To much flow for my drains or not enough flow?

Hello Everyone,

I finally got my 75 gallon sump built for my new 180 gallon duel overflow tank. I ended up getting two mag drive 7's as my return pumps and I bought the aqueon overflow kits.

Everything seems to be working ok (I think as this is my first attempt at using a sump) but my drains are so loud going into the sump (about 4 inches into the water and no filter socks). It looked like a hot tub turned all the way up and every three seconds or so I get a big air bubble come through.

I tried to run a sideways T and then run a 90 and a pipe back to the surface to see if that would help air escape. It did help some and did almost elimate the issue with one of my drains, but I am still getting the flushing sound in one of my overflows. I also noticed that the water level on that overflow is going up and down alot more than the other overflow.

I tried to unplug one of my return pumps and the noise seemed to quiet down alot. I am pretty sure it is just because there is alot less flow in the tank.
Would it be a good idea to just eliminate one of my pumps or would that not be nearly enough flow for my tank?

I am planning on doing a FOLWR tank if that makes a difference?

Thanks for any help you can give me. I heard sumps can be loud, but this is beyond loud.
I am missing my quiet canister filter noise .

 

Flow isn't a concern in a FOWLR tank besides keeping detritus off the sand and giving your fish what I like to call a treadmill effect. You shouldn't use two pumps, you should only use one that's appropriately rated for your drains.

 

First, are you using low-noise standpipes (Durso, Stockman, etc)? If so, they aren't properly tuned (vented). IME, Durso-type standpipes work well, and are pretty easy to DIY.

If you aren't using any of these, there are ways you can still usually hush them up, but it's not as easy to do, and generally needs to be re-done every so often.

I agree with Devin, there's no reason to use two return pumps at all. It should simply be treated the same as if you only have one overflow dumping into the same sump. Using two pumps, esp. two larger Mags will heat your water up more than a single pump, for one thing. You also have twice the pump noise and vibration to deal with.

We're exclusively FOWLR at our place, and the amount of flow you need is dependent upon what you keep, but the general rule of thumb is to try and avoid too many dead spots. I still find randomizing the flow is better than constant laminar flow.

 

Thanks for the replies.
I was told by several people and my LFS that it is better to go with two smaller mag drives instead of one larger one just incase one does happen to quit working, I would still have a pump flowing water.
I think I have the Durso stand pipes. I have the megaflow kits installed that are designed to go with my overflows.
How do you tune them in? I know the height of the drain pipe can be adjusted up or down. I moved it a few inches lower, but I was still getting the flushing sound. They are currently about 2 inches from the top of my overflow per the directions.

 

Do you have a vent hose tapped into the top of your pipe? Take some pictures of your overflow piping and go from there.

 

The flushing comes from the return flow being too high for the overflows. That is why it quieted down when you were using only one pump.

 

I could by wrong but it could either be too much water or not enough air, right?

 

Here is a picture of one overflow

 

Here is another one.

 

Before making any major modifications, I would try drilling another small hole in that cap and step up the bit size to see if it quiets down.