Finished sump/fuge

[mott768]

Well, I finished the building the sump, thanks again Mike for cutting the plexi, what does everyone think??? will it work???

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/000_0084.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/000_0082.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/000_0080.jpg

[charile1]

Nice, I'll take one!!:D

[Marcelog]

Should work just fine, although you might consider raising your skimmer pump up a few inches so that is as close to the surface of the water as possible.

Marcelo -

[clord]

You dont need that the valve on the pump just use the controller on the skimmer.

[mott768]

I want to wait one more night for all the silicone to fully cure before doing a test with water. When I hook it up to the tank I'll know better where the water level will be so I can adjust the pump height then. I didn't know you could do without the other valve this is the first time I'm using the coralife skimmer. I originally wanted to use the ASM mini skimmer but it wouldn't fit, eventually I want to upgrade to the ER 80 but that's out of my budget for now.

[michaelm2431]

Is you're tank cycling yet? Mike

[mott768]

Not yet, I did make 50 gallons of ro/di water and have it heated, I just didn't mix the salt in yet. I did get my Live rock from Bernie and have it curing in another tank. After I do the water test in the sump I'll add the live sand and water. I just hope I don't flood the house trying to get the overflow to work, that's the only thing I still have to figure out.

[michaelm2431]

Are you gonna test run the sump tomorrow?

[mott768]

Yup, and keeping my fingers crossed

[kabal2]

very nice looking sump, i hope everything is ok when you test it

[revclyburn]

Can you build me one of those, SOOOWEET, lol

Edwin

[mott768]

Rev,
If it wasn't for Mike I would have never got it built, he was the one who cut the plexi for me :) Well I'm off to do the water test keeping figures, toes, eye's and anything else I can cross crossed....LOL

[mott768]

Well, I did the test run and all the chambers held but I think the mag 9 is going to be to strong and noisy, I guess I'll go with the mag 7 and hope that works better, now to find a 1/2 F X 3/4 M adapter. Plus when I went to test fit everything under the tank the flex tubing I am using is a little on the stiff side for both the SCWD and the overflow box. When I try to get everything in place the output and overflow box shift's so they do not sit level. It never ends. At the rate I'm going I'll never get this tank up and running...

[Marcelog]

Try heating up the flex tubing with a heat gun or hair drier. Should allow you to position/bend it the way you want and make things fit. Although I would suggest you try and use as much regular PVC as you can and minimize the flex tubing.

Keep us updated.

Marcelo -

[mott768]

Thanks Marc, I'll try the hair drier.

[mott768]

Ok, Had a friend come by and plumed the sump for me it works but one major problem is noise, hetried to help but doesn't know anything about sumps. (He's a plumber) I have the lifereef overflow with the silencer but I am getting a loud slash in the sump, I am using the mag 7 for the return and that too is making too much noise. Can someone come by and see what I did wrong? I really need some help. The wife doesn't like how loud it is because this is the room we spend most of our time in. Please someone help....

[scarletknight06]

cut the foam prefilter that came with the mag pump down the side the long way and put it under the mag pump as as some insulation from vibration. also try to use some flexible tubing betweem it and the return plumbing of the tank.

as for the splashing, usually its just from lots of water coming out of the overflow pipe. i am assuming thats the issue, so here's how i solved that noise problem. first see if you can dial the pump back with a ball or gate valve, or extend the drain line from the tank an inch or so into the water of the sump and put a cap on it. put lots of holes or cuts in the pipe an inch below and above the water line. that should minimize splashing.

hope you know what i mean

[mott768]

Thanks for the reply scarlet, Do you have any pictures??

[sinkingbeach]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7018519#post7018519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarletknight06
cut the foam prefilter that came with the mag pump down the side the long way and put it under the mag pump as as some insulation from vibration. also try to use some flexible tubing betweem it and the return plumbing of the tank.



I used an old mouse pad, worked just as good.

[mott768]

Anyone willing to help?????

[revclyburn]

Is the noise caused by vibration or is it just the pump is noisy? And on the splashing, try putting some filter padding in where the water is coming into the sump. It should cut down on some of the noise. In the old days I used to use dsl media in my wet dry. And though is was a magnet for stuff, it sure made them a lot quieter.

Edwin

[mott768]

I tried the foam and put it under the pump that didn't help so I don't know what else to try there. I did put some filter floss under the pipe for the inlet and it would just blow away and get sucked to the skimmer pump. I even put some pipe insulation around the pipe and that didn't help. I am really at wits end here. It's killing me trying to work under the tank so now on top of being aggravated I'm in a ton of pain.

[revclyburn]

Don't be discouraged, I'm looking at something that might work. Is the noise at the pump and the return, where the water comes into the sump? Where exactly is the noise?

edwin

[mott768]

I'm trying not to be but it's hard, I've been trying to get this tank running for over a month now I can only do so much before the pain gets really bad and I have to stop working on the tank. The pump makes a lot a noise it could be vibration not sure. on the inlet side it the gurgling splashing sound that is really loud I have a silencer on the overflow and the noise is coming from the sump end.

[MCWarhammer]

If you want to try Scarlets suggestions, I can grab my trusty dremel and stop at home depot for some caps and extenders and some more pvc if you need them, and we can give that a shot. If theres anything I can do, let me know.

(off topic.. but the lights I bought from you look great so far, and the seios seem to produce good flow, but seem a bit noiser than my mj's and other powerheads I've used. Thanks a bunch)

[mott768]

Thanks bill, the only thing I would need is a 1" cap, I was hoping he would have posted pictures so I could see exactly what he meant. I don't want to screw this up anymore than I already have.

I just ordered another set for mine I'll just have to grind or somehow cut the legs down. I have the same pumps in my 46, how do you have the set up? like tunze style or the other way? You should only hear very little noise when standing by the tank. Try lowering the pumps deeper in the water that should help.

[MCWarhammer]

I can grab you the caps. If we get pics, we can give it a shot, just let me know if you need my help.

You ordered another set of the Tek lights? I'm looking to see how everyone has compared the coralife bulbs to the others I've read about.

I have both set up tunze style for now. It sounds like some sort of internal vibration or something. I'm going to play with them tomorrow, maybe something is loose and it just needs a tightening to quiet them up. I have to see if its one pump, or both thats making the noise. But I'll save it for tomorrow.

[Marcelog]

Is your plumbing going to the sump a straight shot down? They typically tend to make more "noise" as the water picks up speed and traps air going down. A few gentle bends in the plumbing typically helps to cut that noise down.

If that still makes too much noise for you, you can try adding an elbow and a tee so that the water travels perpendicular to the water in the sump for a little bit. The tee is at the end in a way that lets air go out the top, and water out the bottom.

Not sure I can help with the pump noise, without knowing what exactly is causing the noise. Could it be there is air trapped by the impeller?

Marcelo -

[scarletknight06]

mott, sorry i dont have any pics. but if you look around at people's tank threads you should see what i'm talking about.

[mott768]

Here is a shot of how I have it set up, the reason the return is tilted is because I put the foam under it.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0266.jpg

[mott768]

Bill,
I appreciate the offer, I think just the 1" cap is all I need, I have some extra pipe and some fittings. I might need a coupling maybe get one of them too just in case. I tried to find some pic of what he was talking about but every pic I find is the same the pipe just comes down into the sump like I have mine setup. So I still not sure what size or how many holes to make.

[scarletknight06]

ok, well you need to figure out if the noise is from vibration from the pump or if its splashing of the water from the overflow. quite different noises so it shouldnt be hard to tell.

if its the pump just make sure its not touching any of the sides, and if so put some kind of insulation on it (foam, mousepad, etc). or take it apart to make sure something isnt stuck in the impeller. runnning it in vinegar for a while couldnt hurt.

if its water splashing, just throttle back the pump a little ( i see you have a ball valve after it) and that might be all you need to do. or you can do what i suggested earlier. or like marcelo suggested dont have the water enter the sump from straight down, try a 45 elbow or something

HTH

[MCWarhammer]

45 elbow with a spray bar might work.. I remember seeing this on someones tank, let me look for the link..

[MCWarhammer]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=662150&perpage=25&pagenumber=4

Found it.. I'm not sure if this would be quiter if submerged.. or if you have the room, but its an idea.

[scarletknight06]

looks like that would work great. i think i remember seeing something like that on steve68's tank

[mott768]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7022234#post7022234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scarletknight06
ok, well you need to figure out if the noise is from vibration from the pump or if its splashing of the water from the overflow. quite different noises so it shouldnt be hard to tell.

if its the pump just make sure its not touching any of the sides, and if so put some kind of insulation on it (foam, mousepad, etc). or take it apart to make sure something isnt stuck in the impeller. runnning it in vinegar for a while couldnt hurt.

if its water splashing, just throttle back the pump a little ( i see you have a ball valve after it) and that might be all you need to do. or you can do what i suggested earlier. or like marcelo suggested dont have the water enter the sump from straight down, try a 45 elbow or something

HTH

I get noise from both I get the real bad splashing and a loud hum from the return pump. I tried messing with the valve but the noise from the pump gets worse and it doesn't help the slashing all that much. I have a pic posted of how it is plumb 45's were used. If the spray bar is out of the water how does it create the siphon?

[MCWarhammer]

that spray bar is out of the water, but I was thinking for you to have it submerged.. should be quieter that way, especially if sprays down deeper into the water.. even though that pic is not submerged, just showed for reference..

i'venever used an overflow similar to yours.. the tank i showed above is using overflow drains, and so is my current tank.. I designed mine off of his. they dont use siphons.. but we can play with it. we'll figure something out :-)

[scarletknight06]

i think if you put it fully submerged you'll have back pressure on the drain line which cause a few problems. i think ideal placement is just above the water line.

[MCWarhammer]

oh really... hmm.. I figured fully submerged would be a lot quieter.. we'll give that a shot though.. maybe we should just install sound proofing material in the stand :-D heh

[mott768]

Ok found one problem I'm going to remove the scwd it seems that may be causing a lot of the splashing, it seems every time is switches current I get a loud swoosh sound and a ton of bubbles in the sump. I think I'm also going to down grade the mag 7 to a mag 5.

[MCWarhammer]

alright, let me know how that goes

[mott768]

I hope it works this is a big pain in the butt....I should have just used the hang on back fuge.....I would have been do weeks ago.

[MCWarhammer]

yea, thats what I'm doing. I just gotta come up with a lid for the light at night, since its in my bed room.

[michaelm2431]

Did you fix it? Mike

[mott768]

No not yet, it's been a rough day, I did get the live rock in the tank and it's weird the noise level went down on the overflow side, still have a bad hum from the pump tho, I'll probably switch to the mag 5 and remove the scwd on Sunday.

[mott768]

Ok here's some pic's what does everyone think? I will be redoing the rock layout just wanted to get it in the tank for now. and no the tank isn't lopsided just I am holding the camera.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0267.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0268.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0270.jpg

[MCWarhammer]

lookin good! I see the sand and what not has settled.. sound still getting better or what?

[mott768]

I can finally see inside the tank now..lol I need to do some work on the rock layout. That's what happens when you put rock in the tank and can't see what your doing. The splashing is a lot better but the hum from the pump isn't. I think once I change it to the mag 5 it will be better. At least I hope it will.

[mott768]

finally DONE!!!!

Here's some pic's

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0275.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0271.jpg

My tiny fan's
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/mott768/100_0273.jpg

[MCWarhammer]

looks good, I'll have to come over and check it out soon :-)

[mott768]

Bill, I thought you were coming by last night??? Let me know when you want to stop over.

[MCWarhammer]

I just sent you an e-mail about that, sorry. I ended up being out later than I expected. Maybe I can swing by tonight for a bit after work.

[mott768]

Ok let me know, I have to find a place to get the bio spira, I was thinking of going to Aqua Oceans tonight and see if he has it.

[MCWarhammer]

I dont know if you got my e-mail, but Pet Asylum in brick has it, 26 bucks i think it was.