Return Pump LOUD - Keeps me up at night HELP!

[AliKat]

I have a 125 gallon, Little Giant return pump that's external. There is this constant buzzing noise, and it literally keeps me up at night.

I have some questions...

1. Is it too much to ask for total silence?

2. What pump would be quieter?

3. How difficult is it to change out a return pump? I'm not a plumber and unfortunately am a natural blonde.

 

[davocean]

Does it have to be external?

 

[fox2589]

get an eheim...silent and reliable for years...or if you have deep pockets go with a red dragon..-Drew

 

[davocean]

Yeah, I was going to say eheims are all I've been using, simple setup, dead silent, cool running.
Oceanrunners are another option and are cheaper.
But those are all internal.

 

[AliKat]

The sump is set up for an external pump. The piping comes out to an external pump, then to the tank. Like I said, I'm no plumber, so I'm not sure what to do.

 

[victor90]

Have you tried a pad under the pump?

 

[AliKat]

Have you tried a pad under the pump?

Yep. Helps a little bit but not a lot.

 

[davocean]

Can you post pics?

 

[AliKat]

Yep, but may not be great. Had to take these with my phone.

 

[upster]

A bit of extra work, but maybe some "soft" fitting are needed?

Try to get your hands on some of the noise canceling mat they use for car stereos. That stuff does wonders, seriously.

 

[arredondojason]

+1
also slide some mouse pads under it and that should shut it up.

 

[JonnyD91]

I see 2 pupms in that picture what is the other pump? It may be a combination of the both of them.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

Silicone pot holders at Target are another option. You can try bolting the front one down. But Flex pvc would help ALOT..

 

[James77]

I have a 125 gallon, Little Giant return pump that's external. There is this constant buzzing noise, and it literally keeps me up at night.

I have some questions...

1. Is it too much to ask for total silence?

2. What pump would be quieter?

3. How difficult is it to change out a return pump? I'm not a plumber and unfortunately am a natural blonde.

1- Not at all
2- If you want dead silent, look at Velocity pumps. They are water cooled externals, so they will warm the water as much as an internal would. Eheim is also a very quiet pump.
3- depends on which pump, but wouldn't be much more than a couple adapters at Lowes or plumbing shop.

 

[AliKat]

Okay, am about to the point where I can invest in a new pump. I looked at Eheims, but they only get up to around 900 gph, according to what I've read. My current pump is 1200 gph, and it's on a 125 gallon tank. What would you all get?

Man, I can't wait for this stupid pump to be gone. It's keeping me up yet again tonight!

 

[davocean]

3-5x turnover is perfect for sump, so even a 1260 would be fine, or a 1262.
They are dead silent, no start up issues, cool temp.
I won't use anything else myself.

 

[uncleof6]

You want quiet, you need a pump that is not turning so fast, I have been using LG pumps for many years, and they are just plain loud. I have a 4mdqx-sc impeller housing, on a TE motor, and it is louder than my darts. (virtually silent)-- 1650 rpm compared to ~3000 rpm. The noise is the cooling fan. You can quiet the LG down, by removing the cooling fan, but you will need to provide auxiliary fans for cooling the motor. (often a lot quieter than a fan spinning at ~3000 rpm.)

Another thing to look at, is you have the intake to your LG pump restricted. (The intake plumbing is too small) and the pump is probably cavitating. That creates some noise as well. The intake plumbing needs to be the same size or larger than the intake volute. Cavitation will destroy the pump in not a very long time.

Personally, I'd give an Iwaki pump, or maybe a Gen-X pump some serious consideration, but fix that intake plumbing. I have a Dart (~3000 gph @ 4') running on a 120, though it is dialed back a bit. Can't hear it. Another Dart is running the 240, wide open. Can't hear it either. (Sump returns both)

Changing out a pump can be a challenge, if plumbing challenged , and if you are not able to increase the pump intake plumbing size, you may be left with a submersible pump as the most viable option, but even that will need to have some plumbing modifications done.

Don't let the detractors talk you out of using an external pump. The flow you have is just fine. An external pump is just one less piece of electrical equipment in the water,

Regards,

Jim

 

[Fish Ace]

The Gen-X is one fine pump but it is not quiet . I think if you try UNCLEOF6 suggestion you will have a quieter pump.

 

[JonnyD91]

You will not find quieter than the eheim for the quality and the price. I will never use anything else. Buy a 1262 and be done.

 

[davocean]

If you want simple, easy plumb, and DEAD silent, Eheim.
This is my setup, super easy.
Just braided flexline and nylon clamps.
When I need to clean the pump, all I do is lift it up, no need to even disconnect.
And there has been no measureable temp increase, these run very cool.
You'll never hear it.