Whisper-quiet tank - is it possible?

eugenesa · 12/03/2006, 07:12 PM

If you have your tank (that is, tank+sump) in the living room, or better yet, in the bedroom - how much noise does it produce? I keep seeing people describing their tanks as whisper-quiet - I am wondering whether this is really possible?

I did a test run for my new 29g tank couple days ago and found the system quite noisy. There is pump noise/vibration and then there is drain pipe noise. I vaguely understand how to address the pump noise, but what one is supposed to do to the sound of water running down the pipe?? I applied pretty much every single solution I could find: there is durso standpipe in the tank, there is some creative plumbing where drain enters sump to separate air from water and reduce the hottub affect, and I even tried putting foam around the exposed section (~1 ft) of the drain pipe. All these tricks do help, but the result is still far from being "quiet". Pump noise aside, our living room now sounds like there is a pouring rain outside, or that our bathtub drain got routed through our living room

Wife suggested that may be this is "by design" and that the reef system also serves as an artificial waterfall? I don't feel like I agree but then looking at my 10g sump I wondering whether it is even possible to pump 900 gph through it without generating any noise? Btw, I think I am currently getting only about 250 gph with my Mag 7 and SCWD - so is my pouring rain going to become a thunderstorm when I put a better pump in?

Current setup: 29 g acrylic with 1" durso standpipe (tank water level about 1" above that in the overflow chamber), 1 ft 1" solid PVC drain going into 10g sump through a couple of 45 degree fittings, 90 degree 1" elbow underwater in sump, followed by a short 1 1/4" section, followed by 1 1/4" tee. Most of the noise seems to be just water (water+air) running down the drain pipe.

Should I start exploring the sump-less design: something like a closed loop with an inline heater? I am really worried I will not be able to make my exsiting setup whisper-quiet...

Kernel Panic · 12/03/2006, 07:51 PM

One plumbing method (long read):

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=344892

easye123 · 12/03/2006, 07:54 PM

ya i just set up my 90g in my bedroom.. my main goal was to make it quiet..

have the durso drainpipe, an eheim for the return, a light hum from the skimmer, and a little from the fans,, it is extremely quiet..i dont even notice its on sometimes..

hph

eugenesa · 12/03/2006, 08:01 PM

Yep, I have read that thread the night before - without discussing its pros and cons here, there are people who still claim that the same low noise level can be achieved by properly silencing the regular drain. Is this true or will there always be a waterfall / rain sound from the reef tank with the 'standard' durso drain?

mr pink floyd · 12/03/2006, 08:05 PM

my 29 in my room will be silent as of tomorrow

im gettting my tunze nano, so it will be SILENT, unlike my MJ mod which is loud and a POS, i use a HOB fuge for filtration, not noisy sumps, works fine, and soon ill make a DIY skimmer, air driven, so no venturi noises either,

its not difficult, things just need to be simple, liek my large fuge provides plenty of filtration, lots of rock and cheato, adn i only use MJ powerheads which are silent too, it does cost soem extra money on the powerheads but i think sleeping at night is worth it

eugenesa · 12/03/2006, 08:34 PM

easye123, what's the secret?

12/03/2006, 07:12 PM	#1
eugenesa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WA, USA Posts: 33	Whisper-quiet tank - is it possible? If you have your tank (that is, tank+sump) in the living room, or better yet, in the bedroom - how much noise does it produce? I keep seeing people describing their tanks as whisper-quiet - I am wondering whether this is really possible? I did a test run for my new 29g tank couple days ago and found the system quite noisy. There is pump noise/vibration and then there is drain pipe noise. I vaguely understand how to address the pump noise, but what one is supposed to do to the sound of water running down the pipe?? I applied pretty much every single solution I could find: there is durso standpipe in the tank, there is some creative plumbing where drain enters sump to separate air from water and reduce the hottub affect, and I even tried putting foam around the exposed section (~1 ft) of the drain pipe. All these tricks do help, but the result is still far from being "quiet". Pump noise aside, our living room now sounds like there is a pouring rain outside, or that our bathtub drain got routed through our living room Wife suggested that may be this is "by design" and that the reef system also serves as an artificial waterfall? I don't feel like I agree but then looking at my 10g sump I wondering whether it is even possible to pump 900 gph through it without generating any noise? Btw, I think I am currently getting only about 250 gph with my Mag 7 and SCWD - so is my pouring rain going to become a thunderstorm when I put a better pump in? Current setup: 29 g acrylic with 1" durso standpipe (tank water level about 1" above that in the overflow chamber), 1 ft 1" solid PVC drain going into 10g sump through a couple of 45 degree fittings, 90 degree 1" elbow underwater in sump, followed by a short 1 1/4" section, followed by 1 1/4" tee. Most of the noise seems to be just water (water+air) running down the drain pipe. Should I start exploring the sump-less design: something like a closed loop with an inline heater? I am really worried I will not be able to make my exsiting setup whisper-quiet...

12/03/2006, 07:54 PM	#3
easye123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,505	ya i just set up my 90g in my bedroom.. my main goal was to make it quiet.. have the durso drainpipe, an eheim for the return, a light hum from the skimmer, and a little from the fans,, it is extremely quiet..i dont even notice its on sometimes.. hph __________________ Loading...... Current Tank Info: 90g BB sps 30g sump. 2x175w mh. 2x110w vho act. Vortech. tunze 6025. ER rs 135. TLF phos. ACjr

12/03/2006, 07:51 PM	#2
Kernel Panic Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Canton, GA Posts: 140	One plumbing method (long read): http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=344892

12/03/2006, 08:01 PM	#4
eugenesa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WA, USA Posts: 33	Yep, I have read that thread the night before - without discussing its pros and cons here, there are people who still claim that the same low noise level can be achieved by properly silencing the regular drain. Is this true or will there always be a waterfall / rain sound from the reef tank with the 'standard' durso drain?

12/03/2006, 08:05 PM	#5
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	my 29 in my room will be silent as of tomorrow im gettting my tunze nano, so it will be SILENT, unlike my MJ mod which is loud and a POS, i use a HOB fuge for filtration, not noisy sumps, works fine, and soon ill make a DIY skimmer, air driven, so no venturi noises either, its not difficult, things just need to be simple, liek my large fuge provides plenty of filtration, lots of rock and cheato, adn i only use MJ powerheads which are silent too, it does cost soem extra money on the powerheads but i think sleeping at night is worth it

12/03/2006, 08:34 PM	#6
eugenesa Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WA, USA Posts: 33	easye123, what's the secret?