Loud Skimmer... Can I quiet?

[Tswifty]

I have an AquaC EV-120 w/ Mag 5 pump running in sump below my 55 gallon FOWLR... Picture below of how it is currently set up. Skimmer is very noisy...

Is there any way I can silence or at least dampen the noise???

Thanks.

 

[Tswifty]

I lied... it's an EV-90

 

[Tswifty]

bump

 

[heyfredyourhat]

Is it the pump or the sucking air that causes the noise?? I am unfamiliar with that skimmer, bu ti know on mine it was the air sucking noise i didnt like. I took the air intake line and drilled hole in a plastic bottle(pill jar) and drilled a hole in the lid and ran teh line from the skimmer into one hole, and another piece out of the other hole. Dead silent now

 

[splateee]

More than likely it is your pump. I am using a Mag 3 on mine because my other pump stopped and it is considerably louder than the other. I can hear it with the TV on.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11604042#post11604042 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by splateee
More than likely it is your pump. I am using a Mag 3 on mine because my other pump stopped and it is considerably louder than the other. I can hear it with the TV on.

that's the main reason I hate it... I have to turn my TV up to hear it over the noise, and can hear the skimmer running from the second floor.

It actually sounds similiar to a jacuzzi running when the jets are turned on.

I'm actually considering building a case to fit over the intake section to soundproof it, I don't know what else to do???

 

[an411]

That is why I got rid of my Mag pump it was way to loud I went with the ehiem 10 times quieter.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11612227#post11612227 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by an411
That is why I got rid of my Mag pump it was way to loud I went with the ehiem 10 times quieter.

does anyone know if there is a manufacturer of pumps that are known for being the best for running silent?

 

[cdbias2]

Quiet one pumps. I've used them for years. Dead silent.
Can be used internal or external.

 

[Bill Boy]

I had the same problem. Is the pump leaning on the side of the glass? My old skimmer always made a vibrating noise really bad. I ended up having to buy a different skimmer. Tunze 9010-- absolutely silent, you don't even know its running. Wife loves it!

 

[Shaummy]

It does appear that the pump is on at least two panes of glass in the picture...that will make the noise of that pump 10x worse. See if you can find a way to isolate it from the glass.

I have heard of people using rubber mouse pads for that purpose, but honestly it always made me wonder if that was safe considering the smell a new mouse pad has.

I have used a poly filter to put the filter on..and/or keep it off the sump walls.

If you aren't sure that is causing the offending sound, lift the pump up off the bottom and side and see if it quiets down enough to tell.

If it's the rushing air being pulled through the valve...then maybe you could attach an airline to the intake and run the line through a small box stuffed with filter floss..sort of like a muffler

IN------|floss|----out

just some thoughts for you.

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11613636#post11613636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shaummy
It does appear that the pump is on at least two panes of glass in the picture...that will make the noise of that pump 10x worse. See if you can find a way to isolate it from the glass.

I have heard of people using rubber mouse pads for that purpose, but honestly it always made me wonder if that was safe considering the smell a new mouse pad has.

I have used a poly filter to put the filter on..and/or keep it off the sump walls.

If you aren't sure that is causing the offending sound, lift the pump up off the bottom and side and see if it quiets down enough to tell.

If it's the rushing air being pulled through the valve...then maybe you could attach an airline to the intake and run the line through a small box stuffed with filter floss..sort of like a muffler

IN------|floss|----out

just some thoughts for you.

I think the problem is air... the noise coming from the skimmer is not a vibraton noise.

I'm having trouble picturing what you mean with regards to the silence setup and where I'd hook it up.

 

[Shaummy]

well...I guess I should have asked, is it the air noise from the inlet...or just the noise of the turbulent air/water mix?

I have that same skimmer, and the valve used to adjust the air has a female threaded side where the air goes in...a fitting can be put in there that has a barb on it.

An airline is attached and run into a box or something that has filter floss in it to help muffle the sound. If the box is not sealed...then the air can enter the box...pass thru the floss (deadening sound) and into the skimmer.

I can't say I have personally done this...but it is just something I've seen on some setups.

Obviously this only works if it's the actual inlet making the noise, but it is the only idea I could come up with short of covering the entire skimmer.

BTW..is the outlet of that skimmer below the surface of the water?

From the manual:

It is important that the sump water level is not too high. If the sump level is above the
output of the gate valve, the skimmer will perform inconsistently when the level rises
and falls due to evaporation, water changes, etc. As long as the maximum sump level
is below the output of the gate valve, the skimmer’s performance will remain unaffected
and you won’t need to raise the skimmer.
If you plumb your skimmer so that the
returning water exits a pipe below the sump level, a siphon break is critical to achieve
good performance. You can add a siphon break to the exit plumbing by drilling a ¼”
hole in the PVC, or by using a “tee” fitting in place of a 90 degree elbow. Leave one
end of the tee facing upwards and open to air flow.

 

[Tswifty]

I think it's from the turbulent air/water mix

 

[Tswifty]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11614134#post11614134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shaummy


BTW..is the outlet of that skimmer below the surface of the water?

From the manual:

yes, the outlet is below the water line. However the water level in that section of the sump never changes. I can try and raise it, if I want it out of the water though, I think I will probably have to move the skimmer to a different section of the sump.

 

[Shaummy]

Yeah...looking at your pic again...it should be fine that way.

 

[cdbias2]

Get a cotton ball or a towel or a wash cloth and just place it over the air intake for a couple of seconds. See if it quiets it. If it does not, then I would assume it is inside and caused by turbulence. Acrylic is a good sound deadening material, so I doubt it's from inside.

 

[Tswifty]

It's definately the air intake, when i put my fingers over the holes the noise almost completely goes away.

I'm not sure how to hook up a silencer to it, because the air intake is simply 2 holes on the top rear of the skimmer.

right now I just have some foam shoved in the holes, which quiets it a little, but not too much...

any ideas?

 

[cdbias2]

My collection cup has a small outlet on the top and my air intake has a tube attached to that outlet so that I pull the air out of my collection cup. This sort of helps pull the bubbles up into the cup also. I dont know if your able to do this, but it sure works great.

 

[splateee]

Are you using the round cylinder muffler that came with the skimmer? I have a CSS 125 and if i disconnect the hose from it it is real loud. You could also try adding a longer airline to it, this will help quiet it down.