How might I reduce bass vibration transfer?

[zachfishman]

Now that I work at an aquarium and I don't have to worry about where my animals go at the end of the school year, I will be setting up a 10 gallon nano in my dorm room. The thing is, there is a good probability that one of our neighbors will have a nice stereo system with decent bass. Bass carries and I envision my corals being bothered on weekend nights. Is there an easy way to reduce the amount of bass vibration carried to my tank? There won't be much to begin with (not Jurassic Park stomps), but I'm sure minor vibrations would agitate sensitive coral. Styrofoam maybe? I won't be able to convince drunken classmates to turn it down because "my corals are sensitive."

 

[GreshamH]

Heh, my sound studio shared the same room as my tank for many years. No problem with my fish or corals with bass

 

[BONDQ]

Hi there,

For your tank & corals, the best way to reduce vibration would be via isolation to reduce bass transfer by touch or vibration from nearby materials.

In the case of your aquarium, it would be to islolate it from the stand. You would best do this by using a sorbothane sheet or similar rubber isolator under the tank.
Sorbothane is superior, as it has superior isolation characteristics. By isolating the tank from the vibration from the stand, it will reduce internal vibration and sound transfer to the water.

 

[zachfishman]

Where might I get sorbothane? Cost? How about a rubber mat?

 

[BONDQ]

Go to Audioquest's website:

www.audioquest.com

Under accessories, they have a product called "Sorbosheet"
It's made to isolate stereo gear, like a CD player, but this will would work well for this purpose, too.

Check their "dealer locator" for a dealer close to you.
I want to say $20-$30 a sheet. The sheets are small (6"x6")
Get enough to completely isolate the bottom of the tank.

Have fun.

 

[BONDQ]

Oh, on the comment of using rubber, it is generally to stiff.

You're looking for something that is like thick jello.
Rubber is usually more rigid, like vinyl, and that actually works against you here.

You need that "springyness" of the sorbothane to isolate the tank. Kind of like a suspension on a car.

 

[Ironsheikh]

I wouldnt worry about it -- I have a inifinty 12 500watt rms in the same room w/ my tank--we were blasting out to Badboys 2 earlier today

 

[BONDQ]

I don't know about the corals being affected, but I'm sure any fish would be aggravated by it.

It would be like pounding on the tank with your hand over and over again. I would think that would result in stress, at the very least.

Again, I have no idea if the coral would even know.

 

[Steve01]

Ribbed neoprene rubber pads do a decent job. The rubber has grooves cut in both sides. This reduces the overall contact area and increases the "spongyness" of the interface.

See link. I bought a 3/8" thick pad to put under my external pump and it works well. I would think this stuff is firm enough to place under a tank but I have not tried it.

http://soundproofing.org/infopages/vibrationpads.htm

 

[zachfishman]

Thanks for all the input. It seems that it isn't as big a deal as I thought.

 

[IndyMatt]

Man, I am going to keep all the comments about the stiffness or spongeness of rubbers to myself.

 

[Steve01]