foam for use under sump/pump noise dampening

Meshmez · 03/30/2012, 07:36 PM

I have a Sicce syncra 4.0 which i know is not the most silent of the syncra line, but it makes a LOT of noise. While messing around with it i noticed as i lift it higher in the water column it got quieter. I thought at first it had to do with the fact that it was under less water but that doesnt really make much sense. I finally realized it was that i was getting it farther away from the glass. It doesnt actually have to be against the glass to make a lot of noise, just getting it close makes the noise echo through the tank. I was thinking of doing 2 things, One: putting foam under the sump to reduce the noise/vibration getting to the stand (and the hollow area between the plywood bottom of the stand and my hardwood floor). and Two: putting foam under the pump and on the glass on the side right next to the pump. but this bring up two dilemmas, My sump is a standard 40B with a rim, should i NOT put foam under it because of this? What foam can i use in the tank that will deaden the sound but not trap detritus?

Agu · 03/30/2012, 07:41 PM

Two tricks I've heard of are...

1) Use a mouse pad as sound deadening pad under the pump.

2) Use a filter bag full of sand under the pump.

tebstan · 03/30/2012, 10:36 PM

I had the same problem, with the same kind of pump. My sump isn't a rimmed tank, but I did pull it out and put a piece of polystyrene under it. I have a strip of this between my (rimmed) tank and stand, so I was kicking myself for not having done it the first time around.

As for in the sump, I used some shower liner from home depot. I bought a foot of it (way more than I needed) and cut 3 or 4 pump sized squares, and made a little stack of them under the pumps. I've had it under my return pump, reactor pump, and skimmer pump for a few months now. SUPER quiet compared to what it was before.

Meshmez · 03/31/2012, 01:19 AM

cool ill give that a shot. thanks!

jeffisme · 04/01/2012, 10:05 PM

I'm dealing with the same problem. I bought some neoprene and place it under the pump but the pump just started to float. How did you keep it in one place while resting it on its pad?

Meshmez · 04/01/2012, 10:29 PM

how small is your pump? the weight of it generally keeps it down. either that or depending on how you plumb it it should push down on it.

03/30/2012, 07:36 PM	#1
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	foam for use under sump/pump noise dampening I have a Sicce syncra 4.0 which i know is not the most silent of the syncra line, but it makes a LOT of noise. While messing around with it i noticed as i lift it higher in the water column it got quieter. I thought at first it had to do with the fact that it was under less water but that doesnt really make much sense. I finally realized it was that i was getting it farther away from the glass. It doesnt actually have to be against the glass to make a lot of noise, just getting it close makes the noise echo through the tank. I was thinking of doing 2 things, One: putting foam under the sump to reduce the noise/vibration getting to the stand (and the hollow area between the plywood bottom of the stand and my hardwood floor). and Two: putting foam under the pump and on the glass on the side right next to the pump. but this bring up two dilemmas, My sump is a standard 40B with a rim, should i NOT put foam under it because of this? What foam can i use in the tank that will deaden the sound but not trap detritus?

03/30/2012, 07:41 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	Two tricks I've heard of are... 1) Use a mouse pad as sound deadening pad under the pump. 2) Use a filter bag full of sand under the pump. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

03/30/2012, 10:36 PM	#3
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	I had the same problem, with the same kind of pump. My sump isn't a rimmed tank, but I did pull it out and put a piece of polystyrene under it. I have a strip of this between my (rimmed) tank and stand, so I was kicking myself for not having done it the first time around. As for in the sump, I used some shower liner from home depot. I bought a foot of it (way more than I needed) and cut 3 or 4 pump sized squares, and made a little stack of them under the pumps. I've had it under my return pump, reactor pump, and skimmer pump for a few months now. SUPER quiet compared to what it was before. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

03/31/2012, 01:19 AM	#4
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	cool ill give that a shot. thanks!

04/01/2012, 10:05 PM	#5
jeffisme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 50	I'm dealing with the same problem. I bought some neoprene and place it under the pump but the pump just started to float. How did you keep it in one place while resting it on its pad?

04/01/2012, 10:29 PM	#6
Meshmez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,030	how small is your pump? the weight of it generally keeps it down. either that or depending on how you plumb it it should push down on it.