3155 Pump making noise

[kenman345]

Hello everyone

I recently (this week) upgraded my 4.5G container for my ATO reservoir to a 20G XH tank. Now, I haven't filled the tank 100% while I work out the new spacing for it and my other equipment, but I have found that my pump now needs to be fully submerged in water to pull up water and it is also being quite loud. I normally only heard it this loud if it wasnt in enough water to pump anything.

I think it may be in part due to the containers. I went from a plastic nothing to a glass large tank. Surely vibrations can play a role in the problem. I was wondering though if anyone has any suggestions for me about my issue and/or if it just sounds like a bad metering pump.

 

[Macca_75]

Make sure it's suspended and not sitting on the bottom.

 

[rvitko]

Noise is likely due to it resting on the hard surface, suspending it by the cord will help. As far as not pumping unless fully submerged, that is odd and it may just be some air in the pump due to being moved. I would tip it upside down to let out any air.

 

[kenman345]

Noise is likely due to it resting on the hard surface, suspending it by the cord will help. As far as not pumping unless fully submerged, that is odd and it may just be some air in the pump due to being moved. I would tip it upside down to let out any air.

Tipped it upside down, no air came out but I definitely did not do that before when i had moved it. It is currently dangling but i think it maybe just hitting the side of the tank. I plan to fully submerge it and then attach the top to a bit of styrofoam that'll make sure it is always floating and upright. If it's loud after that, I might need to put something underneath it to remove the tank from vibrating

 

[rvitko]

The best sound deadening method I have found is to wrap some of the pipe insulation wrap you can find at any hardware store around the pump. You don't want it to float as it needs to take in water, so the denser foam type works best and just enough to wrap the bottom so their is no contact with a hardsurface, yet no intake obstruction and no bouyancy.

 

[kenman345]

recommend a brand or things to look for to make sure its fish safe?

 

[rvitko]

I have personally just used the pipe wrap they sell at Lowes, they come in 4ft long sections. I cannot say absolutely it is safe, my home tank is freshwater, but I keep fairly exotic and expensive freshwater fish and have had no ill effects. Rarely are modern consumer plastics toxic, most of the chemicals that escape from plastics are not water soluble so they would just vent to the atmosphere and not accumulate in water.