1073.040 noise issue

[VJV]

Hi, I just bought a 1073.040 pump for my return as the previous one I had (Eheim compact+ 3000) was a bit to loud for my taste. I already have a 1073.008 which is dead silent (and one reason why I went for the 1073.040) so I was really surprised to find out that the 1073.040 is louder than the Eheim!

While the Eheim does a low level hum that is noticeable whe. The room is silent, the Tunze makes a slightly higher pitched and louder hum that is much more intrusive. I let it set for 2 weeks hopping it would quite down but it did not.

It is much louder than the 1073.008 and significantly louder than the Eheim compact 3000+.

Is this normal? What can I do?

 

[rvitko]

The 1073.040 uses a rare earth magnet impeller, the stronger pull results in more noise and generally noise will be proportional to the volume of flow a pump produces, very small pumps like the 1073.008 will be generally much quieter due to the smaller rotating mass. The keys to keeping it as quiet as possible are avoiding hard surface contact, use the suction cup feet and keep the sides of the pump away from the walls of the sump and if you are using hard pipe, use a short length of tubing between the pump and pipe to reduce noise transfer. The 1073.040 should be equal in noise to equivalent quality pumps producing about 800 gph, such as an Eheim 1260, I have no experience with the Eheim Compact 3000+ but from reviewing the specs, the wattage is much higher so I assume they use a ferrite drive magnet and a much stronger motor coil, this would reduce the noise some but at the cost of much higher power consumption over using a rare earth impeller.

 

[VJV]

Thanks for the detailed reply and for taking the time to look at the specs of my pump! I have the suction cups on and it is not touching the walls. I. Is also connected to 19mm Eheim hose, so no hard plumbing here.

I guess I got used to the rest of Tunze tea I have being almost completely silent

I have a pair of turbelle 6095s and I can no hear them at all!!! I also have in a QT a 9006 skimmer and a large Tunze filter and again, very low noise. After the 1073.008 I had high hopes for this one I guess.

It seems that my quest for a silent return pump will force me to spend much more than I hoped... (Red Dragon...)

Would you say that a 1073.050 would be quieter being a DC?

 

[rvitko]

The 1073.050 has the same rare earth magnet, it has a larger impeller blade, but it spins at a slower speed. In general I would consider both to be quiet enough that they would not be heard from within a cabinet over the splash and noise of other equipment. I think the noise would be roughly equal with the 1073.050 running at maximum speed.

 

[VJV]

Thanks again. I have zero splashing noise as the drain from the overflow to the sump exits underwater. In fact, the whole overflow is completely silent. This is a Eheim Incpiria Marine tank and I am very happy with it on the noise front. The only noise I have is the return pump and the skimmer. The skimmer noise is mostly gone with the cabinet doors closed (Deltec SC1455) but the return is louder and the low end hum is clearly heard.

 

[rvitko]

It might be possible to quiet the pump further by increasing the distance from any nearby glass walls and placing a rubber pad under the pump.

 

[VJV]

Thanks! I will try it! Also just received a 6020 Turbelle for my QT. I am getting addicted to Tunze stuff .

 

[rvitko]

Thank you!