The Hand Me Down 75g Upgrade

[saltkreep88]

A few years back I downgraded from a 120 to a 40 breeder due to having kids and long hours at my job. The 40 breeder kept me in the hobby and served it purpose but I ran out of space fast. So with two young kids I built this tank on a crazy small budget. I put this together over the last few months for under $750. Here is the current equipment list:

• 75 gallon corner overflow with black seams
• furniture grade oak stand
• 6x48 ati sunpower
• Super Reef Octopus 1000lss with bubbleblaster
• Aqueon proflex model 3 sump
• BRS GFO reactor
• jebeo RW 8 x 2
• Cheap RIO return (surprisingly quite)

I will add pictures soon.

Joe

 

[saltkreep88]

I need help guys, this setup is LOUD. I am having two issues, the skimmer air intake and the drain piping under the tank. The skimmer has a silencer on it but it still crazy loud, I tried up sizing the silencer to a water bottle but it did not help at all.

Secondly, the return from the bulk head is crazy loud with bubbles, since the tubing a clear I can see that the drain line is barely full and full of air. I was thinking about adding a ball valve on the drain line to help the line to fill up which should quiet it down but might add risk of a flood...

 

[kschweer]

You can try stuffing the silencer with filter floss or even cotton balls to try and quiet it down some. For the drain it's normal for air to be in the pipe. What kind of overflow are you using?

Congrats on the upgrade!!

 

[saltkreep88]

i will try the cotton balls, and it is a standard mega flow, did not alter it at all. I read on another forum about restricting the drain slightly, and when i do manually is does quite it down big time. I just makes it worry about a flood with any restriction on the drain.

 

[kschweer]

I wouldn't risk restricting the drain. I would first try putting a ball valve on the return and turning that down a bit. Next I would make a true durso standpipe to replace the ones that come with the tank. Most people seem to have difficulty with the stock standpipes.

 

[saltkreep88]

thanks, i will dial down the pump first, after reading i am thinking that may be my issue, right now i am at 500 gph through one inch pipe, thinking it is too much. I will look into the durso if this doesnt help, really dont want to do ore plumbing after many trips to lowes to get it going as it sits now haha.

 

[saltkreep88]

anyone have experience with a reverse durso or anything similar?

 

[horseplay]

Look into herbie overflow. Super easy and completely quiet.

 

[saltkreep88]

i cant go herbie on this tank, i don't have a hole for an emergency drain. the overflow box itself is almost silent, all the noise is coming from under the tank from the drain line and the bubbles. I will be putting a reverse durso together for the drain line, I will let you guys know how it works.

 

[saltkreep88]

i really need help guys if anyone is a plumbing expert. Currently running a standard megaflow overflow which is a durso, the overflow box itself is SILENT, no issue there. My issue is a bubbling loud drain pipe to sump. I even built a reverse durso today and it helped but now caused a loud flush every ten seconds or so, so that is not going to work. Does anyone know what i did wrong on the reverse durso, or any other way to quite the bubbles and noise from the drain?

This is the link i used to build it. Reverse Durso Application and Construction

This is my current plumbing with the remote durso:

 

[horseplay]

You can also reduce the return flow. 250 gph is enough. That should help with the noise.

Still herbie would be my choice. Use a pipe outside the overflow box for return. And the two holes in the box for herbie.

 

[saltkreep88]

I am using a jebeo dc 3000 on the lowest setting so should be around 300 with head pressure. And i think I might do the herbie as you suggested.

 

[saltkreep88]

Horseplay I habe NEVER been so impressed in my reefing life!! Now running herbie and my tank is SILENT, no noise at all. Horseplay I owe you big time!!

 

[horseplay]

You're welcome, saltkreep.

 

[saltkreep88]

 

[kschweer]

Nice! What kind of clown is that?

 

[saltkreep88]

A 12 year old extreme misbar. The stripes are different on each side.