"I thought this was a tank not a hot tub" OR overf

[sawyerc]

I just finished the plumbing for my new 55 with basement sump system (wow that PVC glue goes to your head! Next time I'm investing in a quality gas-mask) As many other people have written, the durso standpipe on the megaflow is silent, but the sump sounds like a hot tub on steroids because of all the bubbles. I tried many different solutions like a T with a cap above the water line, many configurations of elbows and other fittings, a "reverse overflow," a fish bag, a nylon stocking, a filter sock, and throtteling back the overflow (which is hard because the valve is in the basement and the tank is upstairs so I accidentally flooded my floor.) I was about to resort to the wonderful idea that someone posted a few months ago about using the smaller of the drilled holes in the bottom of the tank as an emergency overflow and then throttling back the overflow, but I can up with this:

Use a 90* elbow just at the waterline and then take a ten inch piece of PVC, cut it half way through about every inch, and insert that with the cuts face up in the 90* elbow. Water travels along it and the air bubbles out just above the water's surface while the majority of the water comes out of the end of the pipe underwater.

ll
ll
ll
ll
ll inflow
ll
''
. '' 90* elbow
....''
.......''============ PVC with half cuts along the top


There's a better picture attached.



It's not completely silent, but it worked better than everything else I tried. I think I have a particularly bad case of "hot tub" syndrome because the water falls about 12 feet. I definitely do not want to restrict the overflow with a valve because this tank is in an office and
overflows = very bad news. Also, it sadly won't get as much attention as it should so it needs to be fail-safe.

I hope this helps someone.

Happy reefing.

Sawyer :idea:

 

[sawyerc]

And that's supposed to be:

OR overflow noise

in title but it got cut off

 

[Len]

Sounds good. Did you also try slainting the downpipe at a 45 degree angle? That did the trick for my tank, but my down pipe only travels 3 feet or so (not likes yours where has to go all the way down to the basement.

 

[jims47]

Thanks for your ideas. Is the pipe with the cuts in it capped at the end? If so I would worry about the cuts becoming plugged, but then again I seem to worry about everything after making Noah proud a few times ;-)

 

[shellshocked]

I had a similiar problem and used the perforated pipe that comes with some overflows. I think your idea is good and should work. Quieting the flow noise in the pipes can be done by using 45 elbows and a lot of planning. Putting foam insulation on the pipes helps a little. The return pipes will quiet a little after a couple of weeks as slime and detrius builds up a little in the pipes.

 

[sawyerc]

but then again I seem to worry about everything after making Noah proud a few times

Ha! No, the pipe is not capped.

I didn't try a 45* I didn't realize that it was the 45* specifically that helped: I just thought people had them instead of 90*s I guess I have to pay a little more attention. I wonder why a 45* works differenly from a 90* ... ? Any ideas?