Pump noise resonating through sump

kris101 · 03/03/2014, 07:03 AM

Plumbed my Dart to a 75 gallon glass sump using 1.5" PVC. The pump itself seems quiet but all the noise is being resonated to the sump amplifying it. Will cutting the Hard PVC and switching it over to Spa-Flex stop this? Any suggestions?

Vinny Kreyling · 03/03/2014, 08:57 AM

1st try something under the pump to absorb vibration.
Mouse pad, Dr. Scholls, silicone for pots on a table, etc:
If that does not do it then a piece of hose.
Spa Flex is too rigid.

mfinn · 03/03/2014, 09:50 AM

I would do 2 things.
First find a rubber mat to place under the pump.
I saw a recommendation by someone a few days ago that seemed like it would work.
They suggested buying one of those rubber mats you use to prevent foot fatigue. I think they are about a 1/2" thick.

Second, add a piece of flexable hose between the sump and pump.
I even add a piece of flexable hose after the pump.

SGT_York · 03/03/2014, 10:38 AM

The above may work however this is atypical behavior for a dart. You may have some cavitation or impeller issue causing the vibrations and subsequent noise. Please post a pic of the pump setup. Particarly the plumbing prior to the pump inlet.

kris101 · 03/03/2014, 10:46 AM

possibly a seal going bad?
I used 1.5" to a ball valve then to the inlet
Inside the sump has a strainer

SGT_York · 03/03/2014, 11:14 AM

What dart do you have? what is the inlet size, and is the ball valve 1.5 as well?

Just one strainer could it be causing flow blockage? Try removing it for a few minutes to see if it helps.

FlyPenFly · 03/03/2014, 11:43 AM

BRS sells a $5 silicone and rubber mat just for this kind of thing.

klwheat · 03/03/2014, 11:47 AM

I just took a couple of pieces of white filter media and put it underneath the pump in mine..worked like a champ.

kris101 · 03/03/2014, 12:13 PM

1.5 inlet, 1.5 valve. its a dart with a AO smith motor

I just looked at the pump and there is a small drip from the seal. I just went a bought a new seal so maybe that is the problem

sbeason · 03/03/2014, 01:11 PM

I would still put rubber mat under the pump and spa flex on the inlet side of the pump. I did this with my Reeflo barracuda and it greatly reduced the vibration noise.

Steve

SGT_York · 03/03/2014, 01:19 PM

I'd certainly add a mat, replace the seal, and remove the ball valve and add a larger one. I'd be willing to bet that the size reduction caused by that ball valve is a contributing factor.

Of course it may not be an issue at all, but a 1.5" ball valve is maybe 1" diameter within the fully open ball.

kris101 · 03/03/2014, 09:13 PM

I changed the seal and it is quieter- somewhat. Next, i will try the rubber matt and I think I might change out the hard PVC to spa-flex. I thought it was typical of darts to be very quiet

ca1ore · 03/03/2014, 09:28 PM

While putting a pump on a vibration pad should make a significant difference, subbing in a short length of flexible piping will not! Flex PVC or vinyl tubing is simply too rigid to absorb much vibration at all. The only thing that really works is a decent length of really flexible silicone tubing, and then you have to worry about the tubing collapsing from suction.

ReeferNC · 03/04/2014, 12:00 AM

Vinyl tubing is your best bet to be rigid enough to prevent collapse but add noise suppression.

03/03/2014, 09:50 AM	#3
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I would do 2 things. First find a rubber mat to place under the pump. I saw a recommendation by someone a few days ago that seemed like it would work. They suggested buying one of those rubber mats you use to prevent foot fatigue. I think they are about a 1/2" thick. Second, add a piece of flexable hose between the sump and pump. I even add a piece of flexable hose after the pump. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

03/03/2014, 10:46 AM	#5
kris101 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Amherst, Ohio Posts: 853	possibly a seal going bad? I used 1.5" to a ball valve then to the inlet Inside the sump has a strainer __________________ Marineland 300 DD peninsula Current Tank Info: 155 48x30x24 in progress

03/03/2014, 11:47 AM	#8
klwheat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 676	I just took a couple of pieces of white filter media and put it underneath the pump in mine..worked like a champ. __________________ 180 Gallon Mixed reef President/Co-founder Running4Trisomy A Butterfly's Touch

03/03/2014, 12:13 PM	#9
kris101 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Amherst, Ohio Posts: 853	1.5 inlet, 1.5 valve. its a dart with a AO smith motor I just looked at the pump and there is a small drip from the seal. I just went a bought a new seal so maybe that is the problem __________________ Marineland 300 DD peninsula Current Tank Info: 155 48x30x24 in progress

03/03/2014, 09:13 PM	#12
kris101 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Amherst, Ohio Posts: 853	I changed the seal and it is quieter- somewhat. Next, i will try the rubber matt and I think I might change out the hard PVC to spa-flex. I thought it was typical of darts to be very quiet __________________ Marineland 300 DD peninsula Current Tank Info: 155 48x30x24 in progress

03/03/2014, 08:57 AM	#2
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	1st try something under the pump to absorb vibration. Mouse pad, Dr. Scholls, silicone for pots on a table, etc: If that does not do it then a piece of hose. Spa Flex is too rigid.

03/03/2014, 10:38 AM	#4
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	The above may work however this is atypical behavior for a dart. You may have some cavitation or impeller issue causing the vibrations and subsequent noise. Please post a pic of the pump setup. Particarly the plumbing prior to the pump inlet.

03/03/2014, 11:14 AM	#6
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	What dart do you have? what is the inlet size, and is the ball valve 1.5 as well? Just one strainer could it be causing flow blockage? Try removing it for a few minutes to see if it helps.

03/03/2014, 11:43 AM	#7
FlyPenFly SPS Killer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,490	BRS sells a $5 silicone and rubber mat just for this kind of thing.

03/03/2014, 01:11 PM	#10
sbeason Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake St Louis, MO Posts: 1,391	I would still put rubber mat under the pump and spa flex on the inlet side of the pump. I did this with my Reeflo barracuda and it greatly reduced the vibration noise. Steve

03/03/2014, 01:19 PM	#11
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	I'd certainly add a mat, replace the seal, and remove the ball valve and add a larger one. I'd be willing to bet that the size reduction caused by that ball valve is a contributing factor. Of course it may not be an issue at all, but a 1.5" ball valve is maybe 1" diameter within the fully open ball.

03/03/2014, 09:28 PM	#13
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	While putting a pump on a vibration pad should make a significant difference, subbing in a short length of flexible piping will not! Flex PVC or vinyl tubing is simply too rigid to absorb much vibration at all. The only thing that really works is a decent length of really flexible silicone tubing, and then you have to worry about the tubing collapsing from suction. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

03/04/2014, 12:00 AM	#14
ReeferNC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 69	Vinyl tubing is your best bet to be rigid enough to prevent collapse but add noise suppression.