Please help with overflow noise

[marino420td]

I recently setup a 120 gal tank and I am in the freshwater testing stage now. The setup is documented in this thread

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=867050&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

My tank is drilled through the back and the overflow box does not go all the way to the bottom of the tank.

I built a modified stockman standpipe to help with noise but I still get a flushing sound pretty bad

Since I only have one drain in my overflow, I can't use Herbie's method. I don't have the emergency drain.

I also need to mention that I am direct feeding my skimmer from the overflow. Here is a picture of the drain behind the tank.

Let me know your ideas.

 

[outy]

nice set up play with ther airflow if that doesnt work youll have to go back to the drawing board with that standpipe

 

[Avi]

I have Stockmans on my two hang-on overflows. When I first placed them, the noise continued. I experimented with different sized holes on the cap on top. It was interesting how different sized holes changed things fairly substantially but differently, even when the difference in the size or the hole seemed very insignificant. I found that only 3/32nds of an inch worked. Nothing larger and nothing smaller did. And, the holes of that size completely...completely...silenced the overflows. I'd suggest that you try it...maybe a hole of one particular size is what you'd need, and if it is, it's an easy fix.

 

[humbugy]

turn down the return pump, that should quiet things down

 

[sales weasel]

I have a hang-on overflow on a 55g that was VERY noisy. I used a Durso standpipe and it is silent.

 

[prugs]

Yup, I don't see a small vent hole in the top of your stockman.

Whups, should have looked at your other thread. Now I see the problem.
Your return pump is to big for the one overflow.

 

[marino420td]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7794674#post7794674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by prugs
Yup, I don't see a small vent hole in the top of your stockman.

Whups, should have looked at your other thread. Now I see the problem.
Your return pump is to big for the one overflow.

How much flow will a 1 1/2" drain handle? Can I just use the ball valve to cut back the flow of my return pump?

 

[prugs]

It looked like you had a 1" drain pipe, my bad.
How much flow does that pump of yours provide at the head height you have?
It also looks like the standpipe intake is just at or below the waters suface in the overflow box. The stand pipe should be lower. That could be where you are getting the sucking sound from.
Another source maybe that the amount of air is too loud. The way to solve this sucking sound is to get another cap for the stand pipe & drilll it to accept a 3/8" DIA x 3-6' long hose & place it in the stand. That will muffle that noise.

PS: That is a beautiful stand & canopy

 

[marino420td]

Thanks for the compliment about the stand and canopy. Amazing how I can build something like that but can't get an overflow to quiet down.

Do you recommend running the hose down into the overflow pipe?

The intake is pretty high in the overflow box. I am just very limited with space in the overflow since it does not go to the bottom of the tank. The bulkhead is only about 9" below the top of the tank.

Here is a pic to give you an idea of how high the overflow pipe intake is

I cut away more of it to try to lower the water level inside the overflow

Is there a way to scrap the whole durso/stockman standpipe and make this silent?

 

[prugs]

I would go with a regular durso style. If you have room in the box. That would solve the height problem.
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

 

[Avi]

I'd agree...the Stockman's are really meant for hang-on overflows with more limited room

 

[dngspot]

I tried the same thing with my overflow. I even built it to have enough room. What I finally did is just put a 1/4" line right at the top of an open stand pipe and install a plastic valve at the end of the 1/4" line. The line goes through the top edge of the pipe and its edge is cut 45 deg. So from the top of the stand pipe you see a 1/4" line going from one side to the other and the 45 deg. cut is down. I have a rough pic of my stand pipe, I hope it helps. The black line is the 1/4" line.

David

 

[dngspot]

I have some close up pictures of the overflow stand pipe.
Air line

Stand Pipe

Air line installed

Stand pipe working. The little green thing at the end of the air line is the valve used for adjustment.

 

[hahnmeister]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=890135

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=889167

 

[Avi]

Those look like two ingenious methods of addressing these noise issues. I'd think that the simpler fixes should be tried first, but depending on your configuration they may not work to your satisfaction. If that happens, then these "big guns" have to be tried out. Remember, though, eventually, you will have a silent overflow and sump.