The overflows in the sump have started making noise, I think this is in the media boxes and is basically just water splashing as it comes into the top box. I put 90 degree elbows on the bottom of the bulkheads to try to get the water to spread out more evenly in the box, but I think all the stuff I put in the top media box (poret foam, bio-balls, other random crap for bacteria to colonize) has just started to accumulate enough junk in it now to be a little less free for water to flow through.
The result is that water splashes a bit in the top box making noise. I tried to fix this with a short piece of PVC with holes drilled into it, but that didn't really help. Over the weekend I think I will try a long piece-the length of the box-with lots of holes to try and let the water gently get into the media.
Alternatively, I think a trough in the bos that let's the water exit into a water filled "trough" then overflow out of that might work. Trouble is I am not quite sure what to use for that...
The Eheim 1262 pumps are somewhat variable in how much noise they make. The main noise source is vibration. Right now they are sitting on 2" thick Poret foam which helps a lot. I have some 5mm neoprene that I am going to try. I figure 20-25mm of neoprene might be quiet. As a bonus it will let the pumps sit lower in the sump making them less vulnerable to evaporation.
Finally, we need to get tops for the sumps made. I will probably get 1/4" thich glass tops, which is pretty thick but it means they are really strong and will insulate a bit better. This should help with temperature and evaporation (and maybe reduce noise even more :).
We added some 3/8" closed cell soundproofing found to the doors and sides of hte sump, which has cut down on noise some. We should get some mass loaded vinyl which I am going to use as a curtain across the open back of the sump to hopefully keep more pump and water noise in the sump. One concern is condensation inside the stand, but I think there will still be enough opening to keep that form being too serious and getting tops on the sumps will help as well.
Neoprene on its own is worse than the Poret foam. A layer of neoprene under the Poret foam may be an improvement. This seems the best. I think the goal is to "disconnect" the pumps from the tank as much as possible and the extra layer of neoprene under the foam seems to do that better. The slightly buoyant neoprene also probably helps here.
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