State College area reef-keepers – I want to measure the noise in your tank!

[Cjemmott]

I am a graduate student in the acoustics program at Penn State, where I study sonar. Recently, I have become interested in the background noise levels in reef aquaria. I have access to a calibrated underwater microphone (hydrophone) and am interested in recording noise in as many tanks as I can get access to. So, if you live near State College and don't mind having me come over and measure noise, send me a PM.

The details:

Some recent research has shown that high noise levels can affect marine animals (just like with people). I can't study that, but I can look at how loud aquariums are compared to natural reefs.

The questions I am trying to answer are: How loud are aquaria underwater? What does the spectrum look like? What piece of equipment is loudest? What factors make a difference (glass vs. acrylic, sump vs. HOB, skimmer type, powerheads vs. pumps, ...)? I also have a sound level meter, so I can look at how air levels correlate to underwater levels.

I hope to publish an academic paper with the results, and an easier to read version for reefers.

At a minimum I would want to drop a probe (looks kind of like a golf ball on a cord) into your tank and record a few minutes of data, and take some notes on your setup. The hydrophone is designed for seawater, and won't affect your tank. If possible, I would also like to take a few pictures (so I remember what I did and how your tank is set up). Also, if you are willing to turn your pumps on one by one, I can figure out which are the loudest.

Thanks!

 

[insanefishguy]

I don't live near by anymore, but I can tell you the maxi mod I had was loud to the point where it stressed my fish. My bicolor blenny hated me when I turned it on

 

[knockout]

If you want to come over to the Poconos, 18466

lmk

 

[Reefbox]

If u come to pittsburgh area u can check out one of mine after i move, which im sorta in the process of doing. My setups r silent. the only thing u hear is a slight hum from a return pump that is fairly quiet.

one of the noisest things you will find is the overflow sucking or the water making noise dropping down through the pipes to the sump. A siphon valved overflow eliminates those noises.

 

[knockout]

one of the noisest things you will find is the overflow sucking or the water making noise dropping down through the pipes to the sump. A siphon valved overflow eliminates those noises.

Hey Jason can you share some info on the "siphon valved overflow"

 

[Reefbox]

knockout, If u look @ beananimals thread on quiet failsafe overflow its right there. Basically the drain line stays full of water and is controleld by a valve to prevent air from sucking in.

 

[Cjemmott]

Ok, the measurements have been going well so far, but I need more tanks! Send me a PM!

To clarify, I am measuring the noise in the water, which can be very different than the noise you hear. In fact, the noisiest tank I have measured in the water is one of the quietest in the air.

The measurements will be presented at the Acoustical Society conference in Baltimore in April.

 

[Ricunger]

If your in the hazleton area let me know.

 

[Fizz71]

If you come to the swap I'm a short detour (19609).

 

[PSU21Reef]

I'm setting up my new tank this weekend. You can check it out in a week or two if you want. I live in Lock Haven so it's only about 30 miles away.

 

[cccapt]

There's a bunch of us in the Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton area. You can probably hit up a few of us if you take a trip this far east.

 

[disturbed]

if you come to nanticoke your more than welcome to test my tank

 

[kirtdog]

sent you a pm cj