Tricks to making a tank quieter...

[PokerG]

I have a problem at the moment. My tank is on the 3rd floor in my house. Its 300G's with linked sumps at either side (connected by a large piece of PVC piping, seems thicker than 2"'s but I may be wrong).

The pumps that sit in the sump hum really badly in the room below. Is there a simple trick to eliminating this annoying noise? One of the worst noises come from the protein skimmer which has two pumps in it. (Deltec turbo skimmer model)

Should I just try sticking some silicon feet to everything for them to sit on?

The return pipes for both the left side and right side (which goes via the chiller) are flexible green hose (from eheim) does this make a difference to the noise caused by the hose vibrating on the side of the sumps?

Which quality pumps make the least noise? I am using Eheim's for my returns at the moment as well as the standard ones inside the Deltec skimmer, should I replace them?

I also have 3 Deltec closed loop pumps with rigid pipes, would raising this up and having them sit on a rubber matt help reduce vibration?

 

[mzeinstr]

i would try putting a piece of foam under each, something to cushion the vibrations. i use mag pumps, and they are not that noisy.

marti

 

[countertopguy]

You can also add a short section of "soft" plumbing like spa-flex to the intake and outlet of the pumps.

 

[RichConley]

Eheims are quiet.

ITs got to be the pump body vibrating against something, not the pump internals that are making the noise. Try mousepads, and make sure your pump isnt touching the side of your sump.

 

[PokerG]

Are you sure the mousepads are aquarium safe or are you saying place the aquariums themselves on the mats?

The sumps themselves are sitting on polystyrene to even out the pressure for the tanks.

Gary

 

[szeth13]

i think when rich said use mouse pads, he ment the pumps out of your tank. not the ones inside

 

[cougaraug]

Easier to quiet down the pumps than dampen the entire system. go with flexible tubing sections, quiet pumps (Quiet ones are around 45 dB, velocity t_ are around 30), and then use mouspads or the like (I used one of my wife's old yoga mats for a while) under the pump. for the skimmer, try using some closed cell foam to cover the part of the sump it sits in- got rid of 90% of the hissing noise I got from my skimmer. That's one hell of a tank on the third floor of a house!!

 

[cwegescheide]

That's one hell of a tank on the third floor of a house!!

Thats what I thought!!!:eek1:

 

[spk]

Gary,

try with the green foam matting from a garden centre that is used in Koi filters. Cut this and place under the pumps. Are the pumps touching the glass of the sump tanks on the sides at all. If you touch the sump tanks, do you feel a vibration there?

I hope to see your setup one day soon.

How are things going.

Steve

 

[Sparkysreef]

How about suspending the pump with something like uni-strut and also insulating the motor mount. Top it off with the short sections of spa flex at inlet and outlet.

Works wonders on large A/C blowers(the suspending thing)

If you still have noise then give pump to a friend with a boat and let him use it for an anchor.

 

[Kevin McG]

Here is what I did to quiet down my mag drive 24. Just glued a couple of pieces of scrap tubing.

 

[PokerG]

Wow, you guys are great. I think I will try a combination of the lot! Will let you know how it goes.

With regards to it being on the 3rd floor. If I had to do it again it would definately be in the living instead. I have had 2 major leaking incidents both of which involved water going down to my girlfriends room underneath, and through to the kitchen below her. So not my most sensible idea putting it up there.

Gary