Drain Pipe Noise

[underthereef]

Hi,

I just got my new tank build up and running. I was impressed with how silent the overflow was, how dead silent the return pump was, and how quiet the water was flowing into the sump. However, the actual drain pipes under the tank going to the sump sound like the roaring rapids as the water moves through. Lol. Is this noise normal?

I used ABS pipe for my drain system to the sump. From reading online it looks like I should've stuck with PVC for the drain as well to possibly help with noise but it's already glued into the bulkhead now. I started looking up ways to make it quieter and came across a couple sound proofing wraps used on pipes or walls like "mass loaded vinyl (MLV)," "Acoustidrain," "sound barrier quiet wall," "Quiet Wrap" or similar products.

Does anyone have experience using any of these products or something similar? Does it help with the noise? Would I need to be worried because of the humidity or should it be fine? Has anyone done or used any other method to help with drain noise? Any other ideas?

Secondary question: The water going into the overflow is actually too quiet. Lol. I like the sound of trickling water, just not the roaring sound the drain pipes currently making under the tank. How high do you guys put your stand pipe in comparison to the weir on the overflow? What do you recommend for standpipe height for trickling water effect flowing into the overflow? That isn't silent or that isn't too overwhelming. Mine is currently an inch from the bottom of the weir. I put it so high because I was worried of it being too loud from reading other peoples threads.

Thanks for your help!

 

[theMeat]

Is it a single drain system. Or herbie or beananimal?

 

[underthereef]

Is it a single drain system. Or herbie or beananimal?

It's a single 1.5 inch drain with a Maggie Muffler on the top.

 

[Projects with Sam]

There are some great information here:

Overflow Boxes and Drain Styles - Durso, Herbie, and Bean Animal

Decide which of the three most common types of drains and overflow boxes is right for you and your tank.

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How far underwater is your pipe when it enters the sump?

 

[underthereef]

How far underwater is your pipe when it enters the sump?

About an inch maybe 2. But the water going into the sump itself from the drain pipe is pretty quiet. It's just as the water is draining through the drain pipes under the tank that its loud like an old loud dishwasher is running or something.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

About an inch maybe 2. But the water going into the sump itself from the drain pipe is pretty quiet. It's just as the water is draining through the drain pipes under the tank that its loud like an old loud dishwasher is running or something.

Oh. I don't have any suggestions then. I have a Herbie setup with one drain at full siphon, so no noise.

 

[underthereef]

Oh. I don't have any suggestions then. I have a Herbie setup with one drain at full siphon, so no noise.

So is it the full siphon affect that stops the pipes from making noise as waters flowing through it? Am I not acheiving a full siphon? Or how would I know? Sorry still learning all these beginner small details. Lol

 

[theMeat]

Hi,

I just got my new tank build up and running. I was impressed with how silent the overflow was, how dead silent the return pump was, and how quiet the water was flowing into the sump. However, the actual drain pipes under the tank going to the sump sound like the roaring rapids as the water moves through. Lol. Is this noise normal?

I used ABS pipe for my drain system to the sump. From reading online it looks like I should've stuck with PVC for the drain as well to possibly help with noise but it's already glued into the bulkhead now. I started looking up ways to make it quieter and came across a couple sound proofing wraps used on pipes or walls like "mass loaded vinyl (MLV)," "Acoustidrain," "sound barrier quiet wall," "Quiet Wrap" or similar products.

Does anyone have experience using any of these products or something similar? Does it help with the noise? Would I need to be worried because of the humidity or should it be fine? Has anyone done or used any other method to help with drain noise? Any other ideas?

Secondary question: The water going into the overflow is actually too quiet. Lol. I like the sound of trickling water, just not the roaring sound the drain pipes currently making under the tank. How high do you guys put your stand pipe in comparison to the weir on the overflow? What do you recommend for standpipe height for trickling water effect flowing into the overflow? That isn't silent or that isn't too overwhelming. Mine is currently an inch from the bottom of the weir. I put it so high because I was worried of it being too loud from reading other peoples threads.

Thanks for your help!

How many gallons is tank?
What return pump are you using?

 

[JGT]

So is it the full siphon affect that stops the pipes from making noise as waters flowing through it? Am I not acheiving a full siphon? Or how would I know? Sorry still learning all these beginner small details. Lol

Most likely not. A full siphon would be dead quiet. You probably have air mixed in that's why the loud noise.

 

[underthereef]

How many gallons is tank?
What return pump are you using?

180 Gallon with a 40 gallon breeder sump. The return pump is a Jebao DCP 8000 dead silent.

 

[underthereef]

Most likely not. A full siphon would be dead quiet. You probably have air mixed in that's why the loud noise.

How do you acheive this mysterious full siphon affect? Lol. The water falling into the standpipe looks good and is super quiet. I tried holding my hand over the end of the drain pipe for a moment to allow for water to fill up the drain pipe completely. That didn't do anything.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a gravity drain like this always have air in it? How would the pipe be completely full of solid water from dropping into the stand pipe?

 

[JGT]

How do you acheive this mysterious full siphon affect? Lol. The water falling into the standpipe looks good and is super quiet. I tried holding my hand over the end of the drain pipe for a moment to allow for water to fill up the drain pipe completely. That didn't do anything.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a gravity drain like this always have air in it? How would the pipe be completely full of solid water from dropping into the stand pipe?

That's your problem. The water shouldn't be dropping. The standpipe should be completely submerged under water. This will create the full siphon. I have a strainer on mine to keep out anything big that would get into the overflow. Crickets.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

You have a 180 gallon tank with only a single drain? That's unusual. To achieve a full siphon, the pipe needs to be shorter than yours is now. HOWEVER, this is only safely done with a 2-3 drain system; the other 1-2 pipes are taller and serve as emergency drains in case the main one gets clogged.

 

[theMeat]

You can’t have a full siphon on a single drain system.
Pvc is slightly quieter than abs but not worth the effort to change, imo. With a single drain you have air going down the pipe with water. This will make noise. Slowing down the return pump will help.
The water falling from weir into overflow box about a half inch, and the drain pipe being only an inch or two into sump water is about the best you can do.

 

[underthereef]

That's your problem. The water shouldn't be dropping. The standpipe should be completely submerged under water. This will create the full siphon. I have a strainer on mine to keep out anything big that would get into the overflow. Crickets.

Ahhhh I see now.

You have a 180 gallon tank with only a single drain? That's unusual. To achieve a full siphon, the pipe needs to be shorter than yours is now. HOWEVER, this is only safely done with a 2-3 drain system; the other 1-2 pipes are taller and serve as emergency drains in case the main one gets clogged.

And that's why I can't achieve this with a single drain Yea it's an Aqua Japan Eurobraced. I've been bummed about the only 1 drain. That's why I went with the maggie muffler on top of the stand pipe. It is quiet no gurgling but still allowing air in the drain with water. Would switching to a Bean Animal possible work? Or would it just be the same as the maggie muffler essentially?

You can’t have a full siphon on a single drain system.
Pvc is slightly quieter than abs but not worth the effort to change, imo. With a single drain you have air going down the pipe with water. This will make noise. Slowing down the return pump will help.
The water falling from weir into overflow box about a half inch, and the drain pipe being only an inch or two into sump water is about the best you can do.

You guys think it's worth trying to sound proof the drain pipes under the tank going to the sump with some kind of wrap? Most the noise is at the first 45 and 90 coming out of the bulkhead.

I also haven't put the doors to the stand on yet so I know that will make a difference... hopefully. Lol. What about also putting some mass loaded vinyl on the back wall or line the insides of the doors too?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Would switching to a Bean Animal possible work?

Herbie or Bean would work, but only if the tank can be drilled... Of course that means draining and emptying the tank.

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

We use flexible tubing instead of hard plumbing in our setups. Try it. If you can put a gentle S curve into the drain line, even better.

 

[Tenecor Aquariums]

180 Gallon with a 40 gallon breeder sump. The return pump is a Jebao DCP 8000 dead silent.

A single 1.5 inch drain should be adequate for this size tank. Not the way we would do it but adequate for the volume you need to drain. I looked up your aquarium and am not familiar with this brand. The image I saw shows internal overflow. If that's the case then using flexible tubing and adding soma curves should take care of your noise problem

 

[underthereef]

Herbie or Bean would work, but only if the tank can be drilled... Of course that means draining and emptying the tank.

So you couldn't do a single bean animal with one drain?