Can a sump be quiet?

Hello, I have been researching a sump/fuge design for weeks now and have just begun to scratch the surface of what i want to do.

My question is on how loud a properly designed/installed sump system is. I am planning on using 2 ten gallon tanks under my 55. I know there are a ton of factors that come into play with noise level, i am just curious on how it will compare to how loud my current system is. I have an AquaC remora skimmer (with wet paper towels over the injector) and an emperor hang on filter (Bio wheel removed and spray bar capped). The tank is in my living room and I would not be "allowed" to have the tank any louder.

any info would be great, and thanks for all the info i have already recived from this forum.

 

For every sump there is a recipe for near silent opration. A good start will be to plumb your overflow line to go all the way into the water. A good quiet return pump will also be key. I use a Rio pump and have never heard a peep out of it.

 

the primary noise from my system comes from the pumps and the overflow. For a silent and failsafe overflow, check out BeanAnimal's Bar and Grill - Silent and Fail-Safe Overflow System

For pumps, make sure you check the decibel level if you can get it before you buy. Not always the easiest to find, but that's what good LFS and sponsors can help you with. I've been using Sequence Reeflos for my return pumps and have been extremely happy with them.

Don't forget about other pumps in your system, like protein skimmer, gfo/carbon filters, etc.

 

I haven't figured out how to keep my skimmer quite, but as far a sump and drain, 100% silent. no joke. I'm running a herbie style overflow, basic prinsipal is to use a gate valve on the drain line to be sure the overflow pipe is always under water level in the overflow box, thus there is no air to splash into your sump. Works perfect. Only thing I hear is my reletively loud mag 9.5 but not too bad at all. Now skimmer is another story. I run an ASM G2 on a 65 gallon tank, and the air intake tube is pretty loud.

 

the only noise from my tank is the water coming back off the skimmer and hitting the water in the sump, that can even be eliminated by some additional plumbing, also where the water comes down out of the tank you can use 90 degree turns so the water is hitting the side glass/acrylic and running down that more quietly also, just takes some creative thinking to get them quiet but it is very possible

 

sounds good enough for me. once i get some design pics drawn up ill post them to get some feedback. Thanks

 

The easiest/best way to make the sump silent is to use the Herbie method or the BeanAnimal design (linked earlier I believe) which utilize full siphon drains so the drain is completely silent. Then you just need quiet pumps.

 

how will a siphon type overflow (cant/don't have the guts to drill my tank) affect my range of options to keep the overflow quiet? i am looking at a U tube type siphon like the eshopps.

the only reason i don't want to drill my tank is because its already set up, cycled, and stocked with 4 fish. if anyone knows of a "fool-proof" method of drilling a working tank i might consider trying.

 

I have the same overflow you are considering, its pretty quite. I made durso stand pipe to make it even quiter though. Very easy to build.

Durso Standpipes

 

my skimmer is as loud as a chain saw.

So until i get a different skimmer... for me the answer is no

for you i think there is hope