Plumbing help

[MatthewScars]

I set up my 40g cube recently. Its all working fine except the noise in the drain is pretty loud. I have a Mag7 running unrestricted as the return. The tank has 2x 1.5" bulk heads on it (drain/return). Seems overkill, but i didnt design it. Here is my current drain setup:

It seems all the noise is being generated at that first 45 degree joint. The 1.5" pvc seems to be WAY to big as the water isnt filling the tube and im assuming that is part of the noise.

Whats the best way to fix this? I was thinking a 1.5MPT x 1 slip socket, 1" slip elbow and some flex PVC. The slope of the PVC will eliminate the sound of free falling water, i think? There is no issue with the return, as it uses 1" tubing all the way to the bulk head.

Any suggestions to efficiently quiet this out-side-the-tank plumbing would be great.

 

[stage3-S4]

well the first thing is, you need to have some sort of vent on your drain. Without a vent, it will always be very noisy and never really drain properly. Best way to do this is to drill a small hole in the 90 degree fitting and put a piece of rigid air tubing in there with some silicone.

You don't need to change the ID of the pipe, just add a gate valve in there so you can adjust the drain flow if its an issue.

 

[MatthewScars]

There is a hole on the drain at the top of the drain on the cap.

Like this: http://www.randystacye.com/images/dursostandpipe/dursos2.gif

This isn't enough?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

1.5" on a 40gal is too much for normal use. There is a lot of extra room for the water to splash around inside as it drains. 1" drains are the norm for smaller tanks and will cover your needs fine. You can always reduce it at the BH and go from there, that should reduce the noise.

Makine the return 1.5" is just going to kill the flow into the tank. All of that extra space is allowing for turbulence and you won't get the same velocity out of it. It doesn't make any sense unless someone was trying to build a jacuzzi for their chihuahua. Return should have been 3/4" all the way since that's what the pump outlet is.

 

[nycmat]

matt- i think your trying to create a massive turnover by making large drains that isnt neccessary if you get a large or well operating skimmer. just my 2 cents here, not looking for a pissing contest either. if i was u, i would reduce to 1 inch drain and a 3/4 return and get a beast to have a lot of contact time for turnover purposes. good luck with it

 

[stage3-S4]

1.5" on a 40gal is too much for normal use. There is a lot of extra room for the water to splash around inside as it drains. 1" drains are the norm for smaller tanks and will cover your needs fine. You can always reduce it at the BH and go from there, that should reduce the noise.

Makine the return 1.5" is just going to kill the flow into the tank. All of that extra space is allowing for turbulence and you won't get the same velocity out of it. It doesn't make any sense unless someone was trying to build a jacuzzi for their chihuahua. Return should have been 3/4" all the way since that's what the pump outlet is.

I agree, it should have been a 1inch drain with a 3/4 inch return. I think a 1 inch drain is good up to like 500 gph which is plenty for a 40 gallon tank. Best bet is to just redo your plumbing. Got to home depot and get some fittings and pipe. Costs you maybe 15-20 bucks if that.

 

[MatthewScars]

The return is 3/4 inch tubing, i misspoke. but at the bulk head it goes 3/4 -> 1.5 -> 3/4. Like i said, I dont know why they did that, but the return works pretty well.

Ok, I guess ill rebuild the drain with "1.5 BH -> 1.5MPT x 1 slip socket, 1" slip elbow and some flex PVC" as I planned.

I went with 1.5" because Home Depot and all the local places didnt have a 1.5" to a 1" reducer. But I totally agree with your opinion, matt.