size as the overflow piping. I tried hours to get it dialed in, but no matter what I just couldn't. Then I read somewhere by using an air tube placed into the pipe, it would work. Well, it did and it worked well but I came across a huge problem. While I was working on the sump I turned off the return pump, did some work and turned it back on. I then noticed that the durso overflow mod with the air tube would not prime! So what next happened was a small overflow before I was able to remove the pipe and let the overflow drain out. There was a simple fix fir this - keep the airline tube above the T but below the top of the tank. What happens when the water gets high up is that it will siphon into the air tubing, prime it and then continue working. I also attempted the power failure scenario with the durso original mod, but it just completely failed. In addition neither method was that quiet.
so without wanting to risk any option of failure and the general rule being K.I.S.S. I went ahead and took part of the durso setup and modified it. The 1 1/4" pipe does fit in the overflow and I used the 1" to 1 14" reducer and made the pipe height a few in below the overflow slits. I then cut some horizontal slits into the pipe. What happens now with having a larger opening is that the water does not cause a possible overflow of the tank (there is nothing to prime, no holes to worry about, etc) and there really isn't any gurgling noise nor that waterfall noise. In addition it isn't any louder than the durso mods I've tried on my tank.
I hope this might help some people.
Before any mods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3yehfn4eQ8
With the mod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1gUy1ks_o8
Durso standpipe with the air tubing (warning: this was before my tank overflow with the air tubing out of the tank)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5La_zjxHNk