Noise

Basic Noise Troubleshooting

Due to hundreds of different aquarium plumbing setups, pumps, sumps, ect, Synergy Reef DOES NOT Provide specific tuning assistance with this overflow. We can provide basic installation assistance, but setup and tuning to your aquarium is up to you. This can be done by anyone as long as you take the time to properly setup your system. Proper plumbing of the overflow to the sump also plays a big part in turning the overflow, not just the internal plumbing. If you are not capable of doing this, please hire a professional to do so.

There are many reasons for noise with any overflow system. Every system is going to be slightly different due to various factors in your design, flow and installation of the plumbing. While we would love to have a blanket answer for everyone's setup, that just isn't the case. You will need to look at your system and evaluate what may be causing the noise in your system.

Here are some important things to look for in your setup to begin troubleshooting:

• Trickling noise in the front box can be cause by improper external box pipe lengths. The water level in the rear box should be over the incoming bulkheads to raise the water level as high as possible in the rear box. Low water level can cause excessive noise in the front box.

  • Check you internal pipe lengths and make sure they are set properly for your flow rates. Different rates will require different pipe lengths.

• Was the proper gate valve used? Do not use a ball valve, only use a gate valve to properly tune the overflow.

• Are your sump drain pipes submerged under water? They need to be submerged and small slits cut into them just below the water surface.

• Are there any internal flow pumps in the aquarium or are your returns pointed at the surface of the water?

  • If so, are they pointed at the overflow front weir or disrupting the water surface? This will introduce noise into the front weir.

    • Try angling the flow pumps away from or down away from the surface in your aquarium.

    • Our V3 Front Weir plate can help eliminate the noise produced by these pumps, but the flow should be redirected first.

    • If you have a V2 overflow you can upgrade the front box to the V3 with this plate. Contact us for more information.

• How long has the aquarium been running?

  • New setups will have some initial noise. Don't chase the noise. This is due to the pipes of the system being new. Overtime a biological slime will build up on the inside of the overflow components and the inside of the pipes of the system. This can take up to a few months depending on the system type.

• What is your flow rate of the Pump to your tank? Are you running a over 2500 GPH? Try reducing the flow rate.

See Basic Tuning Approach for more details on reducing noise.