Silencing a skimmer drain

[Linkblaze]

Hey all. So, I'm using a Reef Octopus skimmer, and it's making a bit of a racket at the skimmer drain. Sound of flowing/splashing water. It's not too horrible, but wanted to see if anybody had any bright ideas on how to quiet this thing down? I've already put an elbow on it, and angled it such that the water is coming out nearly perpendicular to the surface. I can submerge the drain, and this will quiet things down significantly, but then air can't escape the drain pipe and this will cause the water level in the skimmer neck to flucuate and otherwise cause the skimmer to perform poorly. Any suggestions?

 

[Marty.H]

Google reverse durso depending on your space you may be able to fit one of them on the end .



That allows you to submerge the end and the air travels up I run large ones on my sump feed and is totally silent.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sounds like your skimmer is not sitting deep enough in the sump. 8-9" is how deep the skimmer should in the water. The exit elbow can be just under the surface of the sump water. Once set, it should not fluctuate in the neck, unless the area in which the skimmer sets has its water level fluctuate. Your sump should have a partition that the skimmer sets in allowing the water in that area to stay the same level always.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Here's mine as an example for you.

 

[Spiffy]

I have the same problem. I tried using a small filter sock with the bottom cut off to diffuse the flow, but that is not working too well. The splashing is unnerving at night. I keep thinking that I am ignoring a leak in the system. :headwalls:

 

[heritage]

Yes, go to there Web side a search for skimmer output vent pipe. Works like a charm.

 

[Linkblaze]

Sounds like your skimmer is not sitting deep enough in the sump. 8-9" is how deep the skimmer should in the water. The exit elbow can be just under the surface of the sump water. Once set, it should not fluctuate in the neck, unless the area in which the skimmer sets has its water level fluctuate. Your sump should have a partition that the skimmer sets in allowing the water in that area to stay the same level always.

Yeah, it's not quite deep enough. I've only got 6 inches of water depth in my sump skimmer area. The skimmer in question recommends 7, which was about the best I could find. Setting the elbow underwater seems to be trapping air in the exit tubing. If I do so, the thing "burps" now and then and this causes the fluctuation in the neck level.

I'll try the reverse Durso idea as I'm already familiar with building those. Thanks for the link Marty H.

Edit: Oh, and Flipper. Do you have any problems with the thing leaking where the cup sets in the skimmer body? Seems like I don't have a perfect seal forming there. Been trying to get in contact with Coral Vue customer service and they're not responding.

 

[BlackTip]

I have the same problem with my SuperReef. The water depth is exactly what is required. Many others have the same complaints. Check the ReefOctupus forum for various solutions.

I made a silencer similar to the one they sell (see the photo below). It creates so mush micro bubbles. I replaced it with 2 elbow with the vent hole on top, and I still have some bubbles.

1 elbow with a vent hole works also, but I can't get rid of the micro bubbles.

The skimmer sets in its own chamber, water goes over a divider for the reactor chamber, then through 3 baffles, before it reaches the return chamber.

 

[laga77]

Yeah, it's not quite deep enough. I've only got 6 inches of water depth in my sump skimmer area. The skimmer in question recommends 7, which was about the best I could find. Setting the elbow underwater seems to be trapping air in the exit tubing. If I do so, the thing "burps" now and then and this causes the fluctuation in the neck level.

I'll try the reverse Durso idea as I'm already familiar with building those. Thanks for the link Marty H.

Edit: Oh, and Flipper. Do you have any problems with the thing leaking where the cup sets in the skimmer body? Seems like I don't have a perfect seal forming there. Been trying to get in contact with Coral Vue customer service and they're not responding.

If the water level is not at the proper height, then the skimmer is not working as efficiently as it should. You can eliminate the "burping" of the elbow by drilling a 1/8 inch hole at the high point of the elbow. This allows the air to escape on its own.