How to quiet my newly drilled tank

[spiderman097]

So, Chris from FishScales came over and drilled the back of my tank. It was awesome and I love the look of my tank now. But now I'm faced with a new problem, my tank has a constant flushing sound.

Now, I know the answer usually is a durso standpipe. But I've installed at least 3 variations of it into the plumbing. But the noise is due to a drainage problem. Because every now and then there will be a giant surge like an air bubble is passing through it

I'm in desperate need for help. Let me post some pictures.

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[fish scales2]

I think if you would have drilled the holes a bit larger in the top of the durso it would have stopped. Also a mag 12 is a bit big IMO for your tank, does the noise ease up when you throttle it a back a little?

I have to say I was pretty nervous drilling a tank filled with water.

 

[gnashty]

Fish Scales2;615361 wrote:
I have to say I was pretty nervous drilling a tank filled with water.

 

[shrimpy brains]

How long did you put up with the noise before changing it. I know this is not really advice,
but I have found that the noise will settle down after it flows for awhile.




Or maybe......I just get used to it. lol.

 

[spiderman097]

I'm using a mag 9.5 as my return. I just got it, because someone told me to get it for my 75g. When i throttle it down it does make a difference in the noise. I drilled larger holes in the top of the durso. But I would like to release the throttle and keep it quiet at the same time. What should i do?

 

[darcurr]

the gurgle is caused by air getting trapped in the drain. The easiest solution is to have the drain above the water line. That way air can't get trapped. I've tried drilling holes above the water line with marginal success. I've been meaning to try replacing the last elbow with a tee to see if that would get rid of the gurgle.

 

[spiderman097]

but i have a billion holes to get rid of all the air in drain

 

[fish scales2]

Yes, 2 1" drains.

 

[brianjfinn]

I've got a Mag 5 or 7 (can't remember which, Chris probably knows) on my 67 gallon, and have it throttled back to about half, or less. I bet if you reduce the flow, you'll reduce the noise, and you'll have better efficiency from your sump.

 

[lilrobb]

Let me guess, the drain is not only travelling down, but either a long horizontal distance or even slightly upward somewhere?

 

[spiderman097]

not upwards, but horizontal yes. About 6-8"

 

[sharkbait]

Tagging along for this one as well. Although I'm sure for my setup I need to do the durso. The noise doesn't bother me but I have to tinker with the tank anyways so might as well fix it.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Had that problem in my old 90.

What I did did away with the periodic rush or flush. Drilled a bunch of holes near the bottom of the drain pipe under the water line in your sump. Make the pipe look like swiss cheese. This will allow air to escape and water to run out of the pipe.

I had to do this even while running a durso and it helped GREATLY.

 

[brianjfinn]

Sharkbait;615479 wrote: Tagging along for this one as well. Although I'm sure for my setup I need to do the durso. The noise doesn't bother me but I have to tinker with the tank anyways so might as well fix it.

If you're able to, go with the gurgle buster.

http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/">http://home.everestkc.net/jrobertson57268/HGB/</a>

It's what I use on my tank, and it's completely, perfectly quiet. The only noise I have is from my skimmer and return pumps.

 

[rbredding]

spiderman097;615461 wrote: not upwards, but horizontal yes. About 6-8"

replumb that section of pipe and double the PVC size... it'll fix your problem

 

[darcurr]

spiderman097;615413 wrote: but i have a billion holes to get rid of all the air in drain

The problem with your holes is they are not in the right place. The air is getting trapped in the last verticle section, and when the pressure builds enough, it flushes. The holes need to be near the exit. Anywhere else and they don't help the air escape. Do like CrewDawg says, and put the holes in it, or cut it off above the water line.

 

[crewdawg1981]

Combine what Ron and I are saying for the very last vertical section. Suppose you have 1 inch drain pipe now, couple that up to a 1.5 inch piece of pipe with holes all throughout at under the water line and you'll see a crazy difference.

 

[spiderman097]

I did it! by using a combination of creating a gurgle buster, and changing the pvc to 2" at the end instead of keeping it 1", and also making them into a complete swiss cheese pipe. All you can hear now is the pumps. It's insane how much quieter my tank is.

 

[gregoryleonard]

Wow, thanks guys! I can use this on my tank as well. Great forum info:yay:

 

[rbredding]

water runs pretty slow when gravity is the only force acting on it.. so you have to increase pipe size to maintain volume of flow.. (especially in a horizontal application)