Simple plumbing question

[awestruck]

Is the pvc pipe or hose that connects to the drain line supposed to be the same diameter at the return hoses?

We used a hose for the drain line that's much larger in diameter than the return hose and it is REALLY loud--it swooshes. I'm guessing that more water is draining than the return pump and hose can keep up with.

 

[sjmantis]

As long as your pump can keep up with the overflow

 

[lordofthereef]

Your sound has more to do with the type of overflow you have set up than the plumbing not is not uncommon to have a larger diameter pipe for your overflow in a single pipe setup. You always want your overflow to be able to handleore than your return. This is what keeps your display from flooding.

 

[awestruck]

Ok, thanks for your responses. Wellllll, my tank is in the living room and oh my gosh, I feel like I',m near the ocean. How do I fix this?

 

[iamwrasseman]

i would start by installing a valve on your return pump and slowing it down by shutting the valve down until the noise stops or gets reduced to an acceptable level . what kind of over flow do you have and what size is your return pump in terms of gph ? is your overflow vented ?

 

[strike2867]

Is the pvc pipe or hose that connects to the drain line supposed to be the same diameter at the return hoses?

We used a hose for the drain line that's much larger in diameter than the return hose and it is REALLY loud--it swooshes. I'm guessing that more water is draining than the return pump and hose can keep up with.

You need the larger hoses for the overflow because there is no pressure, just gravity making it move. Your pump is much more powerful than gravity, so you don't need such a big hose. Preferably you want the overflow to handle 25% more water going down than the return pump can max out at. This avoids floods when snails crawl down the overflow. For the noise I recommend the Herbie Overflow. You can google it to see how it's done. There are other choices, depending on how your tank is drilled, but someone more knowledgeable will have to guide you on those.

 

[awestruck]

I read through Herbie's info and it sounds great. However, doesn't the tank need to be empty in order to change this? I just filled the tank and sump on Saturday and can't afford to waste all that water and salt. Or, am I not understanding this and it can be changed with the water in it? I've never had a sump and built-in overflow before so this is quite alien to me.

So, how does just making the feed line longer and slowing down the return flow help? Does it make it much quieter?

 

[awestruck]

Conversation continued, someone please chime in

If I put a gate valve in the return line, and slow the flow down into tank, will that make the pump work to the point it will burn out? I don't know how many gph this pump moves water, but it is pushing on a 55g. tank but was previously working on a 75g.

 

[seapug]

you want your drain line to be larger than your return line. You can easily get rid of the gurgling drain with a Gurgle Buster. It's really just a vented cap that sits on top of the drain opening in your overflow. A few retailers sell them but you can also DIY them. A google search should yield results.

 

[awestruck]

Seapug, wow, this sounds like a VERY simple solution. Do you use one--does it really work?