Salt water aquarium wont stop making a cyclonic noise in one of its returns. Any ideas on how to stop this?
I recently upgraded to a 120 gallon aquarium where I can expand my use of reef aquariums. In the new aquarium there are two built in overflows. Both the draining and water return plumbing are housed in the overflows. On one side, for some odd reason, whenever I attach the flexible hose to the pipe that transfers water out of the overflow and down to the trickle filter, it seems to create some imbalance that makes a noise similar to that cyclonic noise that occurs whenever you empty a bathtub and the drain creates a cyclone of air that goes down with the water. The problem is, the return valve doesn’t seem to be making a standard cyclone, it just has a pressure difference that keeps breaking and letting air into the system. Needless to say, this makes a lot of annoying noise. I’ve moved the hose in every direction from perfectly straight with no turns and going consistently down into the filter to having bends and having to push water upward towards the top of the filter, no matter how I move it, the problem remains. The entire tube is sealed in, because no water is leaking out. (It only does this noise when the flexible hose is attached, and the other return doesnt do it, just this one. Any ideas on how to silence this thing??
In the hose leading to the sump (or trickle filter), put ball joint. For some this prevent this cyclone effect you talk about.
-rds
I was wondering what was needed to make my salt water tank a reef tank?
if this is a HOB overflow look at a smaller unit, if your tank is drilled however look into a durso, or google gurgling overflow or something to a similar effect. i don’t know what your options are for more holes or modification so i can’t help too much. the least modification required would be to install a ball valve with a backup on the overflow so less air will be able to get in. if you provide mroe details i could help more.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:04 amReferences :
In the hose leading to the sump (or trickle filter), put ball joint. For some this prevent this cyclone effect you talk about.
-rds
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:54 amReferences :
This is common in overflow boxes. The drain is sucking air. Moving the hose will have little to no effect. You need a durso drain pipe in your overflow box. Very cheap and easy to build. about 10 bucks in plumbing parts, and you do not have to glue it together. The link provided gives the instructions on how to do and you can buy it here as well.
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/?page_id=6
Never put a valve on a drain line. NEVER, it makes a trap for snails or large pieces of algae that WILL get stuck in the partially closed valve and flood your tank!!!!!
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 amReferences :
15 years of reef keeping. 30 years fish keeping.