Sicce Syncra Silent -- not silent.

[ktownhero]

I don't get it. Everywhere you read about how Eheim and Sicce pumps are "silent" or "dead silent", and yet I have tried both a 1262 and a Syncra 4.0 and find neither to be even close to silent. Quiet, sure -- sort of -- but not "silent" by any stretch of the imagination.

They are connected to my return via 1" vinyl tubing and have sat on a silicon pad to isolate any excess vibration. They've also been suspended in the water with no reduction in sound. These are not defective pumps, they are operating correctly. This is their operational noise.

Is it possible that because I have almost no head pressure that these are just humming? There are no elbows and less than 30" to the top of the return. At one point a few weeks ago I put my Eheim in a tub and put my hand near the output and noticed the sound decreased as I created more pressure. I tried testing this by kinking my hose (just as a temporary test) but it didn't seem to work. I have a Cepex ball valve to experiment with, but I don't want to open and use it if I just end up having to buy a DC pump.

I know I can go with a DC pump, but I am a huge fan of these AC pumps because they just run forever and don't add any extra wiring or complication to the system. I feel like the Sicce is just straight-up false advertising because it literally has the word "silent" in the name, at least the Eheim makes no big claims about sound.

Those of you that have these pumps and call them "silent", can you say a bit about how you have them hooked up?

 

[ksed]

Should have bought a Fluval SP series.

 

[deschet13]

Switching from a vinyl tube to a silicone tube really helped my noise out a lot with my Fluval SP. And that was done after I tried sitting the pump on a silicone pad.

 

[A sea K]

I have the sicce 3 and use 3/4 silicone tubing, it is the noisiest component in my tank, not loud but you can certainly hear it. Like your set up, I have minimal backpressure. Not real pleased with the pump as I purchased it expecting it to be much quieter.

 

[ktownhero]

I have the sicce 3 and use 3/4 silicone tubing, it is the noisiest component in my tank, not loud but you can certainly hear it. Like your set up, I have minimal backpressure. Not real pleased with the pump as I purchased it expecting it to be much quieter.

I tried creating back pressure and it didn't help. The 4.0 is louder than my 1262 for sure. Regardless of comparison to other pumps, it definitely is invalid for them to claim "100% silent operation" in their marketing materials.

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[Potatohead]

If you think these pumps are loud, just go to a DC pump, because these pumps are really not very loud. What pump is on your skimmer? Those tend to be even noisier IME.

Also I recall from the other thread you asked about break-in, IME they do get quieter after 48 hours or so, but they're not super loud to begin with.

 

[ktownhero]

If you think these pumps are loud, just go to a DC pump, because these pumps are really not very loud. What pump is on your skimmer? Those tend to be even noisier IME.

Also I recall from the other thread you asked about break-in, IME they do get quieter after 48 hours or so, but they're not super loud to begin with.

"Loud" is subjective, of course... but "silent" isn't. Something either is or isn't silent, there is no in between. The name and marketing materials state "100% silent operation". It's a false claim.

I don't think it is loud, per se. But it is absolutely not silent. And it is not quieter than the comparable Eheim, which I am just going to continue to use instead. Now did I actually expect it to be "silent" in a literal sense -- no. I knew they were probably lying. But I did expect it to be significantly quieter than comparable pumps and possibly silent with the door closed. But nope, not even close.

I am comfortable with the noise of the Eheim at this point, but for the same price I decided to give the Sicce a try. It is a big let down. If I ever decide to move on from the Eheim, I'll go DC for sure.

 

[GQuinn]

Should have bought a Fluval SP series.

Agreed. I have never been impressed with Sicce. Another good, but pricey pump, is the Vertex pump. You cannot hear it run at all.

 

[zooman72]

Odd, I am running 4 different Sicce Syncra return pumps, and can't hear them at all, although to be honest mine are all 1.5's and 2.0's, and I have heard (no pun intended) that sometimes the 4.0's and 5.0's can "hum" a bit much...

I have an acquaintance running a Sicce Syncra 3.0 as a return, and it is just as quiet as mine. I also know of a couple of locals running Eheims for returns, and I don't recall hearing them either. Maybe some of us are just more sensitive to certain sounds?

 

[yevgenb]

I have sicce 3.0 and eheim compact 2000- sicce is much louder, I mean really loud compare to eheim. Too bad I cant return it - bought it thinking it is silent.


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[bif24701]

DC pumps, they are quite.


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[ktownhero]

Odd, I am running 4 different Sicce Syncra return pumps, and can't hear them at all, although to be honest mine are all 1.5's and 2.0's, and I have heard (no pun intended) that sometimes the 4.0's and 5.0's can "hum" a bit much...

I have an acquaintance running a Sicce Syncra 3.0 as a return, and it is just as quiet as mine. I also know of a couple of locals running Eheims for returns, and I don't recall hearing them either. Maybe some of us are just more sensitive to certain sounds?

Yeah. I mean in the sub 800gph zone almost any pump is silent. It's past that point that sound starts to become an issue.

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[ktownhero]

I have sicce 3.0 and eheim compact 2000- sicce is much louder, I mean really loud compare to eheim. Too bad I cant return it - bought it thinking it is silent.


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Same here, though I'm pushing to be allowed to return it. In my opinion, Sicce is blatantly false advertising.

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[ktownhero]

I got my Vertex Omega 150 and it uses a Sicce pump... great. The pump for this skimmer is so loud that keeping it on isn't even an option. The Syncra 4.0 was maybe 1.5 or 2x louder than my Eheim 1262... I'd say the pump on this skimmer is at least 5x louder than my return pump. No way it can function in a living room. It sounds like the back room at an LFS, and that's not hyperbole. Again, I tested it suspended and on dampening material. The thing is just loud. I contacted my dealer to see if there's anything that can be done...

I don't know if I am just having terrible luck of the draw or what... but I don't have a particularly good impression of Sicce at the moment!

 

[m0nkie]

I heard Sicce is not produced in Italy anymore and went to China for production. not 100% sure.. but I agree it's not a quiet pump anymore. I use Fluval for my 100gal and Red Dragon on my 560gal.

Red Dragon and Abyzz. 2 dead silent pumps. not cheap though

When I had Sicce5, I had to use a vinyl tube to reduce vibration sound. I took off all 4 foot suction and wrapped the entire pump with a rubber pad and zip tied it together.

 

[ksed]

A Small i said above if you want an AC pump that is relatively inexpensive and is quite you have to use the Fluval Seas SP series. This has been brought a million times on threads like these.

 

[ktownhero]

A Small i said above if you want an AC pump that is relatively inexpensive and is quite you have to use the Fluval Seas SP series. This has been brought a million times on threads like these.

I hear you but I'm fine with the Eheim noise (I returned the Sicce 4.0) and a Fluval SP doesn't help my Vertex skimmer.

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[Wazzel]

I run dual 3.0s on my 120 and they are almost completely silent. They are no louder than the fans on my lights. When the lights are off, I can hear the kalk stirrer over the pumps.

What feet are you using? I use the white silicone ones. I think the black rubber ones are harder and would transfer more vibration.