Tank drain too loud!!! Help!!

[AtlReef]

Okay so I have a simple clear plastic drain. It was fine in my old house. But, now after the move its in my bedroom because I am remodeling the rest of the house. Its way too loud. The drain is about 1 1/2 inch's from the water level. Whats the best way to plumb this thing to make it as quiet as possible? Thanks in advance!!

 

[AtlReef]

 

[mxett]

Is it loud from the tank side or the sump side? If from the tank side, do an rc search for durso standpipe. I made my own recently for about $4 and its fantastic! barely any noise and really safe-no floods. If on the sump side, try having the output under the water. I do that, in to a filter sock to stop the microbubbles.

HTH

 

[AtlReef]

Okay ill change it, how far under water is good? Also what type of plumbing? Hard pvc? flex?

 

[dp reefer]

try to keep it less than 1 inch under the water level. if its much more than that it might create back-pressure which might cause the level in your main taink to raise depending on how the overflow is plumbed

 

[AtlReef]

okay. And its a MegaFlow overflow kit.

 

[mxett]

Also installing some sort of ball valve in line may help. You can tune it so it lets less air through to the sump resulting in less gurgling noise. Be sure not to have it too closely set to the return rate though. Any change in water level can cause a minor air lock which will mean less is drained than enters the top tank, causing a flood. This used to happen to me before I installed the durso standpipe.

 

[RWillieK]

Never put a ball valve on a drain!

Search for Hoffer Gurlgle buster instead of durso pipe.

Also, add a peice of hard pvc with slots cut in it. Put that into the sump.

Robbie

 

[mxett]

Ball valve is fine in a drain if you dont limit the flow too much. It just allows you to control the flow so its not letting too much air through. I've seen people use them for years!

 

[GoldStripe]

I agree with mxett. I've got ball valves on both my drains (1.5"). It makes them easier to tune. Never had any trouble

 

[Racing1]

Never any trouble until a fish or snail goes down the overflow and clogs the drain and floods the tank because you have a ball valve on it.... Not a good Idea....

I did the same thing because a few said it would be o.k. Then by biColor blenny decided to jump in the overflow and he clogged the line...... Need I say more...... Very Wet Very Fast..... Never again will I put a ball valve on a drain...

 

[GoldStripe]

I guess it depends on how big the drains are. I have the valve partially closed on one of them and the other wide open. With 1.5" drains, 1 of them can take care of the draining duties. I find snails in my filter sock all the time, lol. They don't know that all drains don't lead to the ocean.

 

[burris]

A valve to restrict the drain so there is no air in it is the only way to make it totally silent. If you use the drilled return as an emergency drain then it is safe. See http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=344892

 

[mxett]

Agree burris. If you have your plumbing worked out so there is a backup drain then a valve is totally safe.