Ideas for noise reduction

Buzzword · 08/06/2013, 08:50 PM

I have just plumbed my 220g. I used hard PVC for the drains and have run them into filter socks with pipe just under water level which helped reduce noise of water tumbling. I also put poly filter in the sock and have minimized the noise. My greatest noise issue is with the return pump which is a Mag 24. It sits in a glass sump. I put some rubber padding under the pump which helped a lot but still a bit loud.
The other noise I would like to reduce is into the overflows. I did a search but cannot find what I was looking for, as I remember reading somewhere about how to make them less noisy.
The tank sits on tile floor and the back of the stand is open. I will also be running it without a canopy, hanging LED's from ceiling.
Any ideas? Would putting foam or carpet padding under the sump help? Was thinking about putting foam board behind the stand and making holes for cords etc. Would that help?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as the wife is fairly unhappy with the noise level at this time. I have water in it but just for leak test so it is not permanently set up yet.
Thanks for input..

Twistofer · 08/06/2013, 08:59 PM

I put the Rubber Maid rubber drawer liners under my sump and DT , inside my return chamber (under my Mag-12) and under my Skimmer/Pump. Acoustic Tile lining the stand with holes cut for plumbing and wiring (make sure this is the tile that can be used in Bathrooms which is water and steam proof). It's tough to silence the outflow. You can look on LifeReef to see how he uses "Silencers" for his overflow boxes.

rygar · 08/06/2013, 09:00 PM

google "durso overflow" Very simple and very cheap.

chopper320 · 08/06/2013, 09:01 PM

What kind of plumbing are you using for your return? If you are using hard plumbing then switching it to having vinyl tubing for a portion of the return should help a lot.

Buzzword · 08/06/2013, 09:10 PM

Thanks for the input guys, appreciated!
Twistofer where did you get the Rubber Maid stuff? Target, Wallmart, online?
Rygar have drilled tank and have pipes as high as i can. Most noise from overflow is gurgling from just below the teeth.
Chopper I have hard lines for the return but as I said I have minimized that noise with the filter socks and having the pipes under water level in the sock. These pipes are not glued so i can remove them to change the socks.
Most all the noise we are having issues with is from the pump I think.

Breadman03 · 08/06/2013, 09:38 PM

I saw a picture where someone used a Ziplock baggie to form a sort of ramp from the overflow teeth to the water level of the overflow, but I forget where the thread was.

hillscp · 08/06/2013, 09:39 PM

It's not tough to silence the overflows. A Herbie drain is silent and bubble free. I put old mouse pad under my pump to keep vibration down (my return pump is external). I started with Dursos but dumped them because of the gurgling and bubbles and salt spray. Dursos only work with low flow rates.

Buzzword · 08/06/2013, 09:47 PM

Hillscp- I'll look into the Herbie drain. And may down size pump. Thnaks for the input.

ca1ore · 08/06/2013, 09:58 PM

Mag24 is an inherently noisy pump. I had one and got rid of it because of that, and because it is like having an extra heater in that tank that is on all the time.

hillscp · 08/06/2013, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

it is like having an extra heater in that tank that is on all the time.

That's why I run external pumps.

Buzzword · 08/06/2013, 10:33 PM

Yeah the pump came with the tank when i bought it. Had a Dart on my previous tank. Looking into new pump. Any thoughts on submersible pumps? MAy have to gget a Dart again and replumb. Not that thats what I want to do. Gotta keep costs down and noise down to keep the wifes ire down.

hillscp · 08/06/2013, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzword

Gotta keep costs down and noise down to keep the wifes ire down.

Good luck with that

Crusinjimbo · 08/07/2013, 05:11 AM

I have had bad luck with Mag pumps, all have been noisey. Both are now being used in the pond. Eheim pumps are quiet bad bulletproof IME. There are lots of other reasonably priced pumps that are quiet and generate significantly less heat. Read and read more on this forum and you will be empowered to make better hardware and setup decisions.

mr.maroonsalty · 08/07/2013, 06:45 AM

Best way to have a quiet tank is having a remote sump ie basement, closet, garage...; it adds a good deal to the electrical expense however. That probably isn't an option at this point. Resonance from the pump is a noise that is hard to deal with; I use a soft packing foam that something came in under my external. A section of vinyl could help you, as might increasing the diameter of the plumbing; if your pump is sitting on glass I think it would make a lot of racket even if it has its rubber feet. Im certain people use many different pads under mag pumps that you can search. Syphon drains eliminate much of the aquarium sounds; there are dot2dot plans for them here. The idea of a syphon drain is rather simple, and the generic plans get the job done well, but they are neither the easiest, cheapest, or best designs, they do however work.

ca1ore · 08/07/2013, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buzzword

Yeah the pump came with the tank when i bought it. Had a Dart on my previous tank. Looking into new pump. Any thoughts on submersible pumps? MAy have to gget a Dart again and replumb. Not that thats what I want to do. Gotta keep costs down and noise down to keep the wifes ire down.

I'm firmly in the external pump 'camp', much prefer them; but if your sump is not drilled then it may not be a viable option.

Buzzword · 08/07/2013, 08:29 AM

Researched rubber pads and found a site with rubber pads that are resistant to salt water. Gonna get a pad for under the pump and a length of pad for under the sump.
ca1ore no my sump is not drilled. but could be if I haveto go that route.
Thanks for all the input everyone.

08/06/2013, 08:50 PM	#1
Buzzword Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 275	Ideas for noise reduction I have just plumbed my 220g. I used hard PVC for the drains and have run them into filter socks with pipe just under water level which helped reduce noise of water tumbling. I also put poly filter in the sock and have minimized the noise. My greatest noise issue is with the return pump which is a Mag 24. It sits in a glass sump. I put some rubber padding under the pump which helped a lot but still a bit loud. The other noise I would like to reduce is into the overflows. I did a search but cannot find what I was looking for, as I remember reading somewhere about how to make them less noisy. The tank sits on tile floor and the back of the stand is open. I will also be running it without a canopy, hanging LED's from ceiling. Any ideas? Would putting foam or carpet padding under the sump help? Was thinking about putting foam board behind the stand and making holes for cords etc. Would that help? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as the wife is fairly unhappy with the noise level at this time. I have water in it but just for leak test so it is not permanently set up yet. Thanks for input..

08/06/2013, 08:59 PM	#2
Twistofer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Montana Posts: 371	I put the Rubber Maid rubber drawer liners under my sump and DT , inside my return chamber (under my Mag-12) and under my Skimmer/Pump. Acoustic Tile lining the stand with holes cut for plumbing and wiring (make sure this is the tile that can be used in Bathrooms which is water and steam proof). It's tough to silence the outflow. You can look on LifeReef to see how he uses "Silencers" for his overflow boxes. __________________ See what is; See what is not; Find the True Way ...The Buddha Current Tank Info: 120 gal New Build Coming Soon

08/06/2013, 09:39 PM	#7
hillscp Soylent Green is People!! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chico, CA Posts: 759	It's not tough to silence the overflows. A Herbie drain is silent and bubble free. I put old mouse pad under my pump to keep vibration down (my return pump is external). I started with Dursos but dumped them because of the gurgling and bubbles and salt spray. Dursos only work with low flow rates. __________________ 125 AGA, 240W DIY MultiChip LED's, Mated pair Clowns, Fox Face, Kole Tang, Purple Tang, 6 Line, CBB, Acanthophyllia, 7 RBTA's, T. Maxima, Orange Monti, Green Monti, seriatopora guttatus, fungia sp Current Tank Info: Salt water since 1995

08/07/2013, 05:11 AM	#13
Crusinjimbo Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wesley Chapel FL Posts: 751	I have had bad luck with Mag pumps, all have been noisey. Both are now being used in the pond. Eheim pumps are quiet bad bulletproof IME. There are lots of other reasonably priced pumps that are quiet and generate significantly less heat. Read and read more on this forum and you will be empowered to make better hardware and setup decisions. __________________ Jimbo 13.5G EVO

08/07/2013, 06:45 AM	#14
mr.maroonsalty Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: upstateny Posts: 2,504	Best way to have a quiet tank is having a remote sump ie basement, closet, garage...; it adds a good deal to the electrical expense however. That probably isn't an option at this point. Resonance from the pump is a noise that is hard to deal with; I use a soft packing foam that something came in under my external. A section of vinyl could help you, as might increasing the diameter of the plumbing; if your pump is sitting on glass I think it would make a lot of racket even if it has its rubber feet. Im certain people use many different pads under mag pumps that you can search. Syphon drains eliminate much of the aquarium sounds; there are dot2dot plans for them here. The idea of a syphon drain is rather simple, and the generic plans get the job done well, but they are neither the easiest, cheapest, or best designs, they do however work. __________________ Back from the dead! Current Tank Info: 140 dt reef

08/06/2013, 09:00 PM	#3
rygar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: michigan Posts: 282	google "durso overflow" Very simple and very cheap.

08/06/2013, 09:01 PM	#4
chopper320 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 626	What kind of plumbing are you using for your return? If you are using hard plumbing then switching it to having vinyl tubing for a portion of the return should help a lot.

08/06/2013, 09:10 PM	#5
Buzzword Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 275	Thanks for the input guys, appreciated! Twistofer where did you get the Rubber Maid stuff? Target, Wallmart, online? Rygar have drilled tank and have pipes as high as i can. Most noise from overflow is gurgling from just below the teeth. Chopper I have hard lines for the return but as I said I have minimized that noise with the filter socks and having the pipes under water level in the sock. These pipes are not glued so i can remove them to change the socks. Most all the noise we are having issues with is from the pump I think.

08/06/2013, 09:38 PM	#6
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	I saw a picture where someone used a Ziplock baggie to form a sort of ramp from the overflow teeth to the water level of the overflow, but I forget where the thread was.

08/06/2013, 09:47 PM	#8
Buzzword Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 275	Hillscp- I'll look into the Herbie drain. And may down size pump. Thnaks for the input.

08/06/2013, 09:58 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Mag24 is an inherently noisy pump. I had one and got rid of it because of that, and because it is like having an extra heater in that tank that is on all the time.

08/06/2013, 10:33 PM	#11
Buzzword Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 275	Yeah the pump came with the tank when i bought it. Had a Dart on my previous tank. Looking into new pump. Any thoughts on submersible pumps? MAy have to gget a Dart again and replumb. Not that thats what I want to do. Gotta keep costs down and noise down to keep the wifes ire down.

08/07/2013, 08:29 AM	#16
Buzzword Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Satellite Beach, FL Posts: 275	Researched rubber pads and found a site with rubber pads that are resistant to salt water. Gonna get a pad for under the pump and a length of pad for under the sump. ca1ore no my sump is not drilled. but could be if I haveto go that route. Thanks for all the input everyone.