Ideas to help 'sound proof' my cabinet

MarlinHooker · 06/21/2012, 07:02 AM

Anyone have any clever ideas for helping to deaden sound coming from my aquarium cabinet? I've added pvc tubes to everything that drains into my sump so that the water enters from below the sump water level but there is still enough background noise to be annoying ...

Is there any sound absorbing material I could buy to line the inside of the cabinet that works?

Also, how far below the water entry level of the overflows do you have your Duraso Standpipes since the shorter they are the longer the waterfall effect in the overflow & more noise?

shovelrider · 06/21/2012, 07:14 AM

What kind of overflow system do you have? Have you looked into bean animal or Herbie type overflows? They reduce noise to almost nothing. Both designs work on the basis of full siphon to quiet the tank.

reefnewbie83177 · 06/21/2012, 07:30 AM

I had done some research on this in the past and the consensus was not to do it. You would have to insulate your sump with some sort of sound proofing material (like what they use in sound booths). The problem with this is that you are then trapping all that heat in your sump and your temps will rise significantly. Not to mention the humidity would be off the chart. I found the best think to do is just adjust each piece of equipment as best you can and then learn to live with it. Eventually it becomes background white noise.

MarlinHooker · 06/21/2012, 08:01 AM

you can see a drawing of my return here:

http://spacecoastreefclub.com/vBulle...6810#post16810

the drains are 1.5" & the returns are 1". The internal overflow boxes are 6" square ...

Donkeykong · 06/21/2012, 08:14 AM

I insulated my last stand with insulation board from lowes, it is 1 inch thick thermal and sound board and had it on the bottom and all sides. It significantly cut the noise down but as mentioned it also significantly brought the heat up. On my new stand I am going to put the sound board on the bottom and maybe the front door but leave the sides and make the rear open, try and find a happy medium.

sasharotty · 06/21/2012, 08:22 AM

Try googling dynamat. Its used to insulate hone movie theaters. We have it in ours and its great. Don't know how it will hold up with the humidity though.

MarlinHooker · 06/21/2012, 07:52 PM

thx, I'll check it out ... found out there is additional stuff I can do to silence the drains into my sump. If that works I probably won't need any sound proofing ...

06/21/2012, 07:02 AM	#1
MarlinHooker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indialantic, FL Posts: 690	Ideas to help 'sound proof' my cabinet Anyone have any clever ideas for helping to deaden sound coming from my aquarium cabinet? I've added pvc tubes to everything that drains into my sump so that the water enters from below the sump water level but there is still enough background noise to be annoying ... Is there any sound absorbing material I could buy to line the inside of the cabinet that works? Also, how far below the water entry level of the overflows do you have your Duraso Standpipes since the shorter they are the longer the waterfall effect in the overflow & more noise? __________________ Inconviencing marine life since 1984 Current Tank Info: 150 mixed reef

06/21/2012, 08:01 AM	#4
MarlinHooker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indialantic, FL Posts: 690	you can see a drawing of my return here: http://spacecoastreefclub.com/vBulle...6810#post16810 the drains are 1.5" & the returns are 1". The internal overflow boxes are 6" square ... __________________ Inconviencing marine life since 1984 Current Tank Info: 150 mixed reef

06/21/2012, 08:22 AM	#6
sasharotty Moved on to my couch Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: se michigan Posts: 1,065	Try googling dynamat. Its used to insulate hone movie theaters. We have it in ours and its great. Don't know how it will hold up with the humidity though. __________________ Go big or go home!!!! Current Tank Info: Just loungin

06/21/2012, 07:52 PM	#7
MarlinHooker Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indialantic, FL Posts: 690	thx, I'll check it out ... found out there is additional stuff I can do to silence the drains into my sump. If that works I probably won't need any sound proofing ... __________________ Inconviencing marine life since 1984 Current Tank Info: 150 mixed reef

06/21/2012, 07:14 AM	#2
shovelrider Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Harvest,AL Posts: 149	What kind of overflow system do you have? Have you looked into bean animal or Herbie type overflows? They reduce noise to almost nothing. Both designs work on the basis of full siphon to quiet the tank.

06/21/2012, 07:30 AM	#3
reefnewbie83177 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 200	I had done some research on this in the past and the consensus was not to do it. You would have to insulate your sump with some sort of sound proofing material (like what they use in sound booths). The problem with this is that you are then trapping all that heat in your sump and your temps will rise significantly. Not to mention the humidity would be off the chart. I found the best think to do is just adjust each piece of equipment as best you can and then learn to live with it. Eventually it becomes background white noise.

06/21/2012, 08:14 AM	#5
Donkeykong Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grover Beach CA Posts: 1,847	I insulated my last stand with insulation board from lowes, it is 1 inch thick thermal and sound board and had it on the bottom and all sides. It significantly cut the noise down but as mentioned it also significantly brought the heat up. On my new stand I am going to put the sound board on the bottom and maybe the front door but leave the sides and make the rear open, try and find a happy medium.