16” Shadow Overflow - Noise when pushing Flow

[behold81]

i know this has been mentioned before but I am at a loss. I have tried all sorts. But the minute I pure any heavy flow through the system the overflow is noisy. I have it running quite high over the outlets to the back box and it still sounds like a small waterfall.

To run it much higher will be over the emergency drain. I have about half a cm of the overflow

What do I do?? How can I quiet this down? Any help appreciated.

Video I can’t upload.

 

[dugthefish]

Can you raise the emergency drain? No experience with that particular overflow, but I know my reef ready corner overflows were noisy with water falling over the weirs. Raised the emergency drains up 3/4" and solved the problem.

 

[Sean1986]

Has three drains right? check how far under the water your main two lines are. If they are more then 2 inchs in the water you may need to cut them shorter. Also are you using a gate valve or a ball valve?

 

[ca1ore]

I’ve not used the shadow, but is the external box lower than the internal skim box? If so, this is a design ‘flaw’ in my opinion, especially if you are approaching the maximum flow of the unit. More flow means that the equilibrium water level in the display is higher on the overflow teeth, thus has farther to fall inside the skim box. Unless you can raise the water level inside the skim box, there’s no way I’ve found to reduce the water falling sound. If the external box is at the same level as the skim box, then you have more bandwidth to raise the water level. May still make some noise, but much less.

 

[ca1ore]

Went and looked. Lots of things to like about this overflow, but I much prefer the internal and external boxes to sit at the same level. I understand that tank rims get in the way, but some kind of indent would seem to be a better answer. If you have a trim less tank as I do, there are better options IMO.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Welcome to the club.

Exotic marine custom built me an overflow to fit in the holes I drilled for my shadow. It works flawlessly and was the only solution I found to my very loud shadow.

 

[AtlCPA]

Mine is not loud, but it drains just about fully in drain 1 and 2. Only the emergency left

 

[Jimbo662]

I've dealt with the same issue with my Planet Aquariums Tideline overflow. I finally accepted the fact that I've got slow the return pump down and reduce turnover in the tank. I tried every which way I could to get quiet...finally just gave in! :-)

 

[ca1ore]

FWIW, I don’t like the way the emergency is implemented in any of these overflows. IMO it should be a baffle at one end of the external box close to the top edge. I modified my Modular Marine unit thusly. Without it, anything above about half capacity was noisy.

 

[NaH20nerd]

I've dealt with the same issue with my Planet Aquariums Tideline overflow. I finally accepted the fact that I've got slow the return pump down and reduce turnover in the tank. I tried every which way I could to get quiet...finally just gave in! :-)

Would love to see some pics of your tank. I have Planet Aquarium with Tideline on a 65 gallon I’m going to be setting up soon.

 

[rushbattle]

I’ve not used the shadow, but is the external box lower than the internal skim box? If so, this is a design ‘flaw’ in my opinion, especially if you are approaching the maximum flow of the unit. More flow means that the equilibrium water level in the display is higher on the overflow teeth, thus has farther to fall inside the skim box. Unless you can raise the water level inside the skim box, there’s no way I’ve found to reduce the water falling sound. If the external box is at the same level as the skim box, then you have more bandwidth to raise the water level. May still make some noise, but much less.

This is exactly it. And he tries to hide this reality by restricting the trickle drain to raise the water level to the emergency height when displaying in public. Then it is quiet, but the water level is super close to overflowing the external box. And it still makes some waterfall noise. That's at best a disingenuous trick. I believe it is a total junk design, and I own one so I have extensive experience with the design. Others seem to get grief from the mods or others in the community when they point this out, but it's just the reality. Other manufacturers like MM and EM, etc, don't have this problem and can be nearly totally silent and retain the redundancy inherent in the Bean Animal design. Per BA promise to his wife to keep the floors dry.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

This is exactly it. And he tries to hide this reality by restricting the trickle drain to raise the water level to the emergency height when displaying in public. Then it is quiet, but the water level is super close to overflowing the external box. And it still makes some waterfall noise. That's at best a disingenuous trick. I believe it is a total junk design, and I own one so I have extensive experience with the design. Others seem to get grief from the mods or others in the community when they point this out, but it's just the reality. Other manufacturers like MM and EM, etc, don't have this problem and can be nearly totally silent and retain the redundancy inherent in the Bean Animal design. Per BA promise to his wife to keep the floors dry.

All true.

He also runs 200gph max in his demos and videos.

 

[cracker]

any way to loosen the bulkheads & slide the inner box down or the external box up? Also somebody mentioned he depth of the siphon drain. Can't be too deep or too ashallow . Mine runs almost silent & the external box is very close to over flow !

 

[Smprc]

Man, I struggled with this forever. Mine finally quieted down. First of all, how much turbulence do you have near the actually overflow in the tank. If you have powerheads or the return lines near the overflow that could create the water turbulence that will make this thing super noisy. Secondly, the line that goes into your sump...how deep into your sump is it? I found that when I added a bit more back pressure by extending the pipe that goes into my sump that also helped quite it a bit. Trust me if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have gotten this overflow. But like I said, mine is now silent, not quiet, but actually silent, I will attribute some of that to the return pump flow slowing down over the months as its probably dirty and what not and I have not cleaned it since I got the tank wet this past January. Another thing that happens is a lot of salt creep because of the water turbulence in the outside box. Good luck!

 

[Erica-Renee]

This is exactly it. And he tries to hide this reality by restricting the trickle drain to raise the water level to the emergency height when displaying in public. Then it is quiet, but the water level is super close to overflowing the external box. And it still makes some waterfall noise. That's at best a disingenuous trick. I believe it is a total junk design, and I own one so I have extensive experience with the design. Others seem to get grief from the mods or others in the community when they point this out, but it's just the reality. Other manufacturers like MM and EM, etc, don't have this problem and can be nearly totally silent and retain the redundancy inherent in the Bean Animal design. Per BA promise to his wife to keep the floors dry.

I Have a extensive post about my Research in over flow testing and what i have found to be the issue in my Build thread and a Conversation i had with them about it , Of course there Conclusion was its my Plumbing design. The Weir cutting is the biggest issue. OF Course this is MY Opinion..

Had i not had to glue it in i would send it back.... I think it would work ok up to about 1200 gph

 

[rushbattle]

All true.

He also runs 200gph max in his demos and videos.

Lol. Based on the water height over the weir compared to my testing, I can support your assertion.

 

[rushbattle]

I Have a extensive post about my Research in over flow testing and what i have found to be the issue in my Build thread and a Conversation i had with them about it , Of course there Conclusion was its my Plumbing design. The Weir cutting is the biggest issue. OF Course this is MY Opinion..

Had i not had to glue it in i would send it back.... I think it would work ok up to about 1200 gph

When in danger, blame your customers!

The overflow can move a bunch of water. I was pushing over 1800gph, and it handled it no problem. Would handle a good bit more for sure.

 

[ca1ore]

I know that for my next, currently undetermined, build I’ll be making my own. Maybe not the internal skim box, but definitely the external box.

 

[behold81]

Before I respond to you all. some general response.

I have no pelmet on the tank so outside edge is not an issue. inside the overflow is about .5 from the brace so I can just remove the comb and still maintain a water level above my tape line. I am worried that I can't raise my 2nd drain any higher as it would never actually siphon as the emergency would kick in by then. I think its already about 2-3mm higher. I did think about making this an open pipe and just have it lightly trickle in similar to many designs. it might be noisy thought. (although less noise I would guess than the current situation) I will post a vid on youtube in a bit.
All 3 drains are 1.5inch straight through in to 2 x 45's to get in to the sump. no right angles. more flow has made these silent unlike the low flow I used to have on poor pumps.

Can you raise the emergency drain? No experience with that particular overflow, but I know my reef ready corner overflows were noisy with water falling over the weirs. Raised the emergency drains up 3/4" and solved the problem.

Not really Its quite close see my vid in a second

Has three drains right? check how far under the water your main two lines are. If they are more then 2 inchs in the water you may need to cut them shorter. Also are you using a gate valve or a ball valve?

Not sure what you mean if they are more than 2 inches in make them shorter?? you mean longer right? I am using a gate valve and i have tried the adjustments but its set and maintains a very fine trickle on the secondary. Im not even fully open yet on the first drain. I would like to up the flow even more but I don't want my own Niagara in the house!

Welcome to the club.

Exotic marine custom built me an overflow to fit in the holes I drilled for my shadow. It works flawlessly and was the only solution I found to my very loud shadow.

Thanks I have been on here for about 6 months. not posted alot as I have been very busy. I like this idea. its a cost I shouldn't need. but I guess I could just have the rear redone to be higher to the same spec. reuse the inner box that looks great and really just hides in the background. that way I can run maybe a larger weir. keep it all the same just taller. Do you have a pic of yours?

Mine is not loud, but it drains just about fully in drain 1 and 2. Only the emergency left

I've dealt with the same issue with my Planet Aquariums Tideline overflow. I finally accepted the fact that I've got slow the return pump down and reduce turnover in the tank. I tried every which way I could to get quiet...finally just gave in! :)

I am not sure this is an option for me. I need the flow really to get the sump turn over as I run Triton.

FWIW, I don’t like the way the emergency is implemented in any of these overflows. IMO it should be a baffle at one end of the external box close to the top edge. I modified my Modular Marine unit thusly. Without it, anything above about half capacity was noisy.

What is it you do not like on the Emergency? i have found that it can drain ALOT of water fast. thats not the issue and I have little doubt that if it ever got right near the top of the box and hit the emergency it would cope fine.
As to the baffle do you have a pic of what you have done?

any way to loosen the bulkheads & slide the inner box down or the external box up? Also somebody mentioned he depth of the siphon drain. Can't be too deep or too ashallow . Mine runs almost silent & the external box is very close to over flow !

Not really. I had to silicone mine in place as my glass is painted and its not the best seal on the outside. but even then the overflow and box are quite tight tolerances so there is little adjustment. only my tank holes have a bit of room to move.

Man, I struggled with this forever. Mine finally quieted down. First of all, how much turbulence do you have near the actually overflow in the tank. If you have powerheads or the return lines near the overflow that could create the water turbulence that will make this thing super noisy. Secondly, the line that goes into your sump...how deep into your sump is it? I found that when I added a bit more back pressure by extending the pipe that goes into my sump that also helped quite it a bit. Trust me if I had to do it over again, I wouldn't have gotten this overflow. But like I said, mine is now silent, not quiet, but actually silent, I will attribute some of that to the return pump flow slowing down over the months as its probably dirty and what not and I have not cleaned it since I got the tank wet this past January. Another thing that happens is a lot of salt creep because of the water turbulence in the outside box. Good luck!

I have a bit of turbulence but how else do I get the break in the surface for oxygenation? But then before I upped the flow I has the same turbulence if not more. I go about 1 inch in to my sump. I found deeper it would get nosier. Although I'm about to plumb it in to a Auto Floss Roller soon so will be much lower. As to salt creep. I do get a crusting around the lid but it says inside as the lid is quite a tight fit.

I Have a extensive post about my Research in over flow testing and what i have found to be the issue in my Build thread and a Conversation i had with them about it , Of course there Conclusion was its my Plumbing design. The Weir cutting is the biggest issue. OF Course this is MY Opinion..

Had i not had to glue it in i would send it back.... I think it would work ok up to about 1200 gph

I have seen this thread. I am trying not to bash the solution but I get it might not be flawless! I am not up to 1200 yet. (Assuming one siphon at full open is about this) I would say I am about 800GPH I want to get up to 1200.

I know that for my next, currently undetermined, build I’ll be making my own. Maybe not the internal skim box, but definitely the external box.

Which internal will you get?

 

[behold81]

Link to my video.