Tank Noise Normal

[chi6488]

I have a corner overflow for my tank if that is what it is called. Tank is 110 gal and 31 inches tall.

There are two pvc tube intake and out tube

The intake tubing does an elbow at the top. I think the LFS I bought the setup from drilled to 3/8 inch holes on two side of the elbow. There is also a 1/8 inch hole on top of the elbow with a plastic tube in it.

This is where the noise is coming from. The overflow drains from the main tank is higher than these two holes. The water fills up to the height of the drains; then the water comes down and you can see the holes sucking air. It then makes the "ocean wave" sound.

It is distracting b/c I can hear it in my bedroom which is 20 ft away and with our two young kids we sleep with doors open.

Is this normal?? I can buy new elbow but do the holes need to be there?? What about the small hole on top of the elbow??

[Loverotties]

There are a couple different setup that at least one should help,you need to do the search on them and /or someone else mite know some links!

[Fat Tony]

I would recommend Googling for "Hopher Gurgle Buster". It will solve your issue You will need to be a little handy though

[Jadinop]

Sounds like you may have the standard All Glass Megaflow or Perfecto plumbing kit.

The hole drilled into the return 90 degree fitting comes from the factory that way. It's an anti-siphon hole to prevent the return loc-line from draining the tank to far down if it is bent down too far below the surface. You can replace this if you keep your loc-line return close to the top or if you drill another anti-siphon hole somewhere else in the return line plumbing.

The air hole in the top of the drain is also normal. It sounds to me like the problem may be with your drain line under the tank. The flushing sound is common if the drain hose does not slope or drop straight down to the sump. If at some point the hose goes down and then up, you will experience the problem you are having.

[firsthesitation]

You definitely got the perfecto kit, I had the same issue with mine but mine the elbow with the plastic stick was my drain line. I have an external durso and was able to let more air out of the drain pipe by drilling the top of my durso larger. That solved my problem. Pictures of yours by chance? That would help.

[chi6488]

Here is a picure of the return and also the hose under the return. Please excuse the algae, after 1.5 yrs, I am now going to commit to water changes.

I will post pictures next post. I have not posted enough to put pictures

[chi6488]

[Loverotties]

I hope that outlet is GFCI protected.

[Jadinop]

Sorry to say, but you were not given a properly designed drain pipe. The most important factor in building a good "durso" style drain is using larger tubing. The pipe should be 1 1/4" pvc with a reducer at the bottom for the 1" bulkhead.

Here is a link with some easy to follow instructions.
http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

[Jadinop]

If you are not interested in doing a DIY, you can buy just the drain here. By the time you buy the PVC fittings and pipe plus work out all the measurements, it's not much of a savings over just buying it. The Megaflow drain is made very well and it's quiet.

http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aqua.../dp/B000YJ2Q2M

Remember that none of the plumbing in the overflow needs to be glued. It needs to be removable from the bulkheads in case you need to get something out of there. Just push it together fully and it will be fine. Even the return pipe does not need to be glued as the submersible pumps exert very little pressure.

[firsthesitation]

Technically you could make the hole in the top of the pipe larger and it should quiet the noise. But I agree with Jadinop a durso would make you significantly more happy.

[chi6488]

Thanks everyone for your help. I am happy I joined this forum.

I hope I can stay with it to make my tank look good. I just spent another $1500 the past few days so what is another twenty something.

That outlet itself is not but the circuit has a GFCI in it.