Let's talk about skimmer pumps

[E.intheC]

What's the quietest skimmer pump you've had? In order to keep the thread relevant and useful, please list your other/previous skimmers + pumps for comparison.

For example, the quietest skimmer pump I've used so far is the Bubble Blaster on my SRO 1000int.

Second was the Tunze 9002, and third was the Sedra pump on my Warner Marine AS-150.

I've also owned Euro Reef RS-80s (two) and they weren't loud, but not "dead silent". The (Sicce) Airstar on my current Gen 3 Vertex IN 100 wasn't super quiet either.

The Resun on my Gen 2 Vertex IN 100 was moderately loud. I've had other skimmers, but that's good enough for now.

 

[iamwrasseman]

i have a panworld 100 ps and its dead silent ,you have to touch it to tell its running .

 

[125mph]

I have a Bubble King 160 Mini and by far that thing is a world of quiet.... It has a built in pump.

 

[James77]

I have a Bubble King 160 Mini and by far that thing is a world of quiet.... It has a built in pump.

Yes, I have a BK Mini 160 as well, and it is the quietest I have owned. Next up would probably be the ATB 840 with Sicce...could be heard, but not through the stand really. Before that were 2 H&S skimmers with AquaBees, far from quiet...beut they were external. There was an Octopus 150 in there somewhere that was moderate, would be quiet by most peoples standards.

Thats all I remember at this point.

 

[Percula9]

Try an eheim pump.

 

[E.intheC]

James, that's interesting about the aquabees. I've heard they were pretty quiet. I've only seen one in person and it couldn't be heard, although the sump wasn't silent and the return pump hummed a little, so that probably masked the sound.

 

[rkaires]

My ATB Airstar and Bubble King skimmer pumps are by far the quietest skimmr pumps I've owned. The Sicce pump on my ATB 840 was a close second. The ATI BM 200 and both my Euroreef skimmer pumps had a slight hum to them. I had a Tunze DOC skimmer that was about the same as the BM 200. The worst was the Aqua Bee 5000 pump for my KM medium skimmer. That you could hear from across the room.

 

[James77]

James, that's interesting about the aquabees. I've heard they were pretty quiet. I've only seen one in person and it couldn't be heard, although the sump wasn't silent and the return pump hummed a little, so that probably masked the sound.

It was an external(s) in a pretty quiet house though. I also have very sensitive hearing, so maybealot of it was just typical skimmer noise like chopping air bubbles and sucking air. Even the BK Mini I can hear, it is just very low muffled sound.

 

[dustinc]

My Skimz-SK181 with Eden pump is the quietest I've had. SRO XP 1000sss with Bubble Blaster 1000 is 2nd, 3rd would be my SWC 120 cone, 4th would be my Deltec APH-525 with Aquabee 2000 pump (had a constant buzz). These are some of the skimmers I've had recently.

 

[NyReefNoob]

my skimz pump is almost dead silent. but then again my return pump has a hum so i dont hear anything over it

 

[moondoggy4]

I -Tech 200 skimmer with Sicce 2500 wife hated it loud
Eheim 1260 ER skimmer pump loud energy hog
Tunze 9420 Hydrofoamer Quiet

 

[E.intheC]

I've heard a few people say the Tunze was extremely quiet.. some say it's a bit loud. It helps to see comparisons though